Jessie Graff is a badass. Not only was she the first woman to ever complete stage one of a rigorous American Ninja Warrior course, but she was also a stunt woman for “Wonder Woman.” Not to mention, she’s also a black belt in taekwondo, a black sash in kung fu, and trained in five other styles of martial arts. Like we said, she’s a badass.
Ahead, the professional stunt woman and athletics-based television personality gives us the lowdown on her record-breaking, barrier-breaking career. Keep scrolling to find out how she turned a major career setback into a set-up, what keeps her inspired and motivated on even her most challenging days, and who in the industry is currently crushing it.
C&C: You are a record-breaking Ninja Warrior and the first-ever woman to make it through stage one of the competition (and you've broken even more records since). How does it feel to break new barriers for women in such a competitive field?
JESSIE GRAFF: The most fulfilling aspect of competing has been placing in the top tier, even among the men. Society doesn't reflect how strong women can be, and I've gotten to show that we are capable of more than most thought.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
My old tendency was to repeatedly throw myself face-first at any roadblock in my path and keep banging my head against the wall until I got through. I was proud to be the most determined and the hardest working, and while my tactics sometimes worked, they lead to a lot of injuries. It takes constant work to take a step back and lay out my goals, my options, and the long-term versus short-term consequences. Patience has been my biggest hurdle but, by working on it, I have found a way to move forward healthily.
“When I beat a personal record or exceed my own expectations, I win. Any outside reward is just a bonus.”
You were a record-breaking pole vaulter in college, you are a black belt in taekwondo, a black sash in kung fu, and are trained in five other styles of martial arts and you have a career as a stunt woman—it seems like there is no challenge you can't tackle. What keeps you motivated both mentally and physically? Where does your drive come from? What challenges have you faced in reaching your goals in the sporting world and in Hollywood?
I think I learned it from my mom. I love the feeling of working hard and accomplishing things. So many of our recreational activities were physical challenges like climbing trees, performing shows, riding bikes, and swimming... or more relaxing meditative tasks like gardening, painting the house, or rowing across the lake. My mom always made the most difficult challenges feel like the most heroic adventures. And that attitude keeps me inspired to take on big challenges and helps me keep a positive attitude when things get really hard.
You were a stunt woman for “Wonder Woman” and Gal Gadot shared your Ninja Warrior video on her Instagram with the caption: "She's a wonder indeed." How did that feel? What has the experience been like joining the Ninja Warrior family and having millions of people around the world rally in support of you?
It always feels rewarding when people share or hold up any of my accomplishments, and I never dreamed that there would be such an outpouring of support.
Can you recall a specific time you failed and how you turned that around/into an opportunity?
In 2014, my life revolved around stunts, flips, fights, and falls. When I blew out my knee, I needed an upper-body-based physical activity to keep me motivated while I recovered. I started training for Minja and fell in love with the feeling of getting stronger. Ninja Warrior changed my life and gave me a platform to inspire. That knee injury was the catalyst for the best thing that ever happened to me!
You work with Ninja Nation doing events for aspiring Ninjas, how has teaching and coaching changed the way you view the sport?
I know I won’t be at the top of this sport forever, and there are so many strong, talented kids coming up! It feels amazing to be a part of their journey, as they develop literal superpowers that allow them to surpass our current perception of human abilities.
What advice would you give to people who aspire to your level but don’t know where to start?
Start small, test yourself, beat yourself, and follow progressions. Work with a trainer, so that you don’t get hurt or develop muscle imbalances. If you’re looking for specifics, I post tutorials on my social media @jessiegraffpwr, sharing some of my workouts.
Success is such a broad term, and it means something different to everyone. How do you define success?
I define success as improvement or beating MYSELF. I get the biggest rush from accomplishing what was impossible for me in the past. When I beat a personal record or exceed my own expectations, I win. Any outside reward is just a bonus.
What do you wish more people knew about your job? What are the biggest misconceptions?
A lot of people see stunt people as crazy daredevils, but every risk is highly calculated. We are responsible for protecting our actors and keeping everyone on set safe.
With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?
When I find myself routinely avoiding an exercise or task, I make a poster with all the reasons that it’s beneficial and hang it on the wall to read every day. When I'm constantly reminded of the positive outcomes of those tedious tasks, it easily motivates me to keep up the routine.
What is the best advice you have been given? Or a favorite piece of #realtalk?
I used to think that being the most intense, hardest worker was the only way to succeed, but all of my past failures could be traced back to overtraining, exhaustion, and injury. If I had a stress fracture, I couldn’t finish practice until my coach noticed that I was limping and forced me to stop. He told me to decide: What’s more important? Being the hardest worker? Or actually reaching your full potential and succeeding? It hadn’t occurred to me that they were two different things. I have redefined “rest” as “intense discipline,” and spend 1 to 2 hours per day on active recovery. It’s made all the difference.
The filtered world of social media often hides a lot of the behind-the-scenes hard work and hustle. What is the reality of being a Ninja Warrior and stunt woman? How hard is it really? Be honest! What are the key traits you need to succeed in your role? Why?
I make a point of sharing my progressions and failures, to remind people that strength and skills take time to develop. When I’m trying new things, they often feel impossible, and I fall over and over until I can’t move and I have to come back to try again another day. And that’s normal, and part of the process. If people think all of my skills come naturally to me, they might assume that they don’t have what it takes and give up before they have a chance to progress. When they see me fall, I think it encourages them to keep trying until they succeed.
Can you name a woman in the business who is crushing it and why?
My mom, Virginia MacColl! When she retired at 62 she became determined to do a pull-up for the first time in her life. It took her two years to get her first one, but now, at 68, she can do 15 and is competing in Ninja Warrior competitions every month! And last summer, she had her first supporting role in a movie called “Poms” with Diane Keaton!
Photographer: Jenna Peffley
Hair: Styled by OGXpert & Celebrity Hairstylist Jillian Halouska
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