Hamden gym owner is the ‘Last Ninja Standing’

HAMDEN — Drew Dreschel grew up in South Florida. His Dad worked construction; his Mom was a Target employee. At 14, a fan of Jackie Chan with dreams of being on television, he decided he wanted to learn how to do a flip.

That decision set him on the path to becoming one of the pre-eminent “Ninja” practitioners in the world, a well-known figure on the national airwaves, and a role model for children in the Hamden area and beyond.

Dreschel, fresh off becoming the “Last Ninja Standing” in this latest season of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” said Wednesday he quickly realized he had some skills as an acrobat.

He figured out how to backflip within two days. He learned about parkour — a form of urban gymnastics where practitioners race, leap, and scale through cities — and picked it up with relative ease. A few years later, he found himself doing it on TV as a member of “Jump City Seattle.” “Ninja Warrior,” in turn, seemed like an interesting, albeit unfamiliar, opportunity when it made its way to America in 2011.

Dreschel said he took up an offer from producers and was welcomed into a budding new sport and subculture, where competitors were asked to test their own individual limits and thus supported one another.

“I got into it not knowing what ‘American Ninja Warrior’ was. They had told me it was an obstacle course TV show and they thought I’d be really good at it,” said Dreschel. “I had no idea it was as awesome as it is.”

He has been competing ever since. The sport has taken him across the country and the world — including to Hamden, where he instructs students at New Era Ninjas, part of New Era Gymnastics.

In his first season, Dreschel found success, but was ultimately waylaid by a knee injury. While competing in Japan, he came down awkwardly on one leg, tearing multiple ligaments, cracking and chipping bones.

But he managed to recover to compete again, becoming an inspirational figure in the process.

At the time, Dreschel had his own business detailing cars — something he couldn’t do on one leg. So, he started driving around Florida holding parkour training sessions — and he drew a crowd, with people coming out to meet him and offer their support.

He said he believes his perseverance, whether it’s after his injury or in the years since as he continues to test himself against the course, resonates with people.

“That was a big awakening for me — that people really find inspiration in what you do, and (you) can really build off of that — and the way that you carry yourself and approach things really impacts other people’s lives,” said Dreschel. “I think that, subconsciously, they see me trying over and over and over and that’s something that’s going to stick with them.”

As his career has continued, Dreschel said the chance to parlay his success into inspiring and helping young people with the help of his fellow Ninjas has been enjoyable.

He can help them be safe as they pursue their own Ninja dreams — a far cry from his own backyard wrestling days power-bombing (a pro wrestling move) his friends — offer them a healthy, enjoyable form of exercise, and share lessons that resonate in the sport and beyond.

“I still consider myself way down (low) when it comes to celebrity status or being famous — I’m still just someone that people know from the show — but I still think I’m doing the best I can to impact people in a positive way,” said Dreschel. “And that’s super-cool to me.”

Dreschel said the drive to pursue his own vision of success and the impulse to help others comes from his childhood. His parents supported him in whatever endeavor he chose and taught him to go after what he wanted in life; he hopes to pass that latter lesson on.

While speaking at school recently, he said a child asked him for his bandana — he called him up on stage and told him he could have it, but he’d have to do 15 push-ups.

“If you want something, don’t be scared to ask for it, because the answer will always be no unless you ask. But you can’t be scared to work for it,” said Dreschel. “I think just little things like that, I’m going to do everything I can (to share them)… I think it’s these little things that will go a long way.”

Dreschel is still chasing ultimate success in “American Ninja Warrior.”

On two occasions, he’s been the competitor that’s made it furthest through the show — each year, you go from qualifying the obstacle courses get more-and-more difficult.

He said it was very cool to be the “Last Ninja Standing” this time around, to be sure. But it’s not the end goal. To be declared the winner of an “American Ninja Warrior” season, you have to make it through stage four, which is a 75-foot rope climb that needs to be done in under 30 seconds.

Age is in the back of his mind, Dreschel said — each year, he feels a little older as he grinds through the training and work required to prepare himself to compete. If he had not previously finished Stage Three in a past season, there would be doubt, he said. But with that, he knows he can compete at the highest level.

And, with that, he continues to pursue his goal.

Through experience, he’s found a way to make peace with the challenge of his sport. Dreschel said every competitor falls at some point or another — the trick is not to dwell on that, but to embrace the moment and its varied possibilities.

“I don’t really get as nervous anymore (when it comes time to make a run through the course). But there is a lot of pressure because people expect me to do well. Anyone who’s been on the show for a long time, people expect them to do well,” said Dreschel. “But you have to be okay with falling. It really just comes down to that. You have to accept that you could fall, and you have no control over it — you can only do up there and do your best.”

“American Ninja Warrior” has allowed him to realize his childhood dream to be on television, Dreschel said. But he is happy with where he is, he said, not just because he realized the goal — he’s gone about it in a way he finds meaningful.

“I always wanted to be on TV. I really did. I think I would have been a great stunt actor — I’m not giving up yet,” said Dreschel. “I’m happy with where I’m at because I ask myself why did I want to be on TV — (and it was) not to be rich, not to be famous, but because I want to make a difference.”

That platform could be bigger, though — and he’s hoping to grow. In addition to opening the gym in Hamden, he still hopes to get into stunt work.

And he’d like someone — could be him, could be someone else — to beat the show and use it as a platform for good works. That’s an impulse he’s stuck with, he said.

“What else are we here for (beyond lending a hand)?” Dreschel said with a laugh. “I’ve always been one to help people out. Again, it goes back to how I was raised — do for others what they can’t do for themselves and help others where you can. It’s just something I grew up doing. I guess it’s not leaving — it’s not going anywhere, that’s just a trait I have. I’m just kind of stuck with it. I’ll continue to try to help others and be a positive influence.”