‘ Ninja warrior’ helps 4- Hers in finding heart

FAYETTEVILLE — An American Ninja Warrior competitor doesn’t let negative thoughts keep him from trying.

Hoan Do told a group of 500 4- H students, parents and volunteers Thursday that when he begins to feel like he’s not good enough, he has learned to say, “Hold up. That is whack.”

He asked audience members at Barnhill Arena to join him. They stood up, held out their hands in a stopping motion and repeated the phrase with a bit of attitude.

Do, 29, competed in the NBC reality show American Ninja Warrior in 2014. He’s the author of a book published in 2008, Succeeding in the Real World: What School Won’t Teach You.

He was invited to lead a workshop and give a speech during the Arkansas State 4- H Orama. The annual state conference began Tuesday and ends today on the University of Arkansas campus. Students compete in a variety of events, from photography to seed i. They can attend workshops and banquets.

“It’s a good week to get out and make new friends,” said Boyce Cate, 19, the state 4- H president.

This was Cate’s fifth and last state 4- H Orama, he said. He graduated in May from Greene County Tech High School in Paragould.

He prefers to think about having the right attitude.

He told students they should acknowledge their feelings when they are stressed or overwhelmed. They should avoid making the situation worse, and they should do something different.

He told students what they think about themselves is like a radio station, and when the radio station in their heads plays negative thoughts, he suggested they change the station using the phrase he taught them.

“I know it’s silly,” he said. “It makes you feel better.”

Do felt a calling in high school to become a motivational speaker. He wanted to help students figure out what they wanted to do in life, he said. Students can become overwhelmed by the decision, but Do thinks pursuing passions in life is like trying on clothing.

When people try on shirts, they will pick shirts they think look nice, he said. They try one on, and it doesn’t fit. They try another one on, and the fit is comfortable, but the shirt doesn’t look right. They continue trying on shirts until they find one that fits and looks nice.

He went to Pepperdine University near Malibu, Calif., and earned a degree in economics, he said. He is a former corporate trainer.

Do had experience competing in triathlons and marathons before he created an audition video he posted to YouTube, and he was invited to compete for American Ninja Warrior in March 2014 in Venice Beach, Calif. Episodes began airing in May 2014.

Ashley Terry, who will be a sophomore in August at Murfreesboro High School, met Do during a workshop he led on setting and achieving goals. During the workshop, Do asked students to think about goals they had for the next six months, and they had to discuss their goals and plans with a partner.

He demonstrated with Terry. She told him about a goal she has to become the treasurer for a student organization at her school. He wanted her to share how she would feel if she could achieve that goal in front of a group of about 40 teens.

The experience was nerve- wracking, but she won’t forget the experience of meeting someone who was on American Ninja Warrior, she said.