Family history, franchise model help second-chapter entrepreneur jump business obstacles

Throughout his career as a car salesman and mortgage broker, Brad Staples felt a calling toward entrepreneurship, he said. And when those industries ran dry, the Missouri native realized it was time to try on a familiar hat: running a family business.

Inside USA Ninja Challenge, 8100 NW 101 Terrace, Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

His venture, USA Ninja Challenge — a franchise kids’ fitness gym inspired by the obstacle-based sport made popular by shows like American Ninja Warrior — opened in April in the Northland.

“I was like, ‘It’s got to be something of our own that we can build and use my grandpa’s example,’” said Staples, referencing the late Robert Rosenthal, a longtime St. Joseph businessman who owned and operated the Stevens Hat Company, which later gained the rights to the Stetson Company. (The business sold in the 1980s after multiple generations of Rosenthal family ownership.)

Because his mother also worked at Stevens Hat Company, he was exposed to the operation — and what it took to build success — from a young age, he noted.

“My grandpa was a huge influence in my life, a very big people person, big on relationships,” said Staples. “So that’s how I try to operate my business.”

Opening USA Ninja Challenge in the Northland — about 40 minutes south of this family inspiration — also was the right move for his family, Staples continued, noting he’s raising two boys who are active in competitive wrestling.

“Finding an option to help the iPad generation and keep the kids from being in front of screens was the problem we were trying to solve,” he explained. “We want to provide this for the kids that don’t necessarily fit into your traditional sports or have the desire to get into competitive sports, but they need to stay active and healthy. It’s a good fit out here.”

Color belt-coded shirts at USA Ninja Challenge-Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

USA Ninja Challenge-Kansas City offers classes for youth ages 2.5 to 17 that are structured into six levels with testing on 20 different obstacles, plus day camp opportunities.

“This is a once-a-week commitment for an hour a week,” Staples said. “The beautiful thing about Ninja is it’s simple to modify the program to be easier or more difficult, depending on a person’s athletic ability and skill level. We’ve had success with children who have disabilities or ADHD. They thrive here just because we’re constantly keeping them moving and engaged.”

“But we also have elite athletes who come in here just for cross training and something else to do,” he added. “It’s a home for everybody.”

The training facility also offers ninja party packages, Staples noted: an offering he thought the Northland needed.

“Between growing up here and having my two boys always looking for birthday party activities and things to do, I knew what was and wasn’t already available here,” he explained. “You’re either going to Liberty or Overland Park — those are the hubs for children’s activities.”

Brad Staples, USA Ninja Challenge-Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

An obstacle course event is expected be part of the modern pentathlon for the first time at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; Staples hopes the exposure will continue to bring awareness and grow the sport, he shared.

“Ninja is an emerging sport,” he continued. “You drive down the road and you’ll see a martial arts studio on every corner. You also see plenty of gymnastics places around, but not many ninja gyms yet. The momentum will grow because it’s a more fun version of gymnastics.”

USA Ninja Challenge-Kansas City is the 35th location for the franchise, Staples said, with the closest other site in Nashville.  

“We’re kind of on an island here,” he continued, “and the thought is to expand to multiple locations here in the Midwest.”

The business is growing ahead of projections, he noted, and being a part of a franchise model has been helpful as he learns the ropes as an entrepreneur.

“You’re still very much self employed and very much on your own,” Staples explained. “But the support that you have from the franchise is great. I couldn’t have done it without them. You don’t know what you don’t know, yeah. So they give you that roadmap.”

“Other people thinking about going into (franchise) entrepreneurship don’t get scared away by royalties and things like that,” he added. “Because it’s worth it when they give you the roadmap to success.”