There’s a subtle but powerful shift that happens when someone realizes they’re capable of protecting themselves. It doesn’t just boost confidence—it builds intrinsic motivation.
Unlike aesthetic goals or competitive targets, self defense gives clients a reason to train that isn’t performative. It’s personal. And because of that, it tends to stick.
In Pretty Deadly classes, we see clients go from hesitant to empowered in a matter of weeks—not because their bodies have changed, but because their relationship to their bodies has changed. That’s when they start asking: what else can I do?
Research on motivation in physical activity shows that intrinsic goals (like competence, autonomy, and relatedness) predict long-term adherence more reliably than extrinsic goals like weight loss or appearance.
Self defense taps into all three.
If you’re tired of clients losing steam after six weeks, maybe what they need isn’t more discipline. Maybe they need a new reason.
