Defiant Fitness

08/15/2026

In business, you learn things.

Sometimes you have an idea that you’re convinced is going to be amazing. You invest the money, put in the time, give it everything you have... and it just doesn’t pan out. Sometimes that means a lot of money and countless hours are simply gone. You learn from it and move forward.

You also learn who aligns with your values, both as a human and as a company.

There will ALWAYS be someone cheaper. Maybe they have less overhead. Maybe they’re doing things differently. Maybe they’re doing things off the books. Whatever the reason, there will always be competition, and I’m learning that competing on price or trying to be everything to everyone is a losing battle.

This past year, I feel like we let our guard down. We tried too hard to accommodate everyone, and ultimately, I think that failed us both personally and as a business.

The reality is, not everyone we’ve coached or had as a member has been a good fit for us. That’s something we’re changing.

Maybe their values don’t align with ours. Maybe they’re looking for the cheapest option. Maybe our programming or coaching style simply isn’t what they want. And sometimes, unfortunately, people will take advantage of your willingness to help.
I’m learning to be okay with recognizing the difference.

There are plenty of genuinely good people who simply aren’t a good fit for what we do. There’s nothing wrong with that. We don’t need to be the right gym or coaches for everyone.

But there’s also a difference between not being a good fit and allowing someone to take advantage of your time, energy, kindness, or business. We’re getting better at recognizing that difference and setting boundaries accordingly.

Going into this next chapter has me excited and hopeful that we’re taking a step in the right direction. But one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in business is that you never really know.

You make the best decisions you can with what you know at the time, learn from what works and what doesn’t, and keep moving forward.

To the people who believe in our vision, share our values, appreciate what we do, and have supported us not just as a business but as human beings, thank you.

We appreciate the opportunity to continue learning, growing, and building something better together.

08/13/2026

“If you have a body, you’re an athlete.”

That quote comes from Bill Bowerman. Most of you probably don’t know who he is, and that’s okay. Bowerman was a legendary track and field coach at the University of Oregon and one of the co-founders of Nike.

Recently, we received some feedback that our training style and our gym were “good for beginners” or people just starting out.

And to be honest, that REALLY bugged me.

Not because there’s anything wrong with being a beginner. Everyone starts somewhere. It bothered me because it made our style of training sound like something you eventually graduate from once you become stronger, fitter, or more experienced.

I’ve been trying to put into words why that bothered me so much, and I think it comes back to that quote:

If you have a body, you’re an athlete.

There are MANY ways to train. Yoga. Bodybuilding. Sports. CrossFit. Pilates. Barre. Ballet. Martial arts. Powerlifting. Running. The list goes on.

We’ve been asked plenty of times what type of gym we are or what style of training we do.

The truth is, I don’t think we fit neatly into a box.

We take pieces from a lot of different training styles because I’ve always believed that most people ultimately want a few pretty simple things:

Look good. Move well. Be strong. Be capable.

That doesn’t mean our way is for everyone.

Some people strictly want to bodybuild. Some want to powerlift. Some want to practice yoga. Some want to run marathons. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of that.

But when you train with us, we blend these things together.

One day might look more like Barre with almost entirely bodyweight movements.

Another day we might work on handstands. And if you don’t think that requires strength, give it a shot.

Another day might be focused on hypertrophy and building muscle.

Another might be maximum output, where we work as hard as possible for 60 seconds or 4 minutes, recover, and do it again.

And some days we combine all of it.

Because the goal isn’t to make you really good at one specific type of exercise.

The goal is to build a well-rounded human being.

Someone who is strong.

Someone who has good mobility.

Someone who can move in every plane of motion.

Someone who has conditioning.

Someone who can control their own body.

Someone who can produce force, absorb force, carry things, run, jump, push, pull, rotate and adapt when something unexpected gets thrown at them.

Sometimes we even do random s**t that you might think has absolutely no transfer to real life.

Odds are, it does.

The truth is, we train like athletes.

Not because everyone is preparing for a sport or trying to compete, but because the qualities that make a good athlete are the same qualities that make a strong, capable human being.

And being new to training doesn’t change that.

Neither does being 40, 50, 60 or 70.

The exercises, loads and intensity might change based on the person standing in front of us.

The philosophy doesn’t.

That’s how we like to train. That’s how I like to program. And when you join our small group classes, that’s what you’re signing up for.

Maybe that style isn’t for you.

That’s okay.

We offer Personal Training for people who want something built more specifically around their individual goals, and there are plenty of other great places to train if what you want is something completely different.

But I don’t think our training is “for beginners.”

I think it’s for people who want to build a body that can do things.

Because if you have a body, you’re an athlete.

08/11/2026

I somehow lost access to my Tik Tok so I had to start a new one. If you are over there go follow me!

www.tiktok.com/?_r=1&_t=ZP-98ncvnNHvwd

08/11/2026

08/10/2026

Caffeine can be a great supplement, but depending on your tolerance, how much you're consuming, and what your day looks like, staying on top of hydration still matters.

