Meet Debra Rodriguez

We were lucky to catch up with Debra Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Debra, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

My self-discipline comes from my own discovery of my own capabilities. You never know what you can accomplish if you set your mind to something. In 2019 I had reached a low point in my life, and my weight had skyrocketed up to 241 lbs. I remember stepping on the brand-new scale I bought and seeing that number – 241 and deciding that I wasn’t going to be that person anymore. I started my journey by dieting and looking into different types of workouts. I came across an advertisement for a kickboxing class at CKO. I thought I was crazy for trying it out and secretly worried about injuring myself. The result was I couldn’t wait to get back and try it again. I kept at it regularly and then the lockdown happened. I contacted my favorite trainer from that kickboxing gym, and we worked out outside in the park, in my living room, anywhere we had enough space for pad work. Now, flash forward 6 years later and 85 lbs. lighter and I own, run, and teach others what I learned alongside my teacher in that very same gym.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As a 57-year-old Latina born and raised in the Bronx, I can’t even begin to describe the feeling I get driving past the house on Olmstead Ave where I would ride my bike as a kid, and now I’m on my way to open the door of my own kickboxing gym right here in my stomping grounds. I have been blessed with the care of my 91-year-old mom, and she is in the front seat with me. I take her with me everywhere I go. It’s not easy getting her ready, then myself, and then prepping my protein smoothie and food for the long day and out the door we go. I LOVE WHAT I DO!!! I wouldn’t have it any other way. She watches me teaching my class, peeking out from behind the front desk to see her “strong daughter” in action. She especially loves it when my 77-year-old student comes in, and I alter the routine for her. As someone that was once 240+ lbs. with many different medical ailments; now 85 lbs. lighter teaching kickboxing, I think is what makes me feel like this is my mission. When I see the look on the 12-year-old in awe of me, it humbles me and scares me at the same time. I realize that if you’re going to be a role model, you must also be responsible. I jokingly ask myself “Geez, when did that happen?” But then again, when I have someone overweight who is gassed at her bag and I whisper in her ear “You have no idea how strong you are. We are going to show you.” and it makes her smile and get back up and push herself through class. And, when I see that young mom of two who is slimming down, and I see the pride in her new curvy figure. They are all me, and I am just as proud of every one of them for their accomplishments.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I believe my three most important qualities that have impacted my journey and also my fundamentals are what would I refer to as my three “F” words, Faith, Fitness and Fun.
Faith: I really think faith is the most important quality. Faith is not just believing in God or religion, but a belief that YOU have the power to determine your outcome. We are all faced with challenging situations in our lives, and we can either choose to fight back or do nothing and be a victim. And it’s that faith that gives me the drive to keep getting up every day and rinse and repeat and “Hello, welcome to my dojo, no shoes on the mats please.” 😊
Fitness: They say you’re never too old to learn a new trick. At the age of 57, I learned that fitness brings a quality of life I never expected. I am not saying I didn’t enjoy life before I lost that weight. However, my life has fewer complications and not to mention the medications that go along with those complications. I had a lot of obstacles coming at me all at once when I decided to take control of my life. I kept imaging that scene in Fatal Attraction when Glen Close is sitting on the floor turning the light on and off and I thought “OH HELL NO”!! So, I figured a healthy body, and a healthy mind should come as a matching set. So that’s basically what made me Google “Kickboxing”.
Fun: Yeah, this one is easy. You see I was raised on Bugs Bunny. I think that, by definition, gives you a free pass to good humor. I am also that coworker that is determined to make even the toughest person in the room smile. Life is fun if you understand that it’s up to you to enjoy it or miss out. And especially teaching kickboxing to a room of people of all shapes and sizes. We’re all here by choice, so it’s ok to giggle while doing some sit ups. Actually, it’s good for the abs.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

That’s kind of a tough question to answer because my parents have done so many impactful things it’s difficult to choose just one. They have supported every last one of my teenage demands like “I wanna learn how to scuba dive.” “I wanna play the organ.” “I wanna be in the glee club.” “I wanna be a Girl Scout”. They have paid for musical equipment, scuba gear, uniforms and bought cookies and sat front row at my graduation. I’ll never forget any of these things. I guess if I had to sum it up, I would say the most impactful thing they’ve done for me is to support me wholeheartedly throughout my life. I was a lucky girl, and I guess when you have parents that support you like, that you grow up feeling like there’s nothing you can’t do. Which is why when my dad passed away in 2019, it devastated me. It’s also around the same time I started my journey to change my life. My dad was a boxing fan, and he and I enjoyed watching the fights together; Hector Macho Camacho, Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto. He was a supporter of the Puerto Rican legends. Now I have his picture up in my gym and every morning I walk in turn on the lights and say good morning to him. I know he’s watching and he’s proud of his little girl. Because I’m proud to turn around and point at that picture and confirm that handsome guy is my Daddy. He is my legend.

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