We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danny Madrigal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Danny, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
For me, confidence first came from my body teaching my mind what was possible.
As a kid in the late ’70s and ’80s, I tried many things that were physical. From getting on the stage at my elementary school for a talent show doing disco, to spending years learning karate, where everything was precision, control, and rigidity, to breakdancing in the ’80s, learning to spin on my head, performing, and competing.
Then at 39, I found boxing. I wanted to do something before turning 40, I wanted to challenge myself. Little did I know that this was my calling.
Boxing demanded something different than karate. I had to unlearn what I learned in karate, become less stiff and rigid, and be more fluid, loose in the shoulders, and quick on my feet. It was trial and error, round by round, figuring out what worked and what didn’t and how to make it my own. When it finally clicked, I felt that flow, allowed my body to move without overthinking. I realized that I had taken something I didn’t know how to do, struggled with it, and made it my own. I felt that euphoria that I’d always felt when I accomplished something new. That feeling is what always drives me to try new things.
My self-esteem came from chasing that feeling over and over again. Every time I overcame something difficult, I wanted more. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about the process and journey along the way, the figuring it out, falling, getting back up, and always adding my own spin to it. If I’m not working on something challenging for myself, I get bored. I don’t feel alive.
In 2009, I started Knuckle Up Boxing in my backyard without any plan or funding; I just opened my doors to friends and young people who could not afford a gym. Although this was yet another challenge that I needed to figure out, I applied the same approach as I always have: figure it out as you go, stay fluid, and make it your own.
What started as a small training space has grown into something much bigger. It’s become a boxing program with a mindset attached to it that serves adults and youth by giving them the tools, mindset, and confidence they need both in and outside the ring.
Boxing has taught me that confidence isn’t something you’re born with but something that’s built in the struggle, in the adversity. And the best part of it all? That feeling never gets old.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was born and raised in Santa Barbara. From a young age, I loved to work and was always naturally competitive in everything I did, whether it was physical or mental. That part of me, that drive, never left my side; instead, it evolved into what is my true purpose.
I started Knuckle Up Boxing in my backyard in 2009. What began as a space for friends and young people who could not afford a gym evolved into something much bigger. Today, we are a boxing program serving youth and adults throughout Santa Barbara and nearby areas, teaching not just boxing techniques but discipline, confidence, and self-respect.
What excites me about Knuckle Up Boxing is that we’re not just another boxing gym. Although we train a few fighters and help people get better at the sport, our main focus is adding value to people’s lives, whether they choose to step into a ring or not. Many of our members are here to build confidence, overcome personal challenges, and push past their limiting beliefs.
My goal is to build Knuckle Up Boxing into a gym that stands out, a place that empowers people to compete in their own lives, a place that allows people to be the best version of themselves, building them not just physically strong but mentally strong. We offer classes for adults and youth that focus on character building and development alongside physical training. Whether you are a beginner looking to get in better shape, release stress, build confidence, or train to compete, we will meet you where you are.
What makes Knuckle Up Boxing special is the mentorship aspect. I truly believe that mental toughness is just as important as physical strength. We are here building people up, helping them discover their potential, and giving them the tools they can take with them for the rest of their lives.
Knuckle Up Boxing is more than the sport. It’s about the discipline, the growth, and becoming the strongest version of yourself.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back at my journey, there’s three qualities that have been impactful in my journey.
1. Patience
Don’t put a date or time on when you think you should accomplish what you’re learning. Growth takes as long as it takes. When I started boxing at 39, I didn’t give myself a deadline to master it, I just showed up and put in the work. That patience allowed me to actually learn instead of rushing through it or giving up when things didn’t click right away.
2. Open-Mindedness
Stay open-minded to learning something new, even when it challenges what you think you already know. Coming from karate, I had to be willing to unlearn rigidity and embrace fluidity in boxing. If I had been stuck in my ways, I never would have discovered my true purpose. Being open to new approaches, feedback, and growth is essential.
3. Pivoting (Being Agile, Not Fragile)
Keep a good attitude and don’t let the lessons your new challenge throws at you get the better of you. Things won’t always go as planned and that’s the beauty of it. When I started Knuckle Up Boxing in my backyard with no plan or funding, I had to pivot constantly, adjusting, problem-solving, and staying flexible. Being agile instead of fragile means you bend without breaking, and you keep moving forward no matter what obstacles come your way.
My Advice for Those Early in Their Journey:
First, get just enough knowledge about what your journey requires to take the first step. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start, you just need to begin. Once you start moving and figuring things out, start looking ahead to the next step and slowly move into that next area. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to see the entire path at once. Focus on where you are, take action, and let each step reveal the next one. Progress builds on progress.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m looking for people to collaborate with people in the fitness, mindset and personal growth area who have similar passion.
I’m looking to start a podcast that is focused on fitness and mindset, having conversations with others about discipline, overcoming adversity, mental toughness, and the lessons we learn through physical challenges. If you or you know someone who has a story to tell, is a mindset. I’m also open to partnering with other fitness professionals, trainers, coaches, who want to collaborate. I believe there’s strength in collaboration, when we come together, we can reach more people and create a bigger impact.
If this is something you’re interested in, reach out. You can connect with me through Knuckle Up Boxing’s website or social media. Let’s build something meaningful together.
https://knuckleupboxingsb.wixsite.com/knuckleupsb
IG: @knuckle_up_boxing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://knuckleupboxingsb.wixsite.com/knuckleupsb
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knuckle_up_boxing?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWV4dWY4YmdpaDY1OA==
Image Credits
Enzo Gym
They provide the space for Knuckle Up to provide sessions to youth.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
