About
Located south of downtown Orlando, Obstacle Ninja Academy (ONA) aims to provide a destination for locals and tourists alike. With rainstorms and humidity a constant reality, the space was designed to take advantage of a dry, air-conditioned facility.
ONA is open 7 days a week to provide members and guests a safe and entertaining environment in which to challenge their abilities and improve their skills. Many of our staff members have competed on American Ninja Warrior and in other pro level competitions and love to share their knowledge and experience through coaching classes and private lessons.
Staff
Cael Boyer
Cael has been doing ninja for 5 years and coaching for 4. His all time favorite obstacle is the salmon ladder. He is originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania. He has played soccer for 15 years since he was 3. Also, he enjoys skim boarding at the beach and recently, rock climbing.
Caitlin McDonough
Caitlin McDonough is a Senior at Windermere High School and has been doing ninja for 7 years. She currently competes in several pro level competitions through WNL and NSC and plays several other sports as well. Caitlin loves working with younger kids and teaching them various ninja skills through ONA’s Ninja Minis Program and also enjoys coaching our weekly kids classes. She is excited to continue growing the sport through coaching!
Caitlin Reichel
Caitlin Reichel was fortunate enough to be born and raised into a circus family. Until the age of 8, her family traveled with different circuses including Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus. Her family then moved to Florida where she began her training with the Orlando Ballet School Academy. Caitlin trained with OBSA six days a week and was a part of many of the professional company's productions. Currently Caitlin travels the world doing circus events but calls Orlando home. She’s been from Japan to Jamaica. Performing at theme parks, music festivals, USO tours, NBA halftime shows, international corporate events and many productions home in Orlando. She really enjoys teaching on her down time. Breaking down technique to all ages helps grow any performer. When Caitlin is not performing or coaching others, she hones in her entertainment knowledge by being a technician. She is part of the props and carpentry department for Cirque Du Soleil’s Drawn To Life.
Jay Lewis
Jay Lewis is an 6x American Ninja Warrior National Finalist, and former World Ninja League Elite Male World Champion. He’s 22 years old, and currently a senior at the University of Central Florida studying Integrated Business. Jay has been doing ninja warrior training for over 11 years, and has competed internationally for Team USA as a part of the 4 Nations Special back in 2022, helping them secure the win. Along with ninja, Jay loves to rock climb and run in his free time.
Jay Martinez
Jay Martinez is a professional athlete, stunt performer, movement coach, certified personal trainer, and American Ninja Warrior competitor with a diverse background in movement and performance.
His experience spans ninja training, parkour, gymnastics, tricking, tumbling, acrobatics, hand balancing, strength and conditioning, and dance. Jay has competed on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, performs professionally with Action Horizon at Universal Orlando, and has competed as part of a professional hip-hop dance team.
As a coach, Jay works with athletes of all ages and skill levels, using his broad movement background to break down complex skills into approachable progressions while emphasizing technique, safety, confidence, and creativity.
Known for his high energy and positive coaching style, Jay is passionate about helping athletes discover what they’re capable of, push their limits, and have fun throughout the process.
Kristy Reichel
Aerial Duo Trapeze and Aerial Silks
Luke Dillon
Luke Dillon is a 5x ANW Competitor and National Finalist! He has a background in gymnastics and loves climbing as well. Luke has been coaching ninja for 8 years. He's 24 and from Warwick, Rhode Island.
Olivia Lopez
Olivia Lopez has been doing ninja for 8 years and is a Senior at Olympia High School. She is on the Varsity Weightlifting team and the Varsity Flag Football team. She is coming off of her rookie season on American Ninja Warrior where she advanced to the National Finals!
She also competed on Season 3 of American Ninja Warrior Jr. Olivia is a 2x WNL World Champion as well as 1x FINA World Champion. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, rock climbing, playing with her dog, hanging out with friends, and playing football.
Riley Broadhurst
Riley is 19 years old from North Florida. He is attending the University of Central Florida on the path to becoming a doctor. Riley loves sharks, ninja, volleyball, and spending time with family and friends. He has been training for ninja warrior for almost 8 years and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon.
Ripken Alexander
Ripken Alexander has been training ninja for almost 7 years. His favorite obstacle is any kind of bar tech. He currently attends UCF, where he is majoring in Sports Video. Outside of ninja, Ripken enjoys playing pickleball, video games, and watching sports.
Taylor Penman
Taylor Penman was a competition dancer for 12 years starting her professional performer career at 18 as a dancer on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She then moved to Las Vegas to continue her dance career becoming a Las Vegas Show Girl and venturing into the circus world. After extensive time and training she then moved to San Diego, CA to perform as a featured Aerialist in a circus show at Sea World San Diego. From there she decided to take her performance career to Orlando, FL to become and Dancer at Universal Studios. While living in Orlando she has continued to expand her career path as a Aerial Trainer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Stunt Performer and Show Rigger for Universal Studios, a Stunt performer for Telemundo, Stunt performer and Coordinator Assistant for Disney Cruise Lines, and a Tumbling Stunt performer at Disney World. While doing so, she hasn’t stopped her constant training on many apparatuses in the Aerial Arts, performing all around the world with companies and touring shows as a Professional Aerialist. Taylor is working hard and staying safe at her current stunt performing jobs at Disney World and Universal Studios, while growing her Duo trapeze and Duo adagio acts as Duo Dames with her circus partner performing across the world. Taylor loves to stay busy but always finds time to enjoy the best parts of life.
Michelle and Robin Lopez
Michelle and Robin handle a large portion of the “behind-the-scenes” operations for ONA. Michelle keeps everyone in line and on-time and makes sure the paychecks go out.
Robin fills in as needed with coaching vacancies and helps design and build new obstacles for the gym when he’s not working with Michelle on the office side of the business.