The Spider Flip (スパイダーフリップ) was introduced into the Third Stage with course redesign in SASUKE 18. However, because of the extreme difficulty of the previous obstacles, no one attempted it until SASUKE 21.
It was taken from the Heartbreaker, which was used in VIKING. A ledge, much like an I-beam girder where there was a lip to hold onto on either side, must be climbed from underneath. At the end of the first ledge, there is another ledge, aligned perpendicular to the first, that must also be scaled. Once the competitors have done this successfully, they may rest on a small foothold before jumping backward 2 meters (6.56 feet) to land onto another setup symmetrical to the first. They then must climb back down and across to the resting bar before the Gliding Ring.
In SASUKE 22, Kanno Hitoshi was disqualified on this obstacle, because he struck the scaffolding with his foot while trying to make it to the vertical ledge.
This led to a modification in SASUKE 23, where the ledges were placed further from the scaffolding, as well as hiding the scaffolding to avoid future disqualifications. In that tournament, Okuyama Yoshiyuki became the first competitor to fail the jumping portion of the obstacle. Takeda Toshihiro was the only competitor to fail it twice.
The Spider Flip was preceded by the Hang Climbing, with no rests from the beginning of the Jumping Bars to the small foothold at the base of the vertical beam. Competitors usually spent about a minute without resting, adding to the difficulty of the obstacle.
This obstacle had a unique completion on SASUKE 24, as Lee En-Chih completed the transition by turning his body around the first set, so that he would be facing the second set, meaning he would only have to jump forward to complete it.
It was indirectly replaced by the Bungee Rope Climb after Urushihara Yuuji's kanzenseiha in SASUKE 24.
Kanno Hitoshi went off course on the Spider Flip, SASUKE 22
Kanno Hitoshi on the scaffolding of the Spider Flip, SASUKE 22
Kanno Hitoshi tried to make the transition to the second ledge of the Spider Flip, SASUKE 23
Other Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior[]
American Ninja Warrior 4's Spider Flip in Stage Three
American Ninja Warrior 5's Spider Flip in Stage Three
American Ninja Warrior 6's Spider Flip in Stage Three
The Spider Flip appeared as the seventh obstacle in Stage Three from American Ninja Warrior 4 to American Ninja Warrior 6, with an 8-foot (2.44-meter) gap between the two ledges.
Throughout its lifespan, only Brian Arnold had attempted and completed this obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 5, thus became the first American to do that.
It was replaced by the Area 51 on American Ninja Warrior 7.
On American Ninja Warrior 9 in Cleveland course, this obstacle was fused with the I-Beam Cross and renamed the I-Beam Gap.
On American Ninja Warrior: All Star Spectacular, the obstacle was fused with the Lumberjack Climb and was named the Cat Grab.
SASUKE Vietnam[]
SASUKE Vietnam 2's Spider Flip
The Spider Flip, locally called Cú Nhảy Của Nhện (literally Spider Jump, not to be confused with Jumping Spider) appeared in Stage 3 as the fourth obstacle from SASUKE Vietnam 1 to SASUKE Vietnam 4, and then as the fifth obstacle on SASUKE Vietnam 5.
However, unlike in SASUKE or American Ninja Warrior, there was a part of the beams which was painted red that competitors couldn't touch any part of their body on, or they would be disqualified to avoid future disqualifications similar to Kanno Hitoshi in SASUKE 22. This rule came into play, with Jamie Rahn on SASUKE Vietnam: All-Stars Competition 2019 being the first victim of it.
On the first two seasons of SASUKE Vietnam, to make the obstacle easier than one used in SASUKE or American Ninja Warrior, the obstacle was not preceded by any obstacle with no rest (similar to the Heartbreaker or I-Beam Gap).
On SASUKE Vietnam 1, the obstacle eliminated Phạm Tuấn Hiệp when he failed to make the transition to the vertical ledge of the second beam. In total, five competitors were able to complete the obstacle.
On SASUKE Vietnam 2, the obstacle eliminated Perry Oosterlee and Nguyễn Xuân Tứ when both of them failed to make the transition to the vertical ledge of the second beam, and Chunmin Yang when he lost his grip at the end of the obstacle. However, 23 competitors still completed the obstacle.
