Is the new Pentathlon test obstacle racing or a Ninja course?

What do you think of the UIPM test event? Does it qualify as OCR? Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks to Scottish OCR athlete, Louise Ferriman, and UKOSF Director, James Burton, who have provided us behind-the-scenes footage all weekend from Turkey.

[VideoWill]

I think ninja IS short course OCR. At its core, it’s obstacles, in a row, that you’re racing to do as fast as you can. Whether it’s branded OCR or not, it is fundamentally Obstacle.Course. Racing.
Honestly, there is nothing really “ninja” about these ninja courses. It’s just a fun catchy term… but it’s definitely OCR In my mind.

[ThatDonChannel]

This smacks of an old-school 1970s-era "Superstars" obstacle course. Only the wheels and the "warped wall" make it Sasuke/Ninja in any real way.

[andrewwiest]

Its definitely more ANW, not OCR. Yes, that puts me in the "ANW is not OCR" camp. But big picture, anything's better than nothing. Like Matt said "we are testing for the olympics". I think no matter the finish product, it'll be a watered down event for the pentatheletes. Regardless the distances, a more Savage/Spartan/TM typical OCR event seems extremely unlikely. My votes for an event like TMX. All honesty, it's pretty underwelming so far. But I do recognize its potential. I wish all participating the best. I hope for its success and hopefully it brings something to OCR or ANW in general (jab, jab) 😁

[Nathar]

This seems reasonable to me for obstacle racing. I am not a fan of 100m ocr in general, but this seem representative of it. Generally, I think 200m would be better, and then add an actual 50 meter carry - or an actual strength component (high pull, atlas stone, whatever). In any case, I do consider it obstacle racing, but it's not what attracted me to the sport and it's not what I'm training for or excited by.

[laszloberes]

I’m an Olympian in Modern Pentathlon. This new discipline, “obstacle racing” is a joke in view of replacing horseback riding - jumping on a unfamiliar horse. There is no consideration for the athletes who have to be good in fencing, swimming, running and shooting all seriously disadvantaged if even a slightest injury is sustained in the obstacle discipline. It will never be a full out contest like “Ninja” or “”Obstacle” because Pentathletes will hold back to be able to compete in the other more “important” disciplines like fencing and swimming where proportionally a lot more points can be earned for a good performance! This “circus” was the idea of cowards, inefficient UIPM managment and the blackmail by the obstacle racing organization to gain Olympic entry through ruining an existing sport with incredible history and feats by its pentathletes. 😢

[thibaultD]

Hi there,
So here is my thoughts about this test event, since I was also invited but not support this.

First of all what does ocr mean?
(Obstacle course racing).
OCR is a name that can be given at any sort of run competition with obstacles.

So basically ninja warrior is OCR, survival is OCR, and so on.

Then we have in my opinion nothing to do with this type of discipline since like you say it is ninja warrior style.

In the other way, if we make it longer and more OCR style as we know for the Olympic's, than it isn't so interesting to watch for million of people on tv at the Olympic's..

So what i do is ignore it and see it as chance to get the name "OCR" bigger.

[jasonlaw]

It makes sense they don't have a longer obstacle course because they already test running in the running event. Would like to see more strength since it seems like it isn't tested anywhere else in the pentathlon. Should be weight that they actually have to train for (like 200lb+ atlas stone).

[gregorybarrett]

This is weak for both an OCR/ninja course. Way to easy in my opinion for Ninja. This is not a challenge at all. Also, it is way to short to really get the best OCR athletes shown.

[brit]

This is Ninja. I liked that the racer who fell had to go to the end of the feature before retrying again. Obstacle racing needs some running component. This Ninja. Purse might be good for the pentathlon but not a true OCR event.

[FablestoLearn]

I think something like the Shot put would be better.

Pros- Already a record you can test against, upper, core and lower body necessary to throw would ensure no skinny dudes and a good exercise to simulate throwing grenades

[JoseCarvalho-efbi]

Yeah this does seem lame, but this is done by someone not trained for this format. Imagine seeing the 100m Sprint in the Olympics with Bolt or your local 100m athletic event. This may not be a format most of us like but this can be as challenging to do at top level. Matt have you seen Phillippines Sea Games 2019 100m race? If not check it out 😉

[henrysevern]

Never did pentathlon, I understand the original form was based on what was expected of a nineteen century cavalry officer.
swimming, running, shooting, horse riding and sword fighting.

The up to date version could have the swim, followed by a running event, obstacle course carrying a rifle with the shooting at the same time, straight after the swimming event as in the triathlon. The fencing event could be replaced by a mixed martial art event, allowing a combination of boxing, western wrestling, Judo and Tae Kwon Do rules. This would make the whole event more interesting to watch, raise the profile of the pentathlon and allow more participation of less wealthier individuals. Because a person I knew who was a pentathlon athlete had his own horse for the show jumping, firearms for the shooting event and all the equipment the fencing.

It would also be more in line with what is expected of an average soldier in 21st Century.

[szawid]

As an OCR racer this would be embarrassing.

[Scott-fiml]

I say it is the same as Hyrox & Spartan.

[cactitiger]

Its more so ninja warrior than ocr but ninja warriors has a much harder course and isn’t always so speed based

[jr]

Call it whatever you like but it’s still just lame. This is the kind of lame-ass thing you’d do on a corporate team-building day. Not a good look for either ocr or pentathlon.