Faces of the Valley: Kiski Area fourth grader takes center stage in ninja skills competitions
A Washington Township 10-year-old is climbing to new heights in the competitive ninja sports world.
Caelin Kaminski won the championship in the mature kids (9- and 10-year-old) division at the 2023 World Ninja League Premier Series Championships in November in Forox Ninja Park in Brooklyn.
“It was really awesome,” Caelin said. “It was by biggest win.”
A fourth grader at Kiski Area North Primary School in Allegheny Township, Caelin showed signs of agility from a young age, and his mother, Candice Kaminski, took notice.
“He started going across a long set of monkey bars in the park at his preschool when he was about 3 or 4,” she said. “It honestly freaked out the other moms and myself when it first started happening. I realized none of the other 4-year-olds were doing this.”
But Caelin kept climbing and developing his agility. He even dressed up as a ninja for Halloween when he was 4.
His father, Derek, and Candice supported their son’s adventurous nature and adapted to his fearless physical pursuits.
“I got used to it and encouraged it,” Candice Kaminski said. “He just kept climbing on everything.”
After a short stint where Caelin tried parkour, his mother searched “Ninja Gym” on the internet, and the rest is history.
“Thankfully, there were two gyms in Pittsburgh,” Candice Kaminski said. “We chose the one that was easiest to get to and have been hooked ever since.”
Ninja competitions are a family affair for the Kaminskis.
Caelin and his younger brother, Alex, 8, train and compete with Steel City Ninja in Ross.
Describing Caelin’s competition style as extremely focused, Candice Kaminski said obtaining a “full clear” (completing a course with no fails) is what concerns Caelin the most.
“As long as that happens, he seems satisfied,” she said.
During Ninja Challenge competitions, participants negotiate obstacle courses with various challenges — from jumping, swinging and balance to climbing, floor skills and jumping.
To qualify for the World Ninja League Premier Series, Caelin had to place at a competition in Greenville, S.C.
In Brooklyn, he was the only competitor to finish all nine obstacles, checking in with a time of 2:55.05, becoming the first WNL Premier Series mature kids division champion.
“I was happy to win because in my first run I fell and really didn’t think I would win,” Caelin said.
Caelin practices his ninja moves several days a week at Steel City Ninja and at home, utilizing a home training area that includes a rock wall, pull-up bar and ninja gym.
He said he doesn’t get sore unless he’s holding kettle balls for three minutes.
Caelin’s earliest memories revolved around physical activity.
“My favorite subject is gym,” he said. “As a 3-year-old, I would hang on just about everything I saw.”
The family has traveled to competitions in South Carolina, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Michigan and Ohio.
“It would be awesome if this would really catch on, and I don’t know why it hasn’t. It’s a total commitment on our end. It’s time we get to spend together as a family,” Derek Kaminski said.
Caelin competes about 10 months out of the year. He is ranked 12th overall in the mature kids division of the World Ninja League season standings. He has competed in almost 20 competitions, locally and regionally.
His big win in Brooklyn sent shock waves through the family.
“I was absolutely over the moon. I felt and knew it was so well deserved,” Candice Kaminski said. “It’s hard to describe the emotions you feel when you know your child is capable of something and things fall into place just how you knew they would.”
Caelin’s education on ninja competitions began at age 4, when he started watching “American Ninja Warrior” on TV.
Caelin said his friends sometimes ask him how he’s able to complete the rigorous courses. They think it’s cool they have a ninja around in the fourth grade, he said.
Along with blisters and callouses, ninja nerves can sometimes rear their head.
“I do get nervous before competitions and sometimes you’re up high,” Caelin said. “If you fall, you land on a mat. Sometimes it’s so low it’s hard not to touch the ground, which is another obstacle.”
Caelin sometimes wins cash at competitions. He bought a new Xbox with money he won at the event in Brooklyn.
Derek Kaminski said life lessons also can be learned while competing in the World Ninja League.
“It teaches the kids discipline, and there’s a lot of failure,” he said.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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