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Kingdom Ninja: A Warrior's Guide to Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health
World-class athlete Daniel Gil, the "Kingdom Ninja," gives readers a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at being an American Ninja Warrior and shares his expert advice on becoming physically, mentally, and spiritually fit.
Daniel Gil’s unprecedented rise from American Ninja Warrior rookie to grand champion didn’t happen overnight, much like the healthy habits he’s developed over the years that have become the secret of his success.
Now Daniel wants to help you pursue a lifestyle that promotes total well-being—body, mind, and soul. With practical guidance and plenty of encouragement, Daniel shows you how to stay healthy and motivated, so you can live your best life with faith as your foundation.
Though you may never compete as a ninja warrior, you can train like one and become stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually, allowing you to make a greater impact on God’s Kingdom.
Daniel Gil’s unprecedented rise from American Ninja Warrior rookie to grand champion didn’t happen overnight, much like the healthy habits he’s developed over the years that have become the secret of his success.
Now Daniel wants to help you pursue a lifestyle that promotes total well-being—body, mind, and soul. With practical guidance and plenty of encouragement, Daniel shows you how to stay healthy and motivated, so you can live your best life with faith as your foundation.
Though you may never compete as a ninja warrior, you can train like one and become stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually, allowing you to make a greater impact on God’s Kingdom.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
9 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 10, 2023
Solid Book
I thought that this was a really nice and refreshing book
The author is very kind and the writing was very encouraging.
I'm not someone who watches American Ninja Warrior but I found that this author's values are very similar to mine which attracted me to this book.
I thought it was very interesting to get the training measurement and nutrition details on what it takes to be a warrior
I also really appreciated how interwoven faith is to the author which is very important to me as well.
All in all, this was a very encouraging and interesting book. Sure, not all of the values are shared with me (for example, the author mentions being an anti-vaxer), but for the most part, I was in unison with the thoughts.
It was also a nice and short book - short and sweet!
Definitely check it out if you like training and learning more about the ninja process!
4.2/5
I thought that this was a really nice and refreshing book
The author is very kind and the writing was very encouraging.
I'm not someone who watches American Ninja Warrior but I found that this author's values are very similar to mine which attracted me to this book.
I thought it was very interesting to get the training measurement and nutrition details on what it takes to be a warrior
I also really appreciated how interwoven faith is to the author which is very important to me as well.
All in all, this was a very encouraging and interesting book. Sure, not all of the values are shared with me (for example, the author mentions being an anti-vaxer), but for the most part, I was in unison with the thoughts.
It was also a nice and short book - short and sweet!
Definitely check it out if you like training and learning more about the ninja process!
4.2/5
April 28, 2024
Fun light read. Read it super quick thanks to the fact it’s 30%-40% pictures and also I started it at the cabin (aka tons of time to read). It’s a mix of his story, specific ninja memories, his philosophy on life, health, Relationship with Jesus, etc.
August 12, 2023
Kingdom Ninja is part autobiography, part recipe book, part workout manual and part Christian Living. Daniel Gil presents his story of how American Ninja Warrior has been a part of his life. Through every chapter, he shares how his faith is inextricably tied to his life, his work and his family. The book is beautifully presented with crisp pictures, great layouts and a thick hardcover. I looked forward to reading his story everyday. I think this would make a great read for teens or adults, Christians, and anyone who loves American Ninja Warrior or autobiographies. I will definitely be recommending this title!
May 26, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
“Kingdom Ninja: A Warrior’s Guide to Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health” by Daniel Gil is a transformative journey that challenges the reader to ascend to new heights of personal well-being. Narrated by the author himself, Daniel Gil, the 2020 American Ninja Warrior Grand Champion, this book is a testament to the synergy between physical prowess, mental clarity, and spiritual peace.
Gil’s narrative is both a memoir and a manual, chronicling his rise from a rookie to a champion in the grueling world of American Ninja Warrior. Yet, it’s his candid sharing of the “behind-the-scenes” – the sweat, the setbacks, and the spiritual epiphanies – that makes this book a standout. His voice, both in writing and in narration, carries the authenticity of experience and the warmth of a mentor who’s walked the path.
The book is structured into three core sections, each dedicated to one aspect of health. In the Physical section, Gil doesn’t just prescribe exercises; he invites readers to understand their bodies, offering strength-building routines, stretching exercises, and nutritional advice that are as much about self-respect as they are about health.
The Mental health section is a deep dive into the psyche of a warrior. Gil discusses overcoming anxiety, fostering positive self-talk, and achieving life balance. It’s here that the book shifts from being instructive to being inspirational, as readers are encouraged to cultivate habits that fortify the mind against life’s adversities.
The Spiritual section is perhaps the most profound, where Gil shares principles for nurturing the soul. His approach is inclusive, focusing on universal values like peace, joy, and faith, making it accessible regardless of one’s religious beliefs.
