Exeter — Anthony Jordan’s satisfaction was almost palpable as he gazed down upon a vast sea of glittering scaffolding that supported nearly every conceivable body-contorting, gravity-defying obstacle.
It was only last winter that 19-year-old Jordan and his father Alan closed the sprawling 17,000-square-foot former HVAC warehouse at 140 Epping Road. He plans to bring his lifelong passion to Exeter with an American Ninja Warrior-inspired production. Gym of the Jordan Warriors. The 2,000-square-foot mezzanine area overlooking the cavernous warehouse space seemed like the ultimate blank canvas, perhaps almost too blank.
“I had a few ideas for different things, but then I realized how much space there was and I had to fill it all in,” Jordan said. “I think every square foot in this place has been put to good use.”
From a warped pair of walls at one end to a climbing wall at the other, all set on a highly forgiving floor of carpet-bonded foam, Team Jordan has created the ultimate extreme sports playground.
Jordan has a grand opening scheduled for Sunday, June 4th from 12pm to 6pm and can’t wait to share it with athletes of all ages and skill levels.
“For me, it’s an incredible change,” added Anthony’s father, Alan. “I could never have imagined something like this. Exceeded my expectations.”
At the grand opening, the gym will open every hour, and people can challenge their favorite obstacles for $10.
“Now is the time to go out and try new things,” enthused Jordan. “We plan to have some even more unique ones that haven’t been announced yet.”
Jordan Warriors Gym Offers Classes for Kids and Adults
When the gym goes live, it will offer various stage-level classes with three age groups: 6-9 years old, 10-14 years old, and adult classes (15+). 4 and 5 years old.
“We will teach anyone who wants to try it,” Jordan said. Jordan has already helped train the 68-year-old boy and even offers private lessons. A month before his 20th birthday, Jordan already has four years of coaching experience at numerous gyms and is keen to fine-tune his vision at Exeter’s Epping Road.
“I’ve learned a lot over the years as a coach,” Jordan said. “I know what works and what doesn’t, and I’m excited to apply it to my place and help the next generation.”
Falling in love with extreme sports at a young age after watching the hit reality show American Ninja Warrior, Jordan built a series of handcrafts, including a warped wall, by his father in the backyard of his home in North Andover, Massachusetts. I started polishing my skills for the first time at the place where I assembled the obstacles.
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‘American Ninja Warrior’ is coming to Exeter
What Jordan, Alan, and his mother Belkis, who helped with much of the design, and others built in Exeter might best be called the Enhanced Ninja Gym.
“This is by no means one person. It took a lot of people to prepare this,” said Jordan, who graduated from Northern Essex Community College with a business degree this spring. “It was worth the wait.”
Exeter’s Abby Herrick is listed as someone who can’t wait for Jordan to officially open its doors, both as a player and on the Jordan Warriors staff.
“My gym is about a third of this size, and nowhere else has more obstacles,” said Herrick, who at 14 has already competed in numerous competitions. Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association I was coached by Jordan at an event (UNAA).
Herrick wants to introduce a fun and demanding sport to his hometown, and in the process dispels misconceptions about ninja competition.
“I think the biggest misconception is that because you have ‘ninja’ in your name, you think it’s jutsu, karate, taekwondo, or something similar,” Herrick said. “My favorite thing about Ninja Warrior is the self-discipline aspect. The only way to succeed is to push yourself.”
Fifteen-year-old Evan McCarthy is also part of Jordan’s young but accomplished staff, appearing in countless competitions. Like Jordan, he was initially hooked on reality shows.
“You watch the show and you think, ‘This looks so easy,'” McCarthy said. “When you get this far, you realize it’s not that easy.”
But that’s where the ever-positive Jordan and his staff come in.
“With the right guidance, it becomes easier,” Jordan said. He finished 24th in the World Ninja League Championship last year and moved up to the elite division this year.
“There are level progressions, and the classes we teach here take you step-by-step through those progressions, making learning much easier. Barriers to entry aren’t as bad as you might think.”
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This gym has many unique touches that set it apart from other ninja-style gyms, including a dedicated warm-up area and climbing wall. With plans to add a cafeteria as well, Jordan hopes the gym will become a popular choice for a variety of special occasions and parties.
Exeter’s Director of Economic Development, Darren Winham, is thrilled to see another unique business opening in Exeter.
“Funny, I always brag about the business diversity of the Warriors in Exeter and Jordan, and that’s exactly what it is,” Wynham said. “The Ninja Warrior-style gym is a unique use of what used to be a pretty challenging building. I think the Jordan family will do well here.”
