American Ninja Warrior
Paducah native Nicole Griffin channels her inner American Ninja Warrior after competing on the popular television show and creating a career centered on the intense training.
Story by Madison Miller
Photos courtesy of Nicole Griffin
A former American Ninja Warrior contestant channels her experience of conquering obstacles to empower the next generation of warriors in her entrepreneurial journey.
In the summer of 2014, Nicole Griffin stumbled upon a viral video of a female warrior scaling the 14-foot warped wall, a signature obstacle of the American Ninja course. Captivated, she recognized this was a challenge she was determined to pursue. She then began training and built a practice obstacle course in her parents’ barn with the help of her dad.
Using her rock climbing expertise, Griffin transferred these skills to the ninja course.
The show was in its seventh season of filming when Griffin first competed. Griffin’s first steps on the set of American Ninja Warrior reminded her of the first day of high school, everything seeming more grand and overwhelming than she initially expected.
She would later compete in three additional seasons of the show.
“Once I was on the show, people wanted to train with me,” Griffin said.
Initially, starting a pop-up class at a local CrossFit gym while maintaining her role as a PE teacher in Metropolis, Illinois, Griffin witnessed a growing interest in her training sessions. Over time, she transitioned this passion into a full time career, creating Tenacity Training, a dynamic gym space focused on ninja training while reaching all ages, skill levels and motivations.
“It is not just one type of body that is going to be successful,” Griffin said. “Everyone can find success somewhere in this room, and that is my favorite thing.”
Despite lacking experience in running a business, Griffin embraced the process. Drawing inspiration from Amelia Earhart’s quote, “All your current safe zones were once uncharted frontiers,” she tackled the challenges of entrepreneurship with determination. Her solo entrepreneurial journey took a transformative turn when the first Tenacity location opened in April 2018.
Griffin always envisioned Tenacity Training as an inclusive space for individuals of diverse backgrounds and interests. The gym features a variety of equipment for running, climbing, balancing and more, emphasizing that everyone can find a path to success.
The classes are mostly geared towards children, with the majority being ages 6-11; however, there are still programs available for children and adults outside of this range.
Regardless of age, Griffin’s teaching style is rooted in compassion, as she aims for her students to surpass their believed limitations and set higher ambitions.
“I like to teach people by meeting them where they are, and showing them that whatever they think their boundary is, or their limit of what they have the capacity for, [it] is not accurate,” she said.
Griffin uses this goal-oriented approach in her business model as well. Looking ahead, she dreams of expanding Tenacity by adding an indoor rock climbing area, prioritizing sustainability in her business pursuits.
Reflecting on her journey as a competitor and entrepreneur, Griffin offers three pieces of advice to those embarking on new endeavors: embrace curiosity, persevere through challenges and enjoy the moment.