What sets “Kingdom Ninja” apart is its holistic approach. It’s not just about being fit or mentally strong; it’s about integrating all aspects of health to live a life that’s in harmony with one’s values and beliefs. Gil’s message is clear: we may not all be ninja warriors, but we can all be warriors in our kingdom, fighting for a healthier, happier existence.
In essence, “Kingdom Ninja” is a call to action—a call to rise above the ordinary, to conquer the obstacles of life with grace and strength, and to build a kingdom within that reflects the best of who we are.
“Kingdom Ninja: A Warrior’s Guide to Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health” by Daniel Gil is a transformative journey that challenges the reader to ascend to new heights of personal well-being. Narrated by the author himself, Daniel Gil, the 2020 American Ninja Warrior Grand Champion, this book is a testament to the synergy between physical prowess, mental clarity, and spiritual peace.
Gil’s narrative is both a memoir and a manual, chronicling his rise from a rookie to a champion in the grueling world of American Ninja Warrior. Yet, it’s his candid sharing of the “behind-the-scenes” – the sweat, the setbacks, and the spiritual epiphanies – that makes this book a standout. His voice, both in writing and in narration, carries the authenticity of experience and the warmth of a mentor who’s walked the path.
The book is structured into three core sections, each dedicated to one aspect of health. In the Physical section, Gil doesn’t just prescribe exercises; he invites readers to understand their bodies, offering strength-building routines, stretching exercises, and nutritional advice that are as much about self-respect as they are about health.
The Mental health section is a deep dive into the psyche of a warrior. Gil discusses overcoming anxiety, fostering positive self-talk, and achieving life balance. It’s here that the book shifts from being instructive to being inspirational, as readers are encouraged to cultivate habits that fortify the mind against life’s adversities.
The Spiritual section is perhaps the most profound, where Gil shares principles for nurturing the soul. His approach is inclusive, focusing on universal values like peace, joy, and faith, making it accessible regardless of one’s religious beliefs.
What sets “Kingdom Ninja” apart is its holistic approach. It’s not just about being fit or mentally strong; it’s about integrating all aspects of health to live a life that’s in harmony with one’s values and beliefs. Gil’s message is clear: we may not all be ninja warriors, but we can all be warriors in our kingdom, fighting for a healthier, happier existence.
In essence, “Kingdom Ninja” is a call to action—a call to rise above the ordinary, to conquer the obstacles of life with grace and strength, and to build a kingdom within that reflects the best of who we are.
May 22, 2025
I enjoyed this book, though if I were to do it over again I'd probably try to get a hard copy of the book rather than read it on my Kindle. Parts of this book are kind of like a reference book -- for example, there's a section on warm-up exercises, and that chapter is a list of exercises accompanied with pictures and a description of the movement. There's a few other sections as well where you probably won't jump up and follow the instructions in the middle of your reading, but you might want to be able to flip back to them later (like recipes).
While the guide is split into three sections (physical, mental, and spiritual), the spiritual aspect is woven through this entire book. It is done very tastefully: you don't feel like he's trying to convince you of anything, but spirituality has influenced every aspect of his competing and training, and so he's forthcoming about that.
Not being religious myself, I was curious as to how Gil would handle the Christianity and whether it would be a turn-off -- but it's totally fine. There's a lot of overlap between Christian values and secular values, and what I most remember about Gil's Christianity is the idea of keeping your faith when things don't turn out the way you want them to, which is a good lesson for anybody.
My favorite parts of the book were the parts where Gil described one of his runs on the show, and gave insights on his perspective. For example, I never knew that in the first season of the double dipper, contestants were allowed to do a test run on the obstacle and he fell during the test run. I was also surprised that he seemed to consider climbing Mount Midoriyama too slowly to be his most devastating failure. It makes sense, failing when you're so close to victory, but I would have thought that the times when he fell much earlier in Vegas would be harder to cope with. I mean, wouldn't you feel more proud of getting second place than getting, like, 15th place or something?
Anyways, if you watch American Ninja Warrior and know who Daniel Gil is, I recommend this book.
********************
"Be careful what you tell yourself, because you're always listening."
"The takeaway is to ponder your future -- not selfishly thinking, What do I want? but instead, What do I have, and how can I use it? And then using every gift and talent within your control for good."
While the guide is split into three sections (physical, mental, and spiritual), the spiritual aspect is woven through this entire book. It is done very tastefully: you don't feel like he's trying to convince you of anything, but spirituality has influenced every aspect of his competing and training, and so he's forthcoming about that.
Not being religious myself, I was curious as to how Gil would handle the Christianity and whether it would be a turn-off -- but it's totally fine. There's a lot of overlap between Christian values and secular values, and what I most remember about Gil's Christianity is the idea of keeping your faith when things don't turn out the way you want them to, which is a good lesson for anybody.
