- November 23, 2024
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Justin Gilliam, 13, hones his ninja skills at Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach. Photo by Ray Boone
Palm Coast's Justin Gilliam, 13, is ready to be the next American Ninja Warrior. Photo by Ray Boone
Justin Gilliam, 13, hones his ninja skills at Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach. Photo by Ray Boone
Justin Gilliam, 13, hones his ninja skills at Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach. Photo by Ray Boone
Justin Gilliam, 13, hones his ninja skills at Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach. Photo by Ray Boone
Justin Gilliam, 13, hones his ninja skills at Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach. Photo by Ray Boone
Justin Gilliam, 13, hones his ninja skills at Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach. Photo by Ray Boone
Palm Coast's Justin Gilliam, 13, is ready to be the next American Ninja Warrior. Photo by Ray Boone
Justin Gilliam was sitting on the couch in his family’s Palm Coast home, absentmindedly flipping through channels on the television, when something good finally caught his eye.
He put the remote down and stared at the TV in awe.
On it were people performing incredible feats of athleticism: swinging from rope to rope, sprinting over wobbly slacklines, grasping slippery bars while the water below taunted the athletes into falling.
Justin, now a 13-year-old student at Indian Trails Middle School, watched “American Ninja Warrior” — a TV show that features competitors attempting to complete series of obstacle courses of increasing difficulty — for the first time seven years ago.
He’s followed the show, now in its 11th season, religiously ever since. Every Monday, when a new episode is aired, he’s watching. He hopes to one day appear on the show. His favorite competitors are Daniel Gil and Joe Moravsky. He’s met them both in person.
Although he started competing not even a year ago, Gilliam qualified to compete in the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association World Series Championship Finals on July 26-28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He doesn’t remember that first episode he watched all those years ago — only the feeling it gave him.
The perfect ninja warrior is equipped with an explosive blend of speed, balance, grip and upper body strength.
There are no ninja gyms in Flagler or Volusia counties, so in order to hone his skills, Justin would go to a local park, usually the Wickline Center Park in Flagler Beach, and spend hours learning to leap from bar to bar on the jungle gym.
“I was just swinging and trying to challenge myself,” he said. “It just came naturally to me.”
He practiced at home, too. He learned to do handstands and flips off the couch in the living room — despite warnings from his mother, Christina Gilliam.
“He’s been doing this since he was little,” she said. “I’m always telling him to be careful.”
He worked out exclusively at the park and at his home for about three years, until he discovered NinjaFit Gym in Orlando last summer. He was eventually invited to be a part of Team ONA, at the Obstacle Ninja Academy in Orlando, this past December. His team’s practices are once every other week, with a one-on-one coaching session each month.
His parents make the 1 hour and 45 minute drive (not including traffic) to the academy so he can practice.
“It’s not easy, but we do it because we feel like he enjoys it and he’s good at it,” Christina Gilliam said. “We have always been very supportive with our kids with whatever they’ve wanted to pursue. He’s extremely determined, and that’s developed even more. If he misses an obstacle, he’s not going to stop until he gets it.”
But because of the distance, he goes to the gym once a week. Until then, he’s at home or the park.
“I’m always looking for stuff to swing on,” he said.
Justin was introduced to competition when he started training at NinjaFit. His first competition was in October 2018.
The top 50% from each local tournament advance to regionals, with the top three from regionals advancing to the world championship.
Out of about 15 kids, Justin was one spot away from qualifying for the regional. He fell on the slackline.
However, he got his second chance a month later at the Mighty Orion Gym in Jacksonville. He finished third overall and qualified for the regional in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in May.
There were 10 obstacles at the regional, with a 14 1/2-foot warped wall in the middle.
Justin, standing at 4-foot-9, got over on his third try, barely grasping the edge with his fingertips before pulling himself up.
“It was just an amazing feeling,” Justin said. “I was able to power through the course after that.”
The effort Justin and his parents have put in has been exhausting. The trips to the park, the arduous training sessions at the gym and the long drives have taken their toll.
But it’s been 100% worth it.
“We want to see Justin continue to grow and be challenged,” his father, Nathan Gilliam, said. “We want him to build his character and skills as far as he wants to take it.”
