What if
self defense
is self care?

What Is
Pretty Deadly Self Defense?

Pretty Deadly Self Defense is a self-empowerment program through self defense. Designed for women by women, we've used our real-life experiences to develop a program that’s tailored for the way women actually learn, the things we actually face, and that’s actually fun. We're working hard at removing the stigma from learning self defense, and making it part of your self care. 

Find A Course

Find an app party

Want to train our app techniques in person? Find an App Party near you! App Parties are informal training events focused on our app-based techniques, so you can train with other app users in your area. Organized and hosted by our certified Community Coaches to ensure safe and responsible training.




Programs

ADULT COURSES
SPARKS FOR KIDS & TEENS
CORPORATE & SPECIALTY WORKSHOPS

Events

OPEN TRAINING
MEMBER SHOWCASES &
PRETTY DEADLY TALKS

Outreach

OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
FOR REFUGEES, HOMELESS, AND
SHELTERED PARTICIPANTS

Agency over your own body is a basic human right.

--Susie Kahlich

Founder, Pretty Deadly Self Defense


BELIEVE

We believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. We believe that we can change the world.

Everyone has a right to occupy their own space and should never have to hide who they are. 

Our courses and workshops are designed to be easy to learn, simple to use, and user-friendly. And most of all: fun!

We want everyone to have the tools to live their lives as they choose for themselves, free of fear and full of joy. 

EMPOWER

When you feel safe, grounded and can trust your environment, you have the confidence to explore, to adventure, to grow.

As women, we know we spend up to 50% of our energy and focus strategizing how to stay safe in our daily lives.

Giving yourself tools you can rely on frees up that time and energy to focus on the things that really matter:

Pursuing careers.
Realizing dreams.
Building a better world.

TRANSFORM

We believe that environment is your body.
 

Learning self defense is more than just learning how to punch and kick. It's about learning where your boundaries are, learning how to trust yourself, and learning what your body can really do, When you learn what options you really have, you have hope. And when you have hope, you can change your life. And maybe even the world.

We believe that you are stronger than you think.


Our Team

Pretty Deadly Self Defense was created by Susie Kahlich, a 20-year martial arts practitioner and violent crime survivor. From homeless to office worker to world traveler, Susie’s life experience has helped structure the program to be intersectional, inclusive and non-judgmental.

Our Trainers and Community Coaches come from a wide range of backgrounds: burlesque performers, journalists, permaculture designers, engineers. Each Trainer and Coach lets their own life experience guide themin helping ensure each class is a safe, dynamic place to explore and grow. 

As a Pretty Deadly Trainer or Coach, you can teach in person, online, outdoors, or anywhere you choose, as often as you choose. Pretty Deadly can be full-time, part-time, or even a side-gig or supplement to your other fitness, yoga or martial arts offerings. If you're interested in empowering your community, get in touch! We'd love to have you on our team! 

Giving Back

Pretty Deadly Outreach is the heart & soul of Pretty Deadly Self Defense. Our Outreach Programs are volunteer self defense workshops and courses that we provide free of charge to people who are refugees, homeless, victims of domestic violence, and sex workers.

Our paid programs allow us to provide our volunteer self defense training directly and immediately to the people who need it most, because stopping violence against women literally can't wait for grants, governments, or bureaucracies. 

Pretty Deadly Self Defense has been putting our Outreach into practice since 2009. We've worked with Give Something Back to Berlin, J.A.C.K., Berlin’s Landes Jugendring e.V., and other non-profit organizations dedicated to helping empower vulnerable populations. We also offer a volunteer training program designed for social workers, NGOs and the people on the ground who can continue our work long after we wrap up our course.For more information or to schedule a workshop, please contact outreach@prettydeadly.org.

Testimonials


Press

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