New to CNL?
Find out more about the league format, how to progress from each stage and what you need to join our Canadian Ninja League community! Read further to understand the different stages and format for this season.
Stage 1
It all begins with Stage 1. Gyms across Canada will host comps that can vary in format. A typical competition is the Classic Course, which is a mix of upper-body and lower-body obstacles. Some other formats include speed courses, scrambles, skills or multi-course (speed and strength).
CNL Athletes will then qualify for Stage 2.
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Anyone can compete in a Stage 1 Qualifier. Only CNL Members will be eligible to qualify to Stage 2 and earn leaderboard points.
If a CNL athlete has already qualified for Stage 2 (from another competition), the next qualified CNL athlete will advance through to Stage 2.
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The Top 5 or 50% (whichever is highest) will qualify to Stage 2 from any of the Stage 1’s in BC, AB, MB and ON.
For Quebec Stage 1’s only: Top 5 or 25% (whichever is highest) will qualify to Stage 2. This is new for Season 6.
Example:
If there are 11 athletes competing, then the Top 6 will qualify for Stage 2.
If there are 4 athletes competing, then all 4 will qualify to Stage 2.
Athletes that have already qualified to Stage 2 will not take another qualifying spot. It will go to the next qualifying CNL member.
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Gyms can choose to have a single course or multi-course competition format.
Points are awarded based on number of obstacles completed and then time. You may choose to retry one failed obstacle (you must retry that obstacle immediately after you fail, before moving on). If you have a ‘clean run’ and pass all obstacles without using your retry, the athlete will earn a bonus point.
Placement is determined by the most number of points, then time. If there is a tie on points, then it’ll go based on time.
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Regions are based on your home province:
East Region - ON, QC, NL, NS, NB, PE, MB*
West Region - BC, AB, SK, NT, YK, NU, MB*
*Manitoba athletes can choose which region they'd like to participate in for this season.
*US / International athletes will compete in the region that is closest to their home state.
Stage 2
All Stage 2 competitions will be multi-course. Athletes will run two courses and their final results are based on the Percentage Based Scoring System. These courses can be a mix of Speed, Strength, Burnout, Hybrid. Host gyms will determine which formats to host.
The number of Stage 2’s per province will vary, and qualifying spots will be updated for each season.
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Anyone can compete in a Stage 2 qualifier. Only CNL Members who qualified from a CNL Stage 1 will be able to advance to the Eastern / Western Finals.
If a CNL athlete has already qualified for the Eastern / Western Finals, the next qualified CNL athlete will advance from Stage 2.
If a non-CNL Member competes in Stage 2, they can not qualify for the Eastern / Western Finals.
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If an athlete has qualified at a WNL Standard Qualifier to the WNL Regional, they may also compete at a CNL Stage 2.
The athlete must purchase a CNL membership to compete in Stage 2, and they must email CNL (info@canadianninjaleague) to connect the two systems and ninjaworks together.
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Still to be updated for Season 6
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Yes, athletes from the US / International may compete in Stage 2, provided they are a CNL member and have qualified from a CNL Stage 1 or they are cross-qualifying from a WNL Standard Qualifier.
2026 Eastern / Western Finals
Western Finals
April 3-5, 2026
Hosted by Elemental Ninja
Edmonton, AB
Eastern Finals
April 10-12, 2026
Hosted by MST Ninja Gym
St-Hyacinthe, QC
2026 National Finals
May 8-10, 2026
Hosted by Momentum Movement Academy
Port Coquitlam, BC
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Only CNL athletes who have qualified from their region’s Stage 2 will be able to compete in the Eastern / Western Finals.
Registration links will be sent directly to qualified athletes.
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Each host gym is responsible for determing the multi-course format for their Finals. Percent Based Scoring System will be used for final results.
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The Top 8-10 (to be confirmed) from each Eastern / Western Finals will qualify and advance to National Finals.
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Yes, as long as they are CNL members and have qualified from Stage 2 to these regional finals. US athletes will podium but will not take a spot away from a Canadian athletes to advance to National Finals. US athletes will not advance further to National Finals.
This is where the east meets the west as Canadian ninjas from across Canada come to compete for the final Canadian Champion title!
Athletes must qualify from either the Eastern or Western Finals.
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Only CNL athletes who have qualified from Eastern or Western Finals can compete in the National Finals.
Registration links will be sent directly to qualified athletes.
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National Finals is a 3 day event, where all athletes will run two prelim runs (Speed and Strength).
Top x (number tbd) will qualify to Day 3’s Finals, where the format is yet to be determined.
World Ninja League
We have a couple of cross-qualifying opportunities for our CNL athletes to qualify directly to the World Ninja League Regionals / World Championships.
Last season, the Top 10 from the 2025 National Finals qualified directly for the WNL Championships in June 20-23, 2025 in Greensboro, NC. We will confirm the allotted spots for next season shortly.
Cross-qualify from WNL’s area qualifiers to CNL Stage 2. The top 3 from a WNL area qualifier will be eligible to compete at a CNL Stage 2. CNL Membership must be purchased to advance to the Eastern / Western Finals
Cross-qualify from CNL Stage 1 to WNL Regional.
Learn more
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Each ninja league is different with their own set of rules and format. Get to know CNL’s rules HERE.
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Get your Season 6 Membership HERE
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Hopefully we can answer some of your most common questions HERE.
If not, please contact us at info@canadianninjaleague.org.
