Ninjas ready to take on world

Seven young ninja warriors, who all train in the Moreton Bay Region, are preparing for their Ultimate challenge more than 14,700km away.

Dylan and Travis Cleary, Hayden Ussher, Dominic and Benjamin Dows, Bailee Meyers and Hugo Tebbutt will fly to Florida in July for the Obstacle Sports Expo.

In Orlando all seven will represent Australia at the UNAA (Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association) World Series Final and Ninja World Cup USA, from July 26-30.

Four will also represent this country in the FINA World Finals, two in the Ultimate OCR 3km Championships and one at the World Ninja Athletes Games (WNAG) Championships.

To help meet costs, a fundraiser will be held at Todd’s Elite Ninjas, in Burpengary East, on Saturday June 18, 10am-2pm.

The event will give visitors the chance to check out the sport by trying Ninja obstacles. Click here for more details.

Five of the US-bound ninjas train at Todd’s, while two use Mr Ninja HQ at Narangba.

Cash raised will support Dominic (from Morayfield) and Hugo (Paddington) in the Under 7s category; Dylan (Whiteside) and Benjamin (Morayfield) in the Under 9s; Bailee (North Lakes) in the Under 13s and Travis (Whiteside) and Hayden (Narangba) in the Under 15s.

Hayden, 14, made the national Under 15 team by tying for fourth place in his age group (with Travis Cleary) when representing Queensland at the Australian Ninja Games in January.

The school captain at Carmichael College, Morayfield, started in Little Athletics before issues with his knees led to him try a ninja course. He loved it and was soon in Todd’s Elite Ninjas squad.

In Orlando he will compete in the Under 15 Boys' UNAA World Series Finals, Ninja World Cup USA, FINA World Finals and Ultimate OCR 3km Championships.

Travis, who goes to Pine Rivers State High School, has always been interested in climbing and started ninja when his mum saw the Mr Ninja HQ centre at Narangba during a lunchtime walk.

The 14-year-old joined Todd’s in June last year, qualified for the NCL nationals in October and represented Queensland at the ANG Nationals in January.

He will be in the Under 15 Boys' UNAA World Series Finals and Ninja World Cup USA events at Orange County Convention Centre.

Dylan, 9, a student at Kurwongbah State School, began on a “ninja style line” at kindy and took the same path as Travis to the ANG Nationals and World Series Final, via the WNAG.

The Under 9 Boys' UNAA World Series Finals and Ninja World Cup USA are waiting for Dylan in Orlando.

Benjamin, 10, started ninja at Todd’s PT almost four years ago. Dominic, 6, has been doing it for three years. Both had a year’s break while travelling with their family in between.

The Carmichael College pupils, who also do Little Athletics, quickly progressed to Todd’s Elite Ninjas and booked their places in the Australian squad through a WNAG event.

In Florida Benjamin will be in the Under 9 Boys' UNAA World Series Finals, Ninja World Cup USA, FINA World Finals and WNAG Championships.

Dominic in the Under 7 Boys' UNAA World Series Finals, Ninja World Cup USA and FINA World Finals.

Bailee was watching Channel 9’s Australian Ninja Warrior six years ago and told her mum: “I’m going to be on that one day!”

Now 13, the St Benedict’s Catholic College student is in the second year of her ninja journey, training at Mr Ninja HQ and on a frame at home.

In Orlando she will be in the Under 13 Girls' UNAA World Series Final, Ninja World Cup USA, FINA World Finals and Ultimate OCR 3km Championships.

Bailee has also already qualified for the national NCL in October and ANG national in January 2024.

Hugo travels from Brisbane to train at Mr Ninja HQ and in Florida will compete in Under 7 Boys' UNAA World Series Finals and Ninja World Cup USA.

The Milton State School student, who has been in the sport for 18 months, says his favourite obstacle is long-distance laches. He also does AFL, kickboxing, Little Athletics and swimming.

The fundraiser is at Todd’s Elite Ninjas, 1 Coolendel Ct, Burpengary East on Saturday June 18 from 10am-2pm.

Visitors can try Ninja Obstacles, have a sausage sizzle, check out the sweets stall and and earring stall as well as enter a raffle.

Entry to the obstacle course is $10/participant (cash or PayID accepted).

For more information go to the Facebook invitation by clicking here.

World Obstacle will be a demonstration sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics taking over the equestrian section of the Modern pentathlon.

There are also reports it could be part of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.