Page 29 - BusinessWest May 26, 2025

“People we
attract as owners
are people that
want to work
with children and
develop long-
term relationships
with families.”
of progressions, drills, and challenges, including rings,
balance obstacles, tumbling surfaces, cargo nets, tra-
verse walls, slack lines, ropes, ladders, and warped
walls.
Ninjas that demonstrate their mastery of skills
advance to the next level of training, and each partici-
pant progresses according to their own ability. Essen-
tially, Knight said, the program aims to build children’s
self-esteem, confidence, and sense of accomplishment,
one obstacle at a time.
“When I put my stepson in the program, he was
probably 20 to 30 pounds overweight and didn’t like
school sports, and six months later, he was doing 10
good push-ups and holding a plank. At the end of the
year, he was doing 100. Now he’s 21 years old, and
he’s a fit young man.
“Traditional sports never worked for him. He didn’t
like football, soccer, or basketball. Ninja gives kids
of all abilities the chance to be challenged and get in
shape, and we can also take top athletes and elevate
them even further,” he went on. “The program helps
develop core strength, agility, and flexibility for kids.
You develop the upper body as well. It really helps in
other sports because, if you have a strong core, that helps you with
everything you do in life.”
Kids can enroll in memberships for one, two, or three visits a
week, and those classes are supplemented with events like birthday
parties, camps, and competitions, he added.
“What sets us apart from other franchises is a focus on families
and community give-back,” Knight went on. “People we attract as
owners are people that want to work with children and develop
long-term relationships with families. It’s about helping kids get fit
and feeling good about themselves, and putting kids and families
first.”
He called the sport a “positive positive,” then explained what that
means.
“Say you go to a basketball game. People in the stands are boo-
USA Ninja Challenge is looking to open up to five locations in
Western Mass., starting in 2026.
ing kids, booing players, booing referees, and they’re cheering their
own kids as well. In ninja, when we have a competitive event, you
cheer for every athlete. There’s no booing. There’s no ‘oh, ref, you’re
terrible.’ There’s none of that. The kids get exposed to an environ-
ment that’s all about themselves in a very positive environment.
“From a sports standpoint, that is huge with our kids,” he added.
“There’s a lot going on in society today, and here, children can be in
a very positive environ-
ment and feel good about
themselves and grow.
Ninja
Continued on page 31 >>
Matt’s been promoted to
Commercial Lending Officer!
Matt Donovan joined the team in 2023, bringing a wealth
of credit experience.
He previously excelled as a Senior Credit Analyst and Commercial
Associate Lender, displaying comprehensive knowledge of
commercial lending practices.
If you have commercial business lending needs, or are looking for a
commercial real estate mortgage, reach out to Matt at 413-393-9819
MEMBER FDIC
MEMBER DIF
Business W est << COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE >>
MAY 26, 2025
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