Monkey Bars

Device dimensions 210X130X251 cm

Safety zone dimensions 624X544 cm

Safety zone area 19,7 m2

Maximum user's weight 120 kg

Users group Users over 140 cm tall can exercise on the devices.

Free fall height 2,36 m

Norm PN-EN 16630:2015-07

 

Monkey Bars – Modular Overhead Obstacle for Outdoor Ninja Courses

Monkey Bars is a classic ninja course obstacle: a tall frame on four posts, under which athletes travel in a hang by grabbing one bar after another. Everyone knows monkey bars from the playground, but on a ninja course they become a serious test of grip strength, body control and rhythm. It is one of the most recognisable obstacles in ninja sport and a universal check of upper-body strength.

 

What is the Monkey Bars obstacle?

The module consists of an upper frame with grip bars, mounted on four tall support posts. The challenge is to travel beneath the frame in a hang, without touching the ground, by gripping each bar in turn and moving the body forwards. Hands, shoulders, back and core work throughout, and speed depends on rhythm as much as on raw strength.

 

Benefits for users

 

• A clear goal. Everyone understands the task at once, and progress is visible from attempt to attempt.
• Suitable for different levels. Beginners take it slowly and carefully; advanced athletes move smoothly, skip bars or race against the clock.
• A natural, intuitive movement. Hanging and travelling hand over hand is familiar from childhood, so the obstacle invites even people who have never done ninja training to have a go.
• Great for competition. Monkey Bars works well in timed runs, challenges and events.

Built for outdoor use. The steel construction is designed for intensive use outdoors.

 

Training benefits

Monkey Bars develops what decides results on ninja courses:

• Grip and forearm strength – every hang is a workout for the hands.
• Shoulder strength and stability – a hang requires active work from the shoulder blades.
• Back and core muscles – they keep the body in line and control the swing.
• Coordination and rhythm – smooth, alternating transfer from bar to bar.
• Strength endurance – keeping up the pace over a longer distance.

It is also a good preparation for obstacles that demand a strong grip, such as walls, ropes and bars.

 

Difficulty level

 

Medium to high, with a wide range of progression. The task is easy to understand but demands strength, rhythm and endurance. Difficulty increases with the number of bars, the distance between them, the hanging height, speed and time limits. The longer the hang, the faster the forearms tire, so beginners usually start with shorter sections while advanced athletes race against the clock.

 

How to complete Monkey Bars – step by step

 

1. Start with a secure grip. Wrap the whole hand around the bar with the thumb underneath. Do not hold it with your fingertips alone.
2. Keep your shoulders active. Do not hang passively from the joints. Draw the shoulder blades gently down and keep the body tight.
3. Use rhythm and swing. A slight forward swing helps you reach the next bar, and smooth movement saves energy.
4. Transfer smoothly. Release one hand only when the other is firmly on the bar. Keep your eyes on the next grip.
5. Relax your grip between movements. Do not squeeze harder than necessary, because the forearms tire quickly.
6. Advanced athletes can skip bars. This saves time but demands an accurate grip and good control of the swing.
7. Finish with a controlled drop. Release the bar when above the safety area and land on slightly bent knees.

Before use, check that the bars are dry and clean.

 

Modular Ninja Course Design: Flexible Layouts for Architects and Designers

Monkey Bars is part of a modular system that makes it easier to design a ninja course tailored to a specific site. Instead of a rigid, ready-made set, you work with modules from which you can design a linear layout, a loop or a zone with several routes. You can adapt the layout to the shape of the plot, existing trees, changes in level, pedestrian routes, utilities and safety zones. Monkey Bars works as a mid-course obstacle, as a link between other modules or as a repeating motif throughout the course.

 

What modularity means for an architect:

 

• Designing for a specific space. The number and order of modules follow the site layout, not a fixed set size.
• Phased delivery. The course can be planned in stages to match the client’s budget and extended later without redesigning the whole.
• Different age groups in one space. Modules with different levels of difficulty allow separate routes for younger users and for advanced athletes.
• Consistency with the surroundings. Repeating elements make it easier to keep a unified design language across the landscape scheme.
• Flexibility for the future. The layout can be modified as users’ needs change, without replacing the whole installation.
• Simpler documentation. Repeatable modules with clearly specified parameters simplify drawings, schedules and tender specifications.

 

Monkey Bars in ninja TV shows

 

Hanging bar traverses are a staple of ninja courses. In American Ninja Warrior, variations of monkey bars and jumping bars appear at many points along the course. Jumping Bars featured in the qualifying rounds of seasons 2–3, and one of the toughest versions, Floating Monkey Bars, has been seen in several seasons, including the Las Vegas finals in season 17. Our module is inspired by this classic obstacle.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

Who is the Monkey Bars module for? Children, teenagers and adults, from beginners to advanced athletes. Difficulty depends on the number of bars, speed and the way the obstacle is completed.

Can Monkey Bars be combined with other obstacles? Yes. It is a module of a modular system, so it can be freely combined into ninja course configurations.

Is it suitable for outdoor use? Yes. It is a steel structure designed for outdoor use.

What kind of training does Monkey Bars provide? It develops grip, shoulder, back and core strength, as well as coordination and strength endurance.