Fortified Team

Wayne Burns

Fortified Owner, Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer

  • Founder & Owner of Fortified Fitness with wife Steph Burns. Fortified Fitness was founded in 2013 – We are a family owned, local small business. Thank you for your support.
  • Founder & Owner of Kingdom Custom Cabinetry with wife Steph Burns
  • Experience
    • Personal Trainer & Group Trainer since 2013
    • Sportsmetrics Certified Trainer
    • RRCA Certified Run Coach
  • Fun Facts
    • American Ninja Warrior Course Tester
    • Seminar Speaker, Presenter & Curriculum Writer
    • Occasional Guest Radio Host on Moody Radio
    • Worship Leader – guitar & vocals for over 20 years
  • Over 25 years of carpentry experience – framing, custom trim carpentry & custom cabinet builder (Fortified obstacle rigs and obstacles designed and built by Wayne as well as Fortified Fitness Studio build out)
  • Family
    • Married to business parter, Stephanie Burns, since 1998 and dad to three young men! 
    • We have a huge heart for fostering and adoption – God built our family through the amazing gift of adoption.

Wayne & Stephanie Burns founded Fortified Fitness in 2013 out of a deep calling from the Lord to walk with, encourage and inspire people to reach their God-given potential and live life to the full. 

After attending a family ninja warrior clinic, they were inspired to build a ninja warrior program to include all ages in 2017 in addition to the fitness studio. 

Currently Fortified Fitness includes a 2400 sq. ft. private fitness studio as well as a 6,000 sq. ft. ninja warrior facility and runs programs for ages 3 & up – Fitness for the whole family!

Management & Fitness Trainers

Karman Selby

Operations Manager, Head Ninja Warrior Coach, Ninja Warrior Program Director, Group Fitness Trainer

  • Certifications & Education
    • Former ACSM personal trainer (4 yrs)
    • RRCA Run Coach 
    • TRX Level 1 
  • Experience
    • Ninja Coach since 2017
    • Competed on American Ninja Warrior Season 13
    • Bachelors in Anthropology with minor in Russian from Kansas Sate University
  • Fun Facts
    • I’m a full-time stay-at-home dad.
    • I do woodworking/ pyrography as a hobby.
    • I love basketball, running, and ultimate frisbee. 
  • Family
    • I married my lovely wife, Hannah, in 2014. Our boys, Samuel and Elliot, joined us in 2018 and 2020. 

Michelle Austin

Personal Fitness Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer, Run Coach

  • Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2014
  • Education & Certifications
    • Bachelors of Science in Communication Disorders from MTSU with a double minor in Psychology & Special Education
    • Masters of Science Degree in Speech Language pathology from TSU
    • American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified personal Trainer
    • RRCA Certified Run Coach
    • CPR/First Aid Certified American Heart Association & Red Cross 
  • It fills my heart with true joy to be everyones cheerleader. I desire to help each client realize their full potential and to challenge them to step outside of their comfort zones as they learn to be the best versions of themselves as possible.
  • Life Verses: Exodus 14:14, Proverbs 27:17, Isaiah 61:1-3
  • Fun Facts/Hobbies: 
    • Identical Twin
    • Pastors wife
    • “Foodie” & Coffee Snob
    • Loves to travel 

Will Holliday

Personal Fitness Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer

  • Education & Certifications
    • Bachelors of Science in Health & Human Performance / Applied Exercise Science – Austin Peay State University
    • NCSF Certified Personal Trainer
    • NASM Certified Personal Trainer
    • CPR/First Aid Certified 
  • Assistant Coach: Football at Rockvale High School, Basketball at Whitworth Buchanan Middle and Track & Field at Rockvale High School.
  • Loves to teach people/athletes how to live healthy lifestyle and reach their goals while having fun. Loves to work with the next generation!
  • Rutherford County Substitute Teacher
  • Motivations: God, his wife and people 

Angela Bobo

Personal Fitness Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer

  • Certifications:
    •  StrongFirst Level 1 Instructor
  • Experience
    • Fitness coach at Fortified since 2021
    • Coach recreational soccer and homeschool cross country
    • NCAA D1 Soccer Player
  • Fun Facts:
    • A stay-at-home mom of 4 awesome kids
    • Homeschool mom
    • Raise chickens and Ducks
    • Freshman Player of the Year for Ohio Valley Conference women’s soccer
    • Earned a Spartan Trifecta in 2019
  • Love: Jesus, family, weight lifting, running, hiking, camping, healthy cooking, and mission trips.
  • Favorite Bible Verse and Prayer:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:12-13

Ninja Warrior / Aerial Silks / Fortified Support Team

Skylar Allen

Aerial Silks & Ninja Warrior Coach

  • Hometown: La Habra, CA. 

