Madison Hughes is the founder of Become a Problem, a women’s self-defense training focused on awareness, mindset, and practical physical responses.

She has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 4 years under Renzo Gracie, and competes internationally - most recently earning Silver at the IBJJF Pan American Championship. Her martial arts background also includes 8 years of training in Shorinji Kan Jiu-Jitsu and Judo.

Become a Problem was born after Madison watched news footage of a woman fending off an attacker in a gym for nearly 20 minutes. The woman had no training, but she refused to be an easy target. The lesson was clear: you don’t need to be the biggest or strongest. You need to become enough of a problem.

Madison’s perspective is also shaped by lived experience. During 3.5 years living in New York City, she faced multiple confrontations with unstable individuals. Once moving to Austin, TX, Madison dealt with a Stalker that ultimately went through the courts.

These experiences sharpened her understanding of situational awareness and personal boundaries, and later became the catalyst for this work.

Her training spaces are grounded in radical self-responsibility. This is not about blaming perpetrators or debating culture. The focus is on what we can control: awareness, boundaries, decision-making, and physical competence.

The goal is simple: help women become harder to dominate, harder to coerce, and harder to control.