Walnut Man Falls Short in 'American Ninja Warrior' Bid

The end of Derek Nakamoto’s run on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” came down to his grip.

The Walnut resident sailed through much of stage two on what is commonly called the world’s hardest obstacle course on the finale that aired Monday night. But when he came to the metal spin, a revolving rack of hanging chains that required him to leap and grab one, he couldn’t hold on.

“Got on there. Got a little sweaty palm and just couldn’t hold on to that grip,” he said after his run.

He wasn’t the only one. Of the 24 competitors who tried to complete stage 2 of the course dubbed Mt. Midoriyama, only one made it to stage 3 before failing to climb a wall hanging upside down.

The competition typically takes place in Japan, but this season the show’s producers brought the four-stage course to Las Vegas. The previously taped finals have been airing this month on G4 and NBC.

Athletes from six regions in the U.S. competed. Around 200 from each region tried out and the top 30 advanced to the quarter round. Of those top 30 in each region, 15 were chosen for the finals for a total of 90. The show also selected 10 wildcards from the various regions to bring the number of competitors to 100. 

Nakamoto may not have completed the course this year, but he plans to make a return next year.  The 21-year-old said before the finals aired that he intends to return to the to Mt. Midoriyama in 2013, taking his dad with him.  

In many ways, the Cal Poly Pomona industrial engineering major was made to compete in “American Ninja Warrior.”

From an early age, Nakamoto loved to climb things, from furniture around the house to apples trees in the yard.

He had an interest in gymnastics growing up. However, he picked all of the other sports because gymnastics was his sister’s thing.

At Walnut High School, he competed on the wrestling and water polo teams.  He also does rock climbing and free running, a variation of parkour that involves flipping, spinning, and leaping over obstacles.

“I’ve always been up for a challenge,” he said. “I’ve always wondered what else could I do.”

He started watching “American Ninja Warrior” in 2006.

In 2007, his idol Makoto Nagano completed the grueling course and Nakamoto said he knew it was something he wanted to do as well one day.

“Makoto has always been an inspiration to me,” he said. “He has such sincerity and honor that you can’t compare anyone to him.”

Nakamoto met his idol at the finals, which was captured on an airing of the show in which Nakamoto raced to fastest time in stage one of the finals. 

“It was like running into a celebrity that you fall in love with,” he said. “Seeing Makoto Nagano was more of a rush to me than anything else.”

Nakamoto has been training off and on since 2008, but could not compete until now because the show requires contestants to be 21 or older.

Dad Art Nakamoto said during the finals episode that his son was disappointed when he first heard he would have to wait three years to take on the course.

“The last three years he’s been working really hard,” Art said. “This is his dream come true right now. “

The 24-Hour Fitness trainer, who plans to open his own gym, works hard at staying in shape, from balancing workouts to pull ups to rock climbing.  The Ninja Warrior competition is not something you can really train for, however, because it requires spur of the moment adaptation, he said.

Focus is the key to doing well in the competition, said the actor and stuntman. He said he is determined to conquer the course.

“I want to be known because of that show. I don’t want to known as that guy who fell or the guy who only made it so far,” he said. “Life is a challenge and I love it.”