Pair caffeine with hot weather, intense workouts, or even just a busy day where you're not drinking enough water, and it can be pretty easy to fall behind.

One of my favorite go-to combinations:

C4 Watermelon Jolly Rancher + Watermelon Salt LMNT + 16 oz of water.

For me, it's a great combination. I get the mental boost from the caffeine, electrolytes to support hydration, and an extra 16 oz of water that I probably wouldn't drink nearly as easily on its own.

I particularly like this combo because I can slowly sip on it throughout the morning instead of getting a hit of caffeine all at once. It helps me stay clear, focused, and hydrated without feeling like I'm pounding another energy drink.

Simple. Tastes good. Easy to drink. And it checks a few boxes at once.

08/10/2026

Today you could be living your best life.

Tomorrow you could be in a car accident, need emergency surgery, or have something happen that changes everything.

Life can change FAST.

That’s why being healthy, strong, and capable matters beyond how you look.

Build strength now. Take care of your health.
Build a body that can handle hard things.

Because if life suddenly throws something at you, you don’t want to be starting from zero.

You want strength, health, and resilience to already be your Plan A.

08/06/2026

When I started Defiant nearly 4 years ago, we strictly did online nutrition coaching. Since then, we've evolved, more than once. We've added services, changed our focus, tried new ideas, and adapted as we've grown.

I don't see that as inconsistency. I see it as part of building a business with intention.

The longer you do something, the more you learn. You learn what actually works, what doesn't, what aligns with your values, and what simply creates more stress than it's worth. Not every opportunity is the right opportunity, and not every path is meant to be permanent.

The next chapter will be no different.

We're taking everything we've learned over the years and building something that better reflects who we are, how we want to coach, and the type of experience we want to create. Growth isn't always about doing more. Sometimes it's about doing less, but doing it better.

08/04/2026

One of the hardest lessons we've learned as a business is that not everyone is our customer, and that's okay.

Just because a business exists doesn't mean it should be expected to wait on people hand and foot.

We've always tried to be easy to work with. Flexible. Understanding. Accommodating. But over time, we've realized that can sometimes create the expectation that our time isn't valuable.

When someone cancels a personal training session 10 minutes before it starts, it doesn't just leave an empty spot on the schedule. Maybe we rushed to shower so we could be ready for your session. Maybe we scheduled other clients, errands, or appointments around that time because we committed it to you.

The same goes for payments. Our memberships process on the first of every month for a reason. If someone decides they want to pay cash instead and doesn't bring it for a week, our obligations don't get pushed back. Rent is still due. Bills still have to be paid.

Or when someone agrees to our straightforward cancellation policy, then gets upset when we simply follow the policy they acknowledged and accepted. Policies aren't there to make life difficult. They're there to create clear expectations and to keep things fair for everyone.

Some people start businesses to make as much money as possible, and there's nothing wrong with that. We started ours because we wanted to help people. We still do.

But wanting to help people doesn't mean our time, energy, experience, and commitment have no value.

The best client-business relationships are built on mutual respect. We respect your time, your goals, and the investment you're making in yourself. All we ask is that the same respect is given in return.

08/03/2026

I felt it was important to expand a little on why I made the decision to step back and reassess the gym.

When I started this, it was simple. I wanted to help people move better, get stronger, and build something that made a real difference in their lives.

Somewhere along the way, that changed.

Growth turned into pressure. Constantly trying to keep up. Staying relevant. Feeding the machine. Chasing things that pulled me further away from why I started in the first place.

The truth is, this hasn't felt like growth for awhile.

It's felt like survival.

Trying to keep up. Trying to force it. Trying to be everything for everyone.

That's not why this place was built.

And if it can't be that, then it's not worth continuing the way it is.

I'd rather close the doors than it be something I don't fully believe in anymore.

This isn't a failure. It was a decision to stop pouring myself into something that no longer aligned with who I am or brought me happiness.

I'm not done helping people.

Whatever is next will be better. It'll be built on my terms. Focused less on growth for the sake of growth, and more on real coaching, real relationships, and helping the right people.

07/31/2026

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?

This place has been such a massive part of my life that it’s hard to put into words what I’m feeling right now.

Defiant Health & Fitness was never just a gym to me.

It was early mornings and late nights. Cleaning floors, answering messages, and coaching people through injuries, setbacks, anxiety, self-doubt, weight loss, strength gains, life stress, and everything in between.

It was hard conversations. Big wins. Long days. Financial stress. Laughter. Growth. Friendships. Lessons and memories I’ll carry with me forever.
But the truth is, life changes.

With a heavy heart, I’ve made the decision to close this chapter of Defiant Health & Fitness.

I have to do what’s best for me and getting back to living life a little more fully again.
And trust me when I say this has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.

Because I know I could keep grinding. I could keep forcing it. But everything comes with a cost eventually.

I’m not done coaching. But whatever comes next will be built different.

To everyone who showed up, trusted me, and put in the work, thank you.

You’re the reason this meant anything at all, and that part will always matter.

Ty Hendon
Defiant Health & Fitness

Our last day in its current capacity will likely be
Saturday August 29th