This show is a Japanese show that is really big here in the states. G4 has done a couple of competition shows here to send one or 2 people over to Japan to compete. This is a show that many stations have tried to mimic here with varied results. The show Wipeout on NBC is one of them. It is fun but not the same.
You get all sorts of competitors in Ninja warrior. You have the silly people that have no chance at getting even past the first stage and then you have the ones that are in such great condition that you are surprised if they don't win the whole thing. Olympic Athletes have competed in this along with many others. Some of the most popular competitors are called the all-stars. They have been competing in this for a long time. One is still competing from the very first episode.
Although the show is not that old it is still a very popular in this country and also so popular in Japan they have a amusement park with a smaller replica that people can try. Some people will train there. Others have build their own personal replicas of some of the obstacles in their backyards.
If you ever find this show on T.V., Give it a try. I am sure you will get a kick out of it like I do.