From athlete to gym owner to industry consultant, Allison Johnson has spent more than a decade shaping the ninja warrior community. She shares how she turned her passion into a career, her advice for newcomers, and what she’s learned along the way.
Quick Facts
- Name: Allison Johnson
- Profession: Business consultant for ninja gyms and youth athletic programs
- Podcast: The Ninja’s Way
- Years in Ninja: Over a decade
- Go-To Dessert: Chocolate chip cookies
Career & Ninja Beginnings
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I’m a business consultant for ninja gyms and youth athletic programs. I help gym owners launch, grow, and systemize their ninja programs from the first spark of an idea to a fully thriving business. My work blends curriculum design, staff training, marketing strategies, and operational systems so owners can focus on what they love—changing lives through ninja.
Q: Brief description of all the ninja-related jobs you’ve had over time
A: Over a decade ago, I walked into a ninja gym for an open gym session, never imagining it would change my life. By the end of that session, I’d been interviewed, hired, and was running the kids program. That role led to becoming a gym owner and the Kids Competitive Director for the Ultimate Athlete Association.
From there, my husband and I opened our own facility, Ninja Fitness Academy, which we eventually sold to move to Canada. There, we opened multiple brands and I directed their ninja wing, launching gyms across Canada. I learned how to maximize impact even in smaller spaces, which eventually led to us bringing ninja into martial arts schools, gymnastics facilities, and boutique fitness centers across the states.
When we returned to the U.S. to be closer to family, I launched Ninja Gym Academy, a consulting company that has since worked with everyone from the biggest ninja franchises to small-town mom-and-pop gyms. We help them build, launch, and scale profitable programs, always with the mission of making ninja accessible to more communities.
Q: How did you become a consultant?
A: After more than seven years in the trenches—building and growing ninja gyms from the ground up—I realized I had developed a repeatable system. Each launch was faster, more profitable, and more sustainable than the last.
In Canada, I saw the untapped potential of fitting ninja into small footprints, and I created my first consulting model to help martial arts, gymnastics, and CrossFit gyms integrate ninja programs. That grew into full-scale ninja gym launches, and today, our consulting spans everything from ninja curriculum design to business coaching for owners.
The Ninja’s Way Podcast
Q: Name of your podcast
A: The Ninja’s Way—a name that reflects the mindset of overcoming obstacles in both sport and life. It’s about athletes, entrepreneurs, business owners, and parents finding their way through challenges and victories.
Q: How did you start your podcast?
A: It grew out of my consulting work. Week after week, I was having deep, strategic conversations with gym owners about the problems and solutions shaping our industry. I wanted those conversations to reach more people.
When I connected with Jake Marshman, owner of Conquer Ninja, we shared a vision for creating a platform that blended industry insight with community stories. That’s how The Ninja’s Way was born—a place where the ninja world can come together to have education and conversation about the industry of ninja.
On a personal level, I also wanted to challenge myself to level up my communication and storytelling. Hosting a podcast has pushed me in ways I never expected, and it’s helped me grow not just as a consultant, but as a voice in the community.
Q: Favorite guest and why
A: Mike Cook, hands down. I had wanted him on the show since day one. When the interview finally happened, he exceeded every expectation. His story, testimony, and humor lit up the conversation, and I found myself smiling the entire time.
Q: Who would you like to have as a guest on your podcast? And why?
A: I would love to have Jessie Graff on the podcast. She’s been a trailblazer in the sport, not only as one of the top female ninja competitors but also as someone who has shattered stereotypes and inspired an entire generation of athletes. I admire her discipline, her resilience through injuries, and her ability to keep reinventing herself while lifting others up. Her perspective would be powerful for both athletes and business owners in our community.
Ninja Life & Training
Q: How long have you been doing ninja warrior?
A: I’ve been doing ninja for over a decade, since I was 15 years old.
Q: How did you get into ninja warrior?
A: I was never the “athletic kid,” but I loved movement. When I found a ninja gym, it felt like home. It gave me the freedom to train calisthenics, try handstands, and build strength without judgment. From day one, I was hooked and I’ve never stopped.
Q: What ninja gym is your favorite to train at? And why?
A: My original gym, Ninja Fitness Academy. Two stories of ninja obstacles and a weight room was the best of both worlds. And when you build something with your own sweat and tears, it just hits different.
Q: If you could do ninja warrior with any celebrity dead or alive, who would it be? And why?
A: Robin Williams. He had such an infectious energy and a way of making everyone around him feel seen and valued. I imagine we’d be laughing through the entire course, and his ability to bring lightness into challenging moments would be the perfect balance to the intensity of ninja.
Q: What is your favorite obstacle to train on? And why?
A: Balance obstacles. After a shoulder reconstruction from a ninja injury, I poured myself into balance training. Now, it’s become one of my strongest ninja skills.
Q: What obstacle is the toughest to do in your eyes? And why?
A: The Invisible Ladder. The pure strength, grip, and timing demand so much energy and technique—it’s both humbling and motivating.
Community & Career Impact
Q: Definition of the ninja community
A: It’s where the misfits find their home. That’s what it was for me—a place where I could belong, grow, and become who I was meant to be.
Q: How has ninja warrior affected your life?
A: Ninja has shaped every part of my life. It was my first true athletic love, the catalyst for my career, and the reason I became the strongest version of myself.
Q: Gyms you’ve helped grow or start
A: I’ve personally grown nine facilities and programs. Since launching Ninja Gym Academy, we’ve worked with over 250+ gym owners and helped open 40 new gyms and programs worldwide.
Q: How have you helped families bring ninja gyms to their communities?
A: We guide them through every step—business planning, space selection, equipment, presales, opening, curriculum, and ongoing operations. We help them create spaces that aren’t just gyms but communities that bring life change to their students and families.
Advice for Athletes & Coaches
Q: Best advice for people trying ninja for the first time
A: It’s supposed to be hard. Failing is part of the fun—every fall is a step toward mastering something new and a better you.
Q: Best advice for kids’ ninja coaches
A: Never underestimate your influence. Your tone, energy, and presence can inspire a child for life. Communicating with intention—your words and actions—may be the thing that changes their story. Take this responsibility seriously.
Life Beyond Ninja
Q: What do you do to relax?
A: A hammock in my backyard or a walk at sunset are simple moments that recharge me.
Q: Go-to dessert
A: Chocolate chip cookies. Classic, comforting, and always worth it.
Q: Where can people find you?
- Facebook Group for starting, growing, and scaling ninja programs: Link
- The Ninja’s Way Podcast: theninjasway.com/podcast
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