AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR Season 7

Wow, I can’t believe that it has been so long since my last post for you guys, and I apologize.

If you haven’t already heard the news, on Monday, March 2nd, I got "THE CALL" that I have been

chosen to compete on Season 7 of AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR!!! I am beyond pumped. All of my hard work has paid off, and the #Firstbrothersisterduo will be representing in the Houston regional

qualifiers. I am super proud of my brother, Geoff, who of course will be competing with me and who

has been my dedicated coach throughout this whole process.

Life as I knew it on March 2nd has ceased to exist and as my main squeeze would put it, now I "Eat, Sleep, Ninja" and he is RIGHT! That’s ok; this experience is well worth it. It is definitely a lot of hard

work now that we are only three weeks out from filming. My schedule is quite hectic because life

still has to go on too. I get up every morning for my normal run or workout, work all day, and then

I head to my ANW gym to practice obstacles late into the night before heading home to eat and

jump in bed before doing it all over again. HECTIC, no time to think about much of anything.

If you don't know anything about the show...

American Ninja Warrior is a show based on strength and completing obstacles. There are multiple

cities were 100-130 competitors get the chance to prove their abilities and possibly advance to the

Las Vegas finals. I was told that this year there was 20,000+ applicants!!! The obstacles range, and

can be anything from any of the previous six seasons, as well as anything new they can create.

Each city has two sets of obstacle courses; none of the cities are the same. I will not know what obstacle challenges I will have to overcome until the day of filming. I know, crazy and nerve racking!!!

The show is set to air on NBC at the end of May, be sure to be on the look out!!!

I am feeling pretty confident and comfortable on a lot of the obstacles that I know exist from the previous seasons, you have to be prepared for anything! There are definitely things I still need to

work on and conquer. Specifically, the warped wall and salmon ladder. In the next two weeks I will

bring you on an inside view of my training and progress on these obstacles. Should be fun!!!

Here is my Ninja week in review:

This is a single swing lache up to hanging cones. This consists of swinging from a low bar

to a higher bar/object (single cones). Yes, the bars are really far apart too!

Here is my first real attempt at the "Salmon ladder", although my strategy is a little

unconventional by walking up the rungs, there is no rule as to how you go up! I did make it all

the way up to the top on my first try (no video, of course). I need to be able to go all the way up,

down, and transfer to another set of bars.... let's do work! Conquering that transfer is next!

HERE IT IS...THE BIG ONE... my first real attempt at the "Warped Wall", the one thing you MUST

be able to do to advance in the regional qualifiers. It is a 14 foot wall, straight up with a slight

curve and slight overhang. You have to be able to run up, grab the top and pull yourself over.

You get only three tries at this so this is serious business! It's time to dominate!!

This past week I also had the opportunity to visit another obstacle course gym in Dallas, TX

for a change of pace. I was able to work out with some ANW veterans and had an awesome

time! You can gauge just how big the "Warped Wall" is by this picture!

#teamKarsten ANW Season 6 Veteran

I can't wait to share this experience with you all!!!

If you are in the Houston, TX area and want to give these obstacles a try,

come out and visit IRON SPORTS!!

If you are in the Dallas, TX area, visit Obstacle Warriors!