1275 W Elliot Rd, Tempe, AZ 85284
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480-269-7577
Building Champions
Hitsquad was founded in 2019 by Lee Cates and Brian Rambo after they fell in love with the sport of Ninja and appeared on the hit TV show American Ninja Warrior. At the time, Arizona didn’t have a truly dedicated ninja facility, so they set out to create something special—a fun, inviting, and encouraging space unlike any other gym. Their mission was simple: to push both kids and adults to be their best while having a great time doing it.
In 2023, Hitsquad expanded into a state-of-the-art 20,000 sq. ft. ninja and parkour facility located next to Costco in Tempe. Today, we are recognized as one of the most sought-after ninja gyms in the country, producing world champion athletes while also helping kids build confidence, improve fitness, develop self-esteem, make friends, and—most importantly—have fun. We invite you to come see why so many people love Hitsquad.

Lee Cates
Co-Owner
Lee is a decorated Marine combat veteran and a world champion ninja. His dedication to discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness carries into every aspect of Hitsquad’s culture. Lee’s passion for coaching and developing athletes is a driving force behind the gym’s success.

Brian Rambo
Co-Owner
Brian Rambo is a world champion ninja whose appearance on American Ninja Warrior earned him official recognition—August 30th was declared “Brian Rambo Day” by the Mayor of Tempe. Highly disciplined and committed to excellence, Rambo approaches coaching with focus and determination, pushing athletes to reach their highest potential through hard work and perseverance.

Marc Ratliff
Head Coach
Born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Marc Ratliff built strength and discipline long before stepping onto the ninja course. After a career in construction, he discovered Ninja Warrior training in August 2021 and quickly rose through the ranks—earning hundreds of medals, 3rd place in the 2025 WNL Tech Discipline, and 2nd in the 2025 FINA Speed category. A multi-time competitor at WNL, UNAA, and FINA Worlds, Marc now serves as HitSquad Ninja Gym’s Head Coach, blending real-world grit with elite competition experience to inspire athletes of all ages.
If you do not see your question here, please give us a call at 480-269-7577 or send us an email to info@hitsquadninjas.com
We recommend starting with a beginner class in the program you’re interested in, as each program has its own skill levels and requirements. Plan to attend a trial class so we can help determine the best fit for the student.
Alternatively, you can come to an Open Gym session—which is free play—and request an evaluation from our coaches.
In a sense, yes. Kids can start most classes (outside of toddler programs) at age 5, once they’re able to follow instructions from coaches. We do offer certain events and Open Gym sessions for younger children as well.
On the other end, we have athletes in their 50s and 60s who enjoy ninja training! We also offer a toddler program specifically designed for ages 2–4.
Yes and no. We are not a daycare, but parents can drop their kids off for classes if the child is old enough to use the restroom independently and does not require constant supervision.
If you plan to drop off your child, please check in with the front desk for more details.
Most of our coaches actively train and compete in ninja, parkour, or the specific niche of classes they teach. We have several world champions, along with top athletes from around the globe—many of whom have appeared on the American Ninja Warrior TV show. We strive to keep a 6-to-1 child-to-coach ratio. While open gym has fewer supervisors, all of our staff actively participate in ninja in some capacity. Our coaches aren’t just instructors—they’re true experts in their sport.
If it’s your first time, we recommend arriving 10 minutes early to ensure your waiver and payment are taken care of. To save time, sign the waiver ahead of time by clicking the Sign Waiver button above and creating an account. Be sure to add all family members who will be at the gym—even if they aren’t participating—such as younger (or older) siblings and parents.
Unlike other facilities, we will never have you sign a contract. If you ever feel there’s a place that’s a better fit, we encourage you to go there. We pride ourselves on being one of the top ninja and parkour gyms in the country and don’t believe in handcuffing you into staying if you don’t want to be here. We let our team, staff, and training speak for themselves.
Please note: all sales are final. While you are not required to fulfill your time at our gym, any prepaid fees are non-refundable.
For Open Gym and Trial Classes, a reservation is not required. Open Gym sessions start every hour on the hour and last for 1 or 2 time slots—just show up! Before attending, please create an account and sign the waiver online. All attendees, including parents and guests, must sign a waiver.
For Trial Classes, after selecting the class you want to attend, please arrive 10 minutes early to check in before the scheduled start time.
Yes, for safety reasons, close-toed athletic shoes are required. Please no Crocs, sandals, or open-toed footwear. Shoes are not required when using the trampoline or foam pit areas.
Pricing & Membership Information
Other Services: For pricing on other classes, parties, clinics, and special events, please refer to our schedule or contact us directly. We offer a variety of custom packages to fit your needs.
Open Gym: $15 per hour or $99 per month for unlimited open gyms (2 hours a day).
Trial Classes: $20 for new customers only.
Drop-In Classes: Available for returning customers at current rates (subject to change). Drop-ins are only allowed if space is available—please contact us before arriving.
Memberships: Start at $145/month and include Unlimited Open Gym privileges each month.
Yes! We offer a distance discount for those who drive more than 25 miles to get to the gym. Many families travel for the best training for themselves and their kids, and we like to help where we can. We have members who come from as far as Flagstaff and Tucson.
We also offer:
On occasion, we also run special promotions and limited-time discounts.
Great question! Not to brag—but we have one of the top and largest Ninja competitive teams in the country, and the largest in Arizona. When we show up at competitions, you’ll usually see Team HIT Squad athletes on the podium across multiple age groups.
We currently have two levels of competitive Ninja team and one Parkour team:
If you’re interested in competing but not quite ready yet, we offer a Beginner’s League at our gym where kids ages 4–13 can try competing, set goals, and work toward higher levels.
Our competitions are open to spectators, so families are always welcome to come watch, cheer on Team Hitsquad, and get inspired!
This is actually one of the most common questions we get asked, and the answer is no. We don’t even charge a coaching fee at competitions. Our coaches all compete, so there’s almost always one of them available. We also often help kids from other gyms who may not have a coach. The only time there would be a coaching fee is for a private lesson.