  • Favorite silks drop: knee-tangle drop

  • Favorite ninja obstacle: yellow monkey bars & peg board

     

  • Fun facts: 
    • I moved to TN in September 2021 from Southern California at age 15.
    • I played basketball for 6 years and Danced for 8 (classic ballet & jazz)
  • Favorite Bible verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing…
  • Hobbies outside the gym: skateboarding, roller skating, baking, dance

Anna Bobo

Ninja Warrior Program Director & Social Media Coordinator

Worked at Fortified Fitness since November 2020

  • Hometown: Lascassas, TN
  • Accomplishments:
    • D1 soccer state champion
    • Pull-up PR: 23
  • FUN Facts:
    • Favorite skill to train in the gym: lock off and grip work
    •  Played competitive soccer for 10 years
    •  I hope to serve on the mission field in other countries.
    •  I’ve been to India 3 times for mission work.
    • I would rather read a book than watch a movie.
    •  I am pursing a TESOL major with a Spanish minor.
  • Loves: Jesus, reading, languages, traveling, ninja warrior, aerial silks, weightlifting, disc golf, rock climbing, playing games with friends, and photography.

  • I am also a photographer! From portraits to small weddings, I am ready to meet your next photography request, even outside of middle TN! 

    Check out my website: capturehisartphotography.com 

Caleb Brown

Ninja Warrior Coach

  • Trained and worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
  • Hometown: Murfreesboro TN
  • Accomplishments
    • Qualified for TOP 4 in 11-12yr olds on American Ninja Warrior Jr – Season 1 
    • Participated in American Ninja Warrior Jr – Season 2
    • Placed 3rd in 13-17 years – Savage Race Spring 2019
    • Dead Hang record: 23 minutes on rings
  • Loves
    •  Jesus, climbing, photography, camping, ninja warrior, time with friends, reading and sweets.   

Chloe Dodson

Receptionist & Event Leader

  • Hometown: Knoxville, TN
  • Education & Certifications:
    • Nutrition & Wellness major at MTSU 
    • 200 Hr. YTT 
  • Fun facts: 
    • I have 3 siblings 
    • I love my dogs back home 
    • I played competitive lacrosse 
    • I enjoy all things outdoors

       

  • I love hiking, skiing, camping, traveling, cooking, and trying new things

     

  • Favorite Verse: John 10:10 
 
 

Rachel Beth Drake

Ninja Warrior Coach

  • Hometown: Lascassas, TN

  • Accomplishments:

    • Multiple time NNL and UNAA world top 10 finalist

    • Dead hang max 47 minutes

    • 101 pull-ups without touching the ground

    • Competed on American Ninja Warrior 2021

  • Fun Facts:
    • Trained and Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017 
    • I enjoy Weight training, ninja warrior training, and aerial silks – (mostly drops!)
    • Participated in rock climbing for 3 years 


Loves: Time with family and friends, Bible studies, roller coasters, Drawing, making crafts, working out, traveling, hiking, chocolate chip cookies

Benjamin Drake

Ninja Warrior Coach

  • More Info Soon

 

Mary Grace Knight

Ninja Warrior & Aerial Silks Coach

  • Hometown: Murfreesboro TN

  • Experience:  

    • High school Junior interested in studying Arts 

    • Coach at fortified since 2022

       

  • Fun Facts: 
    • I have done theater for four years.
    • I love running, I did cross country for a few years
    • I love doing ninja and silks 
  • I love music, I play piano mostly and occasionally I’ll play around on the guitar 
 

Benjamin Rutledge

Ninja Warrior Coach

  • Trained at Fortified since 2018.

  • Born in Rwanda, Africa and adopted into my family in 2011,  I have lived in Murfreesboro, TN ever since. 

  • I love competing in Ninja Competitions and my favorite obstacle is the Flying Bar.

  • I was on American Ninja Warrior Jr. Season 2.  

  • I am passionate about studying my Bible and would love to own a ninja gym one day and teach kids about God and His word.

  • My favorite Bible verse is 2 Timothy 3:16.

Emma York

Ninja Warrior Coach

  • Hometown: Rockvale 

  • Fun facts:

    • I’ve participated in, flag football, soccer, cross country, rock climbing, and competitive gymnastics. 

    • I’m a sophomore in high school and hope to be an EMT after I graduate.

    • I want to be a missionary, and I love to travel

    • I’ve been homeschooled all my life.

    • I have 3 little siblings!

    • Bringing the light of Christ everywhere I go is my passion! 

  • Favorite verses: 2nd Corinthians 12:10, Ephesians 3:14-21
  • Favorite ninja obstacle: Slack line
  • Loves: sports, my family, kids, music, reading, hallmark movies, running,fortified, and the LORD.