My favorite parts of the book were the parts where Gil described one of his runs on the show, and gave insights on his perspective. For example, I never knew that in the first season of the double dipper, contestants were allowed to do a test run on the obstacle and he fell during the test run. I was also surprised that he seemed to consider climbing Mount Midoriyama too slowly to be his most devastating failure. It makes sense, failing when you're so close to victory, but I would have thought that the times when he fell much earlier in Vegas would be harder to cope with. I mean, wouldn't you feel more proud of getting second place than getting, like, 15th place or something?
Anyways, if you watch American Ninja Warrior and know who Daniel Gil is, I recommend this book.
********************
"Be careful what you tell yourself, because you're always listening."
"The takeaway is to ponder your future -- not selfishly thinking, What do I want? but instead, What do I have, and how can I use it? And then using every gift and talent within your control for good."
August 10, 2023
It was truly a joy to listen to this--not only was it narrated by the author, but I've followed Gil for several years on American Ninja Warrior! I really enjoyed learning more about his own story, both as it relates to ANW and in the rest of life. He truly seems like the real meal deal.
This is a comprehensive read on physical, mental, and spiritual health, and I enjoyed each element. As ever (whatever we read), of course it's important to be discerning: I did note a few references to Bill Johnson and his book Dreaming With God; Johnson is a senior pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, CA, which is rooted in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) "movement," and I would urge readers to do their research on this before picking up the book "because the Kingdom Ninja recommended it." (Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church is an excellent resource on the topic.)
That aside, I immensely enjoyed Gil's conversational tone, stories, tips/tricks, and recipes, as well as the amount of Scripture included. I'd certainly like to try out some of the stretches and recipes!
4 stars, taking into account the aforementioned BJ/NAR references alongside a few about "being the best version of yourself."
I received an audiobook ARC of _Kingdom Ninja_ from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a comprehensive read on physical, mental, and spiritual health, and I enjoyed each element. As ever (whatever we read), of course it's important to be discerning: I did note a few references to Bill Johnson and his book Dreaming With God; Johnson is a senior pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, CA, which is rooted in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) "movement," and I would urge readers to do their research on this before picking up the book "because the Kingdom Ninja recommended it." (Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church is an excellent resource on the topic.)
That aside, I immensely enjoyed Gil's conversational tone, stories, tips/tricks, and recipes, as well as the amount of Scripture included. I'd certainly like to try out some of the stretches and recipes!
4 stars, taking into account the aforementioned BJ/NAR references alongside a few about "being the best version of yourself."
I received an audiobook ARC of _Kingdom Ninja_ from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 3, 2026
My daughter and I got into American Ninja Warrior in 2019 and we've watched every episode we could get our hands on since then!
Daniel is admittedly and unashamedly my favorite competitor, and while the same isn't exactly true for my daughter, he is definitely still toward the top of her list of favorites.
When a new season comes out, we wait until it's over and binge the whole season in less than a month - which is a Herculean task in and of itself, because we watch each 90 minute episode in segments!
So it was only a couple weeks ago that we saw the episode where Daniel mentioned having written a book. I immediately stopped what I was doing and checked my library!
It was on Hoopla, and there was even an audio version narrated by Daniel himself! I'm pretty sure I squealed, and then I promptly checked it out.
It's super short. The audiobook is only 4 hours long.
It's a little bit about his journey leading up to ANW, a little bit about his ANW journey once he got there, and a little about his life outside ANW. But it's primarily a book about his faith. And how his faith, and our God has been his #1 priority throughout.
He does share his workout routine - which I copied down. And he shares some recipes - which I also copied. And he provides encouragement and advice for aspiring athletes of all ages.
I absolutely recommend this to all Christians, regardless of age, but especially to those who are actively involved in athletics, those who aspire to be, and those who are parents of kids in, or aspiring to be in, athletics (but have your kids read it too - totally safe for even the littlest ears!)
Daniel is admittedly and unashamedly my favorite competitor, and while the same isn't exactly true for my daughter, he is definitely still toward the top of her list of favorites.
When a new season comes out, we wait until it's over and binge the whole season in less than a month - which is a Herculean task in and of itself, because we watch each 90 minute episode in segments!
So it was only a couple weeks ago that we saw the episode where Daniel mentioned having written a book. I immediately stopped what I was doing and checked my library!
It was on Hoopla, and there was even an audio version narrated by Daniel himself! I'm pretty sure I squealed, and then I promptly checked it out.
It's super short. The audiobook is only 4 hours long.
It's a little bit about his journey leading up to ANW, a little bit about his ANW journey once he got there, and a little about his life outside ANW. But it's primarily a book about his faith. And how his faith, and our God has been his #1 priority throughout.
He does share his workout routine - which I copied down. And he shares some recipes - which I also copied. And he provides encouragement and advice for aspiring athletes of all ages.