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SASUKE Vietnam 3's Spider Flip
Starting from SASUKE Vietnam 3, the obstacle was preceded by the Hang Climbing with no rest, making it similar to the one used in SASUKE and American Ninja Warrior. However, due to the brutality from said previous obstacle, only Mat Redho was able to attempt and complete the obstacle on that season.
On SASUKE Vietnam 4, four competitors attempted the obstacle, with three of them (Đỗ Văn Quang, Nguyễn Doãn Thọ, and Mat Redho) completing the obstacle, and only Nguyễn Minh Tuấn failed to pull himself up the vertical board of the first ledge.
On SASUKE Vietnam 5, Trần Minh Khương was disqualified by touching his leg to the red part of the first beam. Combined with Nguyễn Minh Tuấn once again failed to pull himself up the vertical board of the first ledge, this made the Crazy Cliffhanger and Flying Bar were left unattempted.
Ninja Warrior UK[]
Ninja Warrior UK 4's Spider Flip
Ali Hay attempting Spider Flip on Ninja Warrior UK 5
On Ninja Warrior UK 4, the Spider Flip appeared as the second obstacle during the finals' Stage Three, which was very similar to the one used during the first two seasons of SASUKE Vietnam (since the obstacle was not preceded by any obstacle with no rest), with it being coloured to look like the Spider Flip used on American Ninja Warrior 5. The gap was revealed to be 6 feet (1.83 metres) wide.
Then on Ninja Warrior UK 5, the obstacle returned once again as the second obstacle during the finals' Stage 3. This time, to make the obstacle harder than the one used on the previous season, the gap between the ledges was made larger.
Ninja Warrior UK 6's I-Beam Gap
On Ninja Warrior UK 6, the Spider Flip appeared as the the third obstacle in the finals' Stage One. However, the obstacle was erroneously called the I-Beam Gap (due to its similarities with the actual I-Beam Gap in American Ninja Warrior 9). For the female category, the obstacle has been modified by installing a rope in the middle of the obstacle.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
Ninja Warrior Germany 2's Spider Flip
On Ninja Warrior Germany 2, the Spider Flip, locally called Hangel-Träger mit Sprung (literally Hanging Rack with Jump) appeared as the eighth obstacle in the Semi-finals. Unlike SASUKE, both of the beams were longer, and the second beam was raised higher than the first, making the obstacle resemble the I-Beam Gap in American Ninja Warrior 9. Despite that, the obstacle was very easy, as only Denny Henkel failed on it.
Ninja Warrior Germany 3's Spider Flip
Then, on Ninja Warrior Germany 3, the Spider Flip appeared as the eighth obstacle in the Finals' Stage One. This time, no competitors failed this obstacle.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
Ninja Warrior Poland 2's Spider Flip
On Ninja Warrior Poland 2, the Spider Flip, locally called Skok Pająka (literally Spider Jump, not to be confused with Jumping Spider) appeared as the eighth obstacle during the finals' Stage 1, with similar configuration to the version from Ninja Warrior Germany. The obstacle turned out to be very difficult as it eliminated five competitors.
Ninja Warrior France[]
Ninja Warrior France 7's Spider Flip
On Ninja Warrior France 7, the Spider Flip, locally called Les Poutres Inversées (literally Inverted Beams) appeared as the third obstacle in the Semifinals, which was very similar to the one used in Ninja Warrior UK 6.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the TBS/NBC/Polsat broadcast and external information found.
SASUKE[]
| SASUKE | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 19 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 20 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 21 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 22 | 1 | 2 | 50% |
| 23 | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| 24 | 6 | 7 | 85.71% |
| Total | 11 | 15 | 73.33% |
American Ninja Warrior[]
| ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANW4 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| ANW5 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| ANW6 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| USA vs. Japan | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| USA vs. The World | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| Total | 9 | 9 | 100% |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
| NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| NWP2 | 8 | 13 | 61.53% |
| Total | 8 | 13 | 61.53% |
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