We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christina Rondeau a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

A Risk I Took

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in my life wasn’t inside the ring—it was outside of it.

When I was just 20 years old, I opened my own martial arts and fitness business. At that age most people are still trying to figure out their path, but I had this fire inside me that told me I was meant to create a space of my own, even if it meant stepping into the unknown. I didn’t come from money. I didn’t have a safety net. I signed the lease, bought the mats, and hung up my sign with nothing but belief in myself and the determination to make it work.

The truth is, everyone told me it was risky—even foolish. Martial arts wasn’t mainstream yet. Kickboxing was considered a niche. And who was going to take a 20-year-old woman seriously in a male-dominated industry? But I believed that what I offered wasn’t just a workout. It was empowerment. It was confidence. It was self-defense. I knew people needed that, even if they didn’t know it yet.

There were nights when I wondered if I’d made a mistake. I was paying bills with nickels and dimes from the change jar, teaching every class myself, and doing marketing on a shoestring budget—flyers, word of mouth, whatever it took. But slowly, people came. Then they brought their kids, their friends, their spouses. The community grew. What started as a risky leap turned into a lifelong career and a business that’s been thriving for over 35 years.

That one risk became the foundation of everything I’ve done since: becoming a professional fighter, a champion, an author, a speaker, a show creator, and the leader of a community that spans generations. If I hadn’t taken that chance at 20, none of it would have existed.

So how did it turn out? Better than I ever imagined. I built not just a business, but a legacy—one that empowers others every single day. And it taught me a lesson I live by: the scariest risks often hold the greatest rewards.

Christina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been in the fitness and martial arts world my entire adult life. In fact, I opened my own business, Rondeau’s Kickboxing & Fitness, when I was just 20 years old. What started as a bold dream turned into a lifelong career spanning over 35 years. I’m a 5th-degree black belt master in Kenpo Karate, a Krav Maga instructor, a professional kickboxer and boxer, and a former Team USA athlete who had the honor of competing internationally in Poland, Italy, and Ireland. I even fought for Chuck Norris’ World Combat League on Team New England and won the USKBA Light Middleweight Professional Kickboxing Title.

But beyond the titles and the belts, my passion has always been about empowering people—especially women—to discover their inner strength. I built my business not just as a gym, but as a community. At Rondeau’s Kickboxing, we help people of all ages and fitness levels transform their bodies and their mindset. Whether it’s a child learning confidence through martial arts, an adult hitting a personal fitness milestone, or a woman in menopause taking back control of her health, we provide tools, structure, and motivation that go far beyond the workout.

Over the years, my work has expanded far outside the four walls of the gym. I’m the creator and producer of Christina Rondeau’s Menopause Fitness Journey, a reality show where women go through a six-week transformation of fitness, carb cycling, strength training, accountability, and personal breakthroughs. I’ve authored over a dozen books, host the Live Your Best Life podcast, and speak at colleges, conferences, and national events as a motivational speaker and self-defense expert. My goal is always the same: to inspire people to fight for themselves, to rise above challenges, and to believe in their own power.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just teach fitness or martial arts—I live it, breathe it, and have fought for it on every level, both in and out of the ring. I understand discipline, resilience, and what it takes to get up when life knocks you down, because I’ve done it myself countless times. That’s the energy I bring to my clients and followers.

I’m most proud of the community and legacy I’ve built. Generations of families have come through my doors. Parents who once trained with me are now bringing their kids and even grandkids. I’ve also built a nonprofit, Knockout Wishes, which has supported people in need in our community for over 30 years through events like 5Ks, charity drives, and walks.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my brand, it’s this: we’re not just about fitness, we’re about transformation and empowerment. Whether you step into my gym, watch Christina Rondeau’s Menopause Fitness Journey, read one of my books, or listen to my podcast, my mission is to help you believe in yourself, push past limits, and live your best life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience has been a constant thread in my life, both inside and outside of the ring. One moment that truly tested it was when I tore my ACL during my competitive fighting career. For a professional athlete, an injury like that isn’t just physical—it’s mental and emotional. In an instant, the future you’ve been training for can feel like it’s slipping away.

I remember sitting in the doctor’s office hearing the words “You’re out for a while,” and feeling that gut punch of fear—fear that I might never fight again, fear of losing the career I had worked so hard for. But instead of letting it end me, I chose to see it as another fight. Recovery became my new opponent.

The months of rehab were grueling—painful, slow, frustrating. But every day I showed up. I worked through the setbacks, pushed through the pain, and trained my mind as much as my body. I refused to let the injury define me. And eventually, I came back stronger, stepped back into the ring, and continued my career as a fighter.

That experience taught me what resilience really is: it’s not about avoiding hardship, it’s about how you respond when it hits. It’s about refusing to quit, even when it would be easier to walk away. That lesson has shaped everything I do in my business and in my coaching. When I work with women in Christina Rondeau’s Menopause Fitness Journey or with members at my gym, I bring that same spirit. I know what it feels like to face a setback that makes you question yourself—and I know what it feels like to rise above it.

Resilience isn’t just something I talk about—it’s something I’ve lived. And it’s the very thing I try to instill in everyone I work with.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team is a lot like coaching fighters—you can’t just tell people what to do, you have to inspire them to believe in themselves and in the bigger mission. Over the years, I’ve learned that high morale comes from three key things: communication, recognition, and purpose.

First, communication is everything. I make sure my team knows what’s going on, what the goals are, and how their role contributes to the bigger picture. When people feel “in the know,” they feel valued and trusted.

Second, recognition matters. I’ve seen how far a genuine thank-you, a shout-out in front of the team, or even just a private word of appreciation can go. At my gym, we celebrate milestones not only for members but also for staff—whether it’s a trainer hitting an anniversary, stepping up for a tough class, or supporting a community event. It creates a culture where people feel seen.

Finally, I believe morale comes from working with purpose. At Rondeau’s Kickboxing and through Christina Rondeau’s Menopause Fitness Journey, my team isn’t just teaching fitness—they’re changing lives. I remind them of that constantly. We’re helping kids gain confidence, adults relieve stress, women transform during one of the most challenging stages of life, and we’re building community through charity and service. When you keep that “why” front and center, people stay motivated even during long days or tough seasons.

Of course, as a leader, I also lead by example. I wouldn’t ask my team to give 100% if I wasn’t willing to do the same. They see me teaching classes, organizing events, rolling up my sleeves in the community, and even jumping into the ring myself. That sets the tone: we’re in this together.

My best advice is this: listen to your team, celebrate their wins, remind them of their purpose, and never be afraid to get in the trenches alongside them. When you do that, morale doesn’t just stay high—it becomes contagious.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.rkblive.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rondeauskb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rondeauskickboxing/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarondeau/
• Twitter: https://x.com/Rondeauskickbox
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAmNHs0tJarGZHQcrGK0S1g?view_as=subscriber
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rondeaus-kickboxing-and-fitness-johnston-2
• Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rondeau’s+Kickboxing/@41.827702,-71.472156,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x3a0832f425e13804!8m2!3d41.827702!4d-71.472156?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjKoebtod3bAhUG2VMKHVTrBWcQ_BIwC3oFCAEQhQE&shorturl=1

Image Credits

Devine Reith Photography