Kunoichi Stage 1

Dancing Stones

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k1-dancing-stones.jpgCompetitors cross the water by stepping on a series of "stones" (round things covered with yellow plastic) on top of poles. 

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I have mixed feeling about the Dancing Stones. It's certainly a challenge, but it slows down the beginning of the course. Watching the competitors gingerly make their way across the dancing stones seems less exciting than watching them start at a run, the way they do on Sasuke.

Windmill Cross

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k1-windmill-cross.jpgCompetitors must walk across three rotating "crosses" and then jump to a platform. 

The Windmill Cross was surprisingly hard. Perhaps because the windmills were so narrow, many competitors lost their balance and fell in. 

Barrel Roll

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k1-barrel-roll.jpgCompetitors must walk on a rolling barrel. The subtitles show the Japanese announcer calling this "Cylinder Walk," but the icons on the right side of the screen say "Barrel Roll." 

This obstacle is basically the same as the Log Roll from regular Ninja Warrior Stage 2, except a barrel rather than a log. It's really a barrel, too. Actually two barrels joined at the ends. They couldn't be bothered to cover or even paint the barrels. You can even see the small cap on the end.

Tornado Run

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k1-tornado-run-2.jpgCompetitors run along a series of balance beams while a wind machine blows at them. This obstacle seemed to be hardest for small, light competitors. Also competitors wearing baggy clothes.

Triple Hurdle

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k1-triple-hurdle.jpgCompetitors jump on a series of trampolines, and bounce up onto hurdles. Similar to an obstacle in stage 2 of Kunoichi season 4 and 6. The Triple Hurdle seemed hard, and probably would have eliminated a lot of competitors if they had gotten that far.

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The announcer said that competitors had to jump, not climb up onto the hurdles with their hands. It was kind of unclear where they drew the line, though. Some of them seemed to me to be climbing up, at least somewhat.

Escape Ladder

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k1-escape-ladder.jpgCompetitors climb up hanging metal ladder. This seems simple, but climbing a ladder which isn't firmly anchored at the bottom is harder than it looks. It took even the fastest Kunoichi competitors a good 25-30 seconds to climb the ladder.

Dancing Stones

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k2-dancing-stones.jpgCompetitors cross the water by stepping on a series of "stones" (round things covered with yellow plastic) on top of posts. 

Windmill Cross

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k2-windmill-cross.jpgRevised obstacle. There's only one rotating platform, instead of three, and they have to jump to a narrower platform.

Barrel Roll

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k2-barrel-roll.jpgUnchanged from season 1, competitors walk on a rolling barrel.

Gateway Bridge

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New obstacle. Competitors walk along a narrow balance beam that curves up and down, and also includes a 45° angle. The Gateway Bridge replaces the Tornado Run, with a much narrower beam and no wind machine.

Triple Hurdle

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k2-triple-hurdle.jpgUnchanged from last season, competitors jump on a series of trampolines, and bounce up onto hurdles. Similar to an obstacle in stage 2 of Kunoichi seasons 4 and 6.k2-triple-hurdle-2.jpg

Escape Pole

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k2-escape-pole.jpgNew obstacle. Competitors climb up a fireman's pole. This replaces the Escape Ladder from the previous season.

Dancing Stones

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k3-dancing-stones-2.jpgk3-dancing-stones.jpgCompetitors cross the water by stepping on a series of "stones" (round things covered with yellow plastic) on top of posts.

Windmill Cross

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k3-windmill-cross-3.jpgUnchanged from Season 2, competitors must step onto a rotating "cross" and then jump to a small platform.

Double Hurdle

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k3-double-hurdle.jpgNew obstacle. Competitors climb over two walls, the first lower than the second. 

Barrel Roll

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k3-barrel-roll.jpgCompetitors walk on a rolling barrel.

Balance Bridge

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k3-balance-bridge-3.jpgNew obstacle. Competitors run across a bridge which rotates when unbalanced. An obstruction in the middle prevents competitors from running along the center axis and avoiding the rotation. This obstacle appears identical to a version of the Balance Bridge from early seasons of Sasuke (men's Ninja Warrior).  This version of the Balance Bridge has lots of hard edges that look painful.

Hop Rocket

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k3-hop-rocket-3.jpgk3-hop-rocket-2.jpgNew obstacle. Competitors jump on a trampoline and use a small platform to hop across the water. The Hop Rocket uses the same trampoline as the Jump Hang in Sasuke.

Angle Run

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k3-angle-run-2.jpgNew obstacle. Competitors run along a platform at a 45° angle. This one looks fairly easy as long as the competitors keeps moving fast enough not to lose momentum.

Escape Ladder

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k3-escape-ladder-2.jpgk3-escape-ladder.jpgReturning obstacle. As in Season 1, competitors climb a rope ladder loosely affixed at the bottom. Harder than it looks, it takes even the best competitors 20 seconds or so to get up the ladder.

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