Langdon Dinsdale, a 39-year-old Clermont resident known as the “Barefoot Ninja,” made his ninja debut on the opening episode of Season 16 of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. Despite a valiant effort, Langdon wiped out after losing his grip on handlebars, but his unique approach and story have left a lasting impression.

Langdon is a biomechanics specialist who works with athletes and those dealing with pain at his business, Soma Health & Performance in Clermont. Originally from Canada, Langdon moved to Clermont in 2013.

His journey to becoming a ninja began a few years ago when he took his kids to a local ninja gym.

“I really wanted my kids to try fun new movement activities,” he says.

While his children were participating in a class, Langdon was asked if he wanted to compete in a ninja competition that weekend. For fun, he signed up and ended up doing well. He continued in competitions, making it to the world championships for one of the ninja leagues.

When American Ninja Warrior casting came around, one of his clients, Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, encouraged him to apply. Despite having stayed off social media for the past decade, Langdon applied and received the call to compete on the show.

The show was filmed in Hollywood more than a year ago, but Langdon’s episode just premiered on Monday.

“I made it far enough to advance, but a few teenagers beat me in time so I didn’t get to go to the next round,” he says. “My fingers slipped off that last jump. I barely remember what happened. It didn’t seem like it was something that I would have had trouble with.”

See Langdon’s run here –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttg2etQcO1I

Langdon is excited about the upcoming casting for Season 17, which will begin soon.

“When I went in and competed, I had never taken a ninja class,” he says. “I was just an athletic guy winging it. Since filming, I’ve taken ninja classes and am very excited to go back and compete.”

Why is he called the Barefoot Ninja? Langdon has been progressing towards not wearing traditional shoes over the past 15 years. Ironically, he was once a shoe salesman and had quite the shoe collection. But after learning all the health benefits of walking barefoot, he transitioned to a complete barefoot life for the last seven years. He was the first ever contestant to run the obstacle course barefoot on American Ninja Warrior.

“I’ve traveled all over the world barefoot, and I even ran a half marathon barefoot,” he says. “I have barefoot shoes that are more flexible and shaped like feet, but I try to do everything completely barefoot.”

Congratulations on your run and we hope to see more from the barefoot ninja!