I absolutely recommend this to all Christians, regardless of age, but especially to those who are actively involved in athletics, those who aspire to be, and those who are parents of kids in, or aspiring to be in, athletics (but have your kids read it too - totally safe for even the littlest ears!)
August 11, 2023
received an advanced copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
I enjoyed this book. It was a good quick listen, and the pace was on point. I was interested to see how he handled the faith aspect of the book. I was very impressed. I walked away feeling inspired by religion rath than oppressed by it. He talked his faith and used the bible, but it was not in a judgmental or I am better than you way. He talked about his success but also his failures in equal measures (maybe even a little more on the short comings). He talked about how he handled and used the situations instead of using the book to be a "look at me platform."
Now if you are listening to this book for his workouts so you can get crazy in shape, you will probably be disappointed. There were tips and even good reminders for those who have been in the game a while but a training regimen it is not. He also threw in a little bit of science that was interesting regarding recovery (trying not to spoil it). I am very glad i picked this one up (thank you for the opportunity to have a first listen via NetGalley).
I can't help but wonder if there will be additional books that will take a deeper drive in to each area he covers in this book as I feel like he just glossed the surface. That is not intended as a critique, rather a statement of fact. I can see how a deeper diver could have gotten to be a little too much too fast and took away from the light inspirational feeling. I'd recommend this book and have even spoken with my training about some of the information in it.
I enjoyed this book. It was a good quick listen, and the pace was on point. I was interested to see how he handled the faith aspect of the book. I was very impressed. I walked away feeling inspired by religion rath than oppressed by it. He talked his faith and used the bible, but it was not in a judgmental or I am better than you way. He talked about his success but also his failures in equal measures (maybe even a little more on the short comings). He talked about how he handled and used the situations instead of using the book to be a "look at me platform."
Now if you are listening to this book for his workouts so you can get crazy in shape, you will probably be disappointed. There were tips and even good reminders for those who have been in the game a while but a training regimen it is not. He also threw in a little bit of science that was interesting regarding recovery (trying not to spoil it). I am very glad i picked this one up (thank you for the opportunity to have a first listen via NetGalley).
I can't help but wonder if there will be additional books that will take a deeper drive in to each area he covers in this book as I feel like he just glossed the surface. That is not intended as a critique, rather a statement of fact. I can see how a deeper diver could have gotten to be a little too much too fast and took away from the light inspirational feeling. I'd recommend this book and have even spoken with my training about some of the information in it.
October 9, 2025
A solid 4.5. I was expecting more of a biography, but this is actually more a book of exercises and training tips with some personal stories thrown in. Still, it’s a quick and pleasant read. If you’re a fan of the show, or of Daniel Gil, there are a lot of cool pictures of him working out and some of him on the course. It’s easy to locate or skim through some of the specific stretches and exercises shown if you are looking for those, or just looking to read the other parts. The exercises are accompanied by pictures to demonstrate. Some simple recipes included. My guess is that it will appeal most to people who are already fans or people interested in beginning ninja training. Overall, not what I expected, but a nice book with a lot of practical tips about staying healthy mentally and physically.
October 17, 2023
Really wanted to love this book as I love Daniel Gil and was hoping to learn more of his story, but the writing was like a compilation of middle school assignments pasted together. Maybe it would have been better read rather than listened to-being read series of exercise moves didn’t work for me. Stick with your other gigs and save writing for others!
August 14, 2025
Have been a fan and watched ANW for many, many, many years. You naturally have a connection to some contestants over others and Daniel was always one of my favorites. He was always so down to earth and very relatable. His book was good and would be a positive to those who seek guidance for sound advice on a well rounded life including spiritual and physical.
October 6, 2025
Awesome testimony
I love autobiographies. I chose this book because I have watched Daniel on ANW and the testimony he brings to the tv. Also the fact that he is a worship leader in his church as I am at my church. I wanted to read about his life. Not disappointed in any way.
I love autobiographies. I chose this book because I have watched Daniel on ANW and the testimony he brings to the tv. Also the fact that he is a worship leader in his church as I am at my church. I wanted to read about his life. Not disappointed in any way.
September 5, 2025
More of a manual for becoming a ninja.
October 30, 2025
Daniel is my favorite ANW contestant. This book was a great read. I loved each section and took away something from each of them.
August 13, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to an audio version of Kingdom Ninja written and narrated by Daniel Gil. I began watching American Ninja Warrior after seeing a video of Kacy Catanzaro's historic run and I quickly became a fan of Daniel Gil, after seeing him compete several times. Kingdom Ninja is not a biography of ANW. He has written how he has chosen a lifestyle that promotes total well-being—body, mind, and soul. There are recipes, workouts and tips, tidbits of his journey to becoming ANW champion and his spiritual vision. Listening to Daniel was inspiring!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews