Tanner Hodge

TANNER HODGE, FROM TRICKING TO GRID LEAGUE STAR

For Atlanta Wild’s #15 Tanner Hodge, the path to professional athletics wasn’t paved through traditional sports. Instead, his journey began with the dynamic art of martial arts tricking, a discipline that would shape his entire athletic career and lead him to his current role as a Bodyweight Specialist in the United Grid League.

At age 16, Hodge discovered tricking, a unique blend of martial arts, gymnastics, and acrobatics. The impact was immediate and lasting. “Saying tricking changed the direction of my life is a huge understatement,” Hodge reflects. “Everything I am now was because of a small underground sport that is just now slowly coming into the mainstream.”

His physical build perfectly matches his athletic specialty. At 5’5″ and 180 pounds, Hodge’s compact, powerful frame gives him natural advantages in bodyweight movements. This combination of strength and control, developed through 16 years of dedicated training, makes him especially effective in Grid League competition where body mastery is essential.

Beyond his own athletic accomplishments, Hodge has found his calling in helping others reach their potential. “Tricking lead me to a passion of coaching and inspiring individuals by pushing myself so others could see it was possible,” he shares. This mindset shows through in his approach to both training and competition, always aiming to lift others while pushing his own limits.

As a member of the Atlanta Wild, Hodge brings a fresh perspective to professional athletics. His background in tricking gives him unique capabilities that set him apart in Grid League events. While many athletes come from traditional sports backgrounds, Hodge represents a new wave of specialists who have mastered specific movement disciplines.

The Grid League provides the perfect platform for Hodge to showcase his unique skill set while competing at a professional level. His success demonstrates how dedication to mastering movement, even in non-traditional forms, can open doors in emerging sports. For young athletes interested in alternative paths to professional competition, Hodge’s journey offers an inspiring example.

His presence on the Atlanta Wild roster highlights how professional sports continue to evolve, creating opportunities for athletes with specialized skills. Hodge’s combination of physical ability, coaching experience, and positive attitude makes him both a valuable teammate and a role model for aspiring athletes.

As fans watch Hodge compete for the Atlanta Wild, they’re seeing more than just an athlete, they’re witnessing someone who turned passion for an underground sport into a professional career. His story shows that with dedication and the right mindset, expertise in any movement discipline can lead to exciting opportunities in the world of professional athletics.