Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila host “American Ninja Warrior”

Were you ever one of those kids who was enchanted by hooded figures in black leaping from rooftop to rooftop, wielding weapons and vanishing dramatically in an explosion of smoke? Plenty of children worldwide have shared this fantasy of one day becoming a ninja, although, for some, this dream has been carried into adulthood and the force is strong to release the inner ninja they have harbored since childhood.

Like a cherry blossom petal blowing in the breeze, Japan's culture floated across the ocean and a spinoff of the popular game show "Sasuke" was born and renamed for the benefit of North American wannabe ninjas. A new episode of "American Ninja Warrior" airs Monday, Aug. 31, on NBC.

Already well into season 7, the show's competitors have one ultimate goal in mind: become America's top ninja! The city qualifying rounds were difficult and forced the competitors to push themselves to their limits in order to move on to the next stage. From there, they went on to city finals and now they face the true test. Mount Midoriyama, the final stage in Las Vegas, is not for the weak, and only those who have proved they are worthy are allowed to try to achieve what has yet to be achieved: conquer Midoriyama.

These warriors are amazing for what they are aiming to accomplish, but we cannot forget about the other group of amazing people that make "American Ninja Warrior" what it is. A competition is nothing without its hosts, who comment on the action, keeping viewers in the know about what's happening and setting the show's mood.

The individuals who have taken up hosting one of America's most extreme competitions are comedian Matt Iseman, former football player and current sports analyst Akbar Gbajabiamila and sports reporter Kristine Leahy. Iseman has hosted the series since it premiered in 2010, Gbajabiamila since 2013's season five, and Leahy is a newcomer this season acting as co-host.

Iseman didn't always believe he was meant for the world of television or comedy. He started out as a physician, having earned his medical degree from Columbia University after getting his bachelor of science at Princeton. He loved performing standup comedy and decided to steer his career towards his passion instead. His first hosting gig was on the E! series "Scream Play," and he has had guest roles in various shows, including "NCIS" and "Hot in Cleveland."

In an interview with "Mass Appeal," Iseman joked that he had been banned from doing the obstacle course after injuring himself on a previous attempt. Although he can no longer attempt to conquer the course, he admires the individuals he encounters on the show who have the guts to try. Even Gbajabiamila made it over the Warped Wall, and Iseman has all the respect for his co-host for it.

Kristine Leahy as seen in “American Ninja Warrior”

"What's cool is the guy sitting next to me is six-foot-six, 260 pounds and he still has a six-pack. He is an athletic freak. He played in the NFL. When you look at a guy like him, you're like, 'I can't relate to that. There's no way I'm going to play in the NFL,'" said Iseman. "When you watch 'American Ninja Warrior,' you see people like Kacy Catanzaro, the girl who had the incredible performance last year, who's five feet tall and 100 pounds. We have 52-year-old people out here, people who are accountants, people who are teachers -- everyday people. I think it's incredibly relatable to watch ordinary people do extraordinary things."

Gbajabiamila played in the National Football League from 2003 to 2008 as a defensive end. He started out with the Oakland Raiders and eventually moved on to play with the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, and then ended his career playing with the Raiders once more. Since then, he has moved on to work for the NFL Network as a sports analyst, which comes in handy when hosting an action-packed show with ninjas jumping all over the place. He is proud of his accomplishment of reaching the top of the dreaded Warped Wall, something few have managed to do.

"Go to Instagram if you don't believe my words," he said in the "Mass Appeal" interview about his amazing feat. "You have to use your imagination to figure out how I got to the top of the Warped Wall, but guess what? I did it!"

Leahy pursued a career in sports broadcasting and has a degree in journalism from Boston University with a background in radio and television sportscasting. She has worked for a few TV stations, broadcasting from the sidelines of various sporting events. She is a fresh face on "American Ninja Warrior," but she is certainly in her element commenting on the action and interviewing the contestants.

If you want to watch the next aspiring hero try to conquer the world's scariest obstacle course, tune in to a new episode of "American Ninja Warrior" airing Monday, Aug. 31, on NBC.