Venn Johns
- Stunts
From Olympic dreams to record-breaking feats, my journey has been anything but ordinary. As a U.S. National Gymnastics Team member, I earned a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where I became a multi-event All-American gymnast and was on track for the 1996 Olympics. But my competitive drive didn't stop there.
In 1997, I launched a 10-year Mixed Martial Arts career, earning a 14-3 record and a 2nd-degree black belt in Karate. Then, at 25, I took on one of the toughest sports-bull riding. Over the past 20 years, I've ridden professionally, qualifying for multiple finals worldwide. Even during a brief retirement, I secured titles like the North American Grappling Federation Championship before returning in 2012 to make three finals in just half a season.
My passion for pushing limits led me to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where I earned a black belt in 2016, and to NBC's American Ninja Warrior (Seasons 9, 10 & 11), where I competed while running my own ninja warrior training facility in Tulsa, OK. Along the way, I set records as the oldest competitor to qualify for both the PBR Velocity Finals and the PBR Premiere Series.
In 2023, I broke into the stunt industry with my first job on A Thousand Tomorrows, earning my Taft-Hartley. Since then, I've worked on projects with industry legends like John Avnet, Mike Rowe, Ethan Hawke, Sterlin Harjo, Andy Rusk, and Buddy Joe Hooker. Most recently, I doubled Neal McDonough in The Last Rodeo.
Today, I'm the oldest professional bull rider in PBR's elite ranks, a 20+ year IT specialist in cybersecurity, one of five online coaches for Stall High, a keynote speaker, and a freelance coach and trainer for multiple organizations.
I thrive on pushing limits, breaking records, and proving that passion and perseverance know no age.
In 1997, I launched a 10-year Mixed Martial Arts career, earning a 14-3 record and a 2nd-degree black belt in Karate. Then, at 25, I took on one of the toughest sports-bull riding. Over the past 20 years, I've ridden professionally, qualifying for multiple finals worldwide. Even during a brief retirement, I secured titles like the North American Grappling Federation Championship before returning in 2012 to make three finals in just half a season.
My passion for pushing limits led me to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where I earned a black belt in 2016, and to NBC's American Ninja Warrior (Seasons 9, 10 & 11), where I competed while running my own ninja warrior training facility in Tulsa, OK. Along the way, I set records as the oldest competitor to qualify for both the PBR Velocity Finals and the PBR Premiere Series.
In 2023, I broke into the stunt industry with my first job on A Thousand Tomorrows, earning my Taft-Hartley. Since then, I've worked on projects with industry legends like John Avnet, Mike Rowe, Ethan Hawke, Sterlin Harjo, Andy Rusk, and Buddy Joe Hooker. Most recently, I doubled Neal McDonough in The Last Rodeo.
Today, I'm the oldest professional bull rider in PBR's elite ranks, a 20+ year IT specialist in cybersecurity, one of five online coaches for Stall High, a keynote speaker, and a freelance coach and trainer for multiple organizations.
I thrive on pushing limits, breaking records, and proving that passion and perseverance know no age.
