How Ninja Hub Began – And Why My #1 Business Tip Is “Just Start”
Back in 2017, I had zero experience owning a gym, zero ninja warrior background, and zero clue how to run a business like this. I was a regular guy who loved the idea of a ninja gym – the energy, the obstacles, the community vibe – but I had no roadmap, no investors, no fancy business plan just a supportive wife and a few friends. I could have waited for the “perfect” moment: perfect location, perfect equipment, perfect marketing plan, perfect everything. Instead I did the only thing that actually moves the needle: I just started. We signed the lease on a small warehouse space, bought used equipment off Facebook Marketplace, built obstacles and remolded for a few months. Lots of looooong days and nights! Ninja Hub opened on May 1, 2018 & the official grand opening took place on June 9, 2018, where American Ninja Warrior all-star Grant McCartney (The Island Ninja) and international musician Aaron Boyd put on a meaningful, heartfelt, and action-packed evening of FUN for the community. At the end of 2019, Ninja Hub expanded by adding on 2,000 square feet of obstacle-packed gym space, taking the total size of Ninja Hub from 5,400 to 7,400 square feet. The excitement of a new year with brand new structures & obstacles came to a screeching halt in March 2020, when the world stopped & Ninja Hub was forced to close for nearly 3 months. The future of Ninja Hub was unknown, as we didn’t know if it could survive the year with the lack of activity & support. Once the gym reopened, the rest of 2020 was depressingly slow, as so many people were still afraid to visit a gym. The decision was made on January 2, 2021, that if things didn’t pick up within the next 30 days, Ninja Hub would close forever. Apparently God had other plans because January 2021 ended up being one of Ninja Hub’s busiest months to date. There was no doubt that Ninja Hub had a purpose & would go on! There have been hills & valleys, challenges & struggles, but there’s no question that Ninja Hub has made its mark on the community.