In the world of obstacle course racing (OCR) and Ninja training, Toroz Ninja stands out as a beacon of innovation and quality. Known for its cutting-edge training equipment, from ultra-grip grips to elite combo cages, Toroz Ninja caters to athletes striving to conquer the toughest challenges. At the heart of this dynamic brand is Przemek Trapkowski, a visionary entrepreneur and advocate for OCR. With a passion for pushing boundaries, Trapkowski has not only built a brand but also a community that thrives on strength, endurance, and determination. This article delves into the story of Toroz Ninja, its groundbreaking products, and the inspiring journey of its founder, Przemek Trapkowski.
1. Let’s start off simple. Tell everyone who you are and a little bit about your background and background to start an equipment and training company?
I’ll share more about myself as the founder in the next chapter, but first, here’s the story of the company. Toroz was founded in 2020—because what better time to start a business than during a global crisis (the pandemic)? 😊At that time, there were already a few companies producing OCR equipment in my country and across Europe. However, most of them seemed more like side projects or small-scale “garage” productions rather than full-fledged businesses.
My vision was to create a professional company that would fill a niche in the growing European market by offering high-quality, well-designed, and easily accessible OCR equipment. From the very beginning, the goal was to establish an international brand—one that is creative, recognizable, and embraced by athletes worldwide. The mission has always been not just to provide the tools people need, but to make them specifically want Toroz products.
By 2025, we have earned solid recognition within the European OCR community and are steadily growing our presence beyond Europe. We are proud to have been part of the OCR European Championships in Italy (2022, 2024) and Hungary (2023), as well as the OCR World Championships in Belgium (2023) and Costa Rica (2024).We collaborate with most European National Federations, many of the top commercial event organizers across the continent (and beyond), dozens of OCR clubs, and hundreds of athletes.
Our product range covers everything from grips and ninja training equipment to full-scale obstacles. We supply gear for home use, races, and public installations, including OCR playgrounds in Poland, Sweden, Germany, France, Lithuania, Italy, Croatia, and other countries. We’re also proud to ship our equipment worldwide—even to China.
2. Going through the Toroz website, there is nothing about you that I could find so please, how did you find the sport of obstacle racing and/or ninja and how did you get started?
2015 was the year I tried my first obstacle race here in Poland—and I’ve been part of the OCR world ever since. Today, it’s more than just a sport for me; it’s my hobby, my job, my volunteer mission, and my life.
In 2016, I started gathering a group of athletes to compete as a team in OCR events. Shortly after, I formalized it as a registered club, and we continue to compete today as xRunners Club. That same year, I was one of the founders of the Polish OCR Federation (OCR Polska), which is responsible for the development of OCR in Poland. The federation is a member of the European Obstacle Sports Federation and World OCR (FISO). In 2019 using my professional experience in the event industry, I had the honor of serving as the Event Director of the OCR European Championships, held in Gdynia, Poland. In 2020, I became the Vice President of the Polish OCR Federation and also launched the Toroz brand with the goal of becoming the most recognizable, high-quality OCR & Ninja brand in Europe.
To this day, I continue to work on growing, innovating, and expanding the sport. I have been an active OCR athlete since 2015, achieving small personal successes in the 40-44 age category at the OCR European Championships (2022) and the OCR World Championships (2023). Additionally, I am a trainer at an OCR Gym that I’m a co-owner Gdańsk, where we help prepare young OCR athletes for competition and polish our own shape and techniques.
In a nutshell, my world revolves around obstacles
3. How did Toroz start? What was the push behind the business launch and how did it start? What is your position there?
I’ve done quite a few things in my life. 🙂 I have experience in manufacturing—including boat building using materials that we now use for our best-selling series – ULTRA GRIP products. I also have solid experience in B2B sales, marketing, and corporate event organization. Before launching Toroz, I was running a successful local event agency. But in 2020 I got to a place I’d been planning for several years, I had been part of this incredible and rapidly growing sport, watching how it captivated people—but also noticing what it was missing. And what it lacked was quality equipment. I have a highly competitive mindset and no fear of taking risks and I love seizing opportunities.
I sold my company, teamed up with the best manufacturing engineer I know, and started my next adventure. And now, here we are.
4. Currently, you service the European Union. How many countries are your products in? Are you looking to get into the US market? If so, can you elaborate on your plans?
There isn’t a single country in the European Union where we haven’t yet shipped our products. Currently, 78% of our total sales come from exports within the EU, 20% from Poland, and the remaining 2% from outside the EU—including destinations like the USA, Mexico, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and even China.
A Toroz branch in the U.S. would be the fulfillment of a dream. And I treat dreams as goals. 😉
5. You have a wide variety of products, from rigs to grips, to training pieces to full obstacles and more. How are you deciding what to sell and what is not needed? What are the biggest selling products and what products do you believe are most helpful to those in the obstacle world?
There are no unnecessary products in our assortment. 🙂
Some sell exceptionally well, while others are more niche—but all have their purpose and dedicated customers. Our goal is to be a manufacturer that provides obstacles for everyone.
However, two product categories are particularly important to us:
ULTRA GRIP Grips – These composite grips with a rough texture significantly enhance grip strength. They are unmatched compared to metal or wooden alternatives. Even when slightly wet, they offer a much more secure hold—one of the many reasons why athletes love them. 😊 I’ll add (with great pride!) that almost all of our grip shape prototypes are handcrafted—and designed by me personally. And I use them every day at our Gym for training.
Training Structures RIGS – Our bestsellers include the T-Rex, Bison, and Godzilla models, designed primarily for public spaces but also popular among clubs and private backyard setups. Of course, all come with the necessary safety certifications. These structures, installed in public parks across various cities, were often the first publicly accessible OCR training facilities in those areas. Thanks to them, many obstacle course racing enthusiasts had their first taste of the sport—It’s hard to find a product more helpful than one that truly meets users’ needs and fuels their passion.
Our equipment can be found across Europe, in countries like France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland, among others. And that’s something I’m truly proud of. 😊
6. From your website, you have been partners with OCREC, Tough Viking, Runmageddon, Inferno Run and other race brands. You have partnered with gym and OCR teams from Europe. You were also involved with the World Obstacle Championships in Genk and, I believe Costa Rica as well. How did that partnership start, will it be continuing in Sweden and how have these relationships helped build your brand?
I met many of the people behind these organizations during my journey as an athlete, so it was definitely a great starting point for our collaboration. It also helped in building new connections, as well as understanding what athletes need and want.
Of course, we will be present at both the World Championships in Sweden and the European Championships in Portugal—we can’t wait! 🚀
7. Where do you see Toroz in one year, five years and beyond?
Within the next five years, I want Toroz to become a recognized brand in the U.S.
And after that, I’d love to fight for a spot on the podium over there.
8. Tell us what you love most about being in the obstacle community and how it feels to see your products in use around the world.
There’s no competition that brings more emotion and adrenaline than OCR.
That’s why I personally love this sport. And since my passion is also my business, the pride I feel seeing what we create in so many places, with such a positive reception, is truly beyond words.
9. If you could snap your fingers and have one thing happen for you and Toroz, what would it be.
TOROZ the most recognizable OCR & Ninja brand in the world.
10. The floor is yours. This question is open ended. What have we missed and what do you want us to know about you, Toroz or anything else?
This year, I will start looking for a business partner in the U.S. I’m not looking for a distributor—I’m looking for a partner with whom I can launch a Toroz branch in the U.S. in 2026 and start building there.
Learn more about Toroz https://toroz.eu/?v=0b3b97fa6688
