Ep. 150 - From Toddler to Competitor: The Rise of Luciana Madriaga

This podcast episode features an engaging conversation with Luciana Madriaga, a dedicated martial artist and a second-degree black belt. We delve into Luciana's early beginnings in martial arts, where she was introduced to the discipline at the tender age of two and a half, owing to her parents' involvement as instructors. During our discourse, Luciana articulates her fervor for combat and sparring, distinguishing these elements as her preferred aspects of martial arts. We also discuss her aspirations to become a world champion, particularly in combat, while examining her broader ambitions within the martial arts community, including her goal of evolving into a chief instructor. Through this dialogue, we explore the profound impact of martial arts on personal development, particularly in fostering confidence and interpersonal skills.

Takeaways:

• Luciana Madriaga commenced her martial arts journey at an exceptionally young age, influenced by her parents' roles as instructors.
• The podcast featured an engaging discussion about the various martial arts events, highlighting Luciana's preferences for combat and sparring.
• Luciana articulated her ambition to become a world champion in combat, demonstrating her dedication and aspirations within martial arts.
• The conversation underscored the importance of martial arts in fostering confidence and social skills in young practitioners, as experienced by Luciana.
• Luciana expressed her desire to advance to the rank of chief instructor, showcasing her long-term commitment to martial arts education.
• The podcast concluded with an acknowledgment of Luciana's inspirational role for other martial artists, emphasizing her positive impact on the community.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
That okay.

(05:54):
At nation, I am super excitedto have with us other athlete of
the week.
Can you introduce yourself,ma' am?
Yes.
My name is Luciana Madriaga.
I am a second degree button.
Can you say that one more time.
Because there's no way Luciana Madriga.
Okay, I'll try.
Probably won't.
So we are actually Springnationals here in Fort Worth.

(06:15):
You guys drove.
You just said you're here atspring Nationals.
Now, before we get to kind ofwhat you like to feed in, all those
kind of things, how'd you get started?
Martial arts?
My parents, they're bothinstructors, and when I was like
two and a half years old, Istarted like kicking, punching, saying,
hey, yes, sir.
Yes, ma' am, all those stuff.

(06:36):
Well, so you were kind of borninto it.
That's the same way my fam.
My.
My kids will have that same story.
They'll be like, we just grewup in the taekwondo school.
That's the way it was.
So you.
You're stuck with it, obviously.
What rank are you now?
Second.
Okay, so you've stuck with iton your own.
If you started, you know, whenyou were really little, you've enjoyed
it since then.
What kind of events, what kindof things do you really love to do

(06:58):
in martial arts?
I really like doing combat and sparring.
Combat and sparring.
It's so fascinating.
I've been having theseinterviews with different athletes,
and we have some that arelike, they're the forms extreme guys.
And then there's this, thegroups that are the.
The sparring and combat guys.
So really cool.
Are you.
Are you on a team?
Do you do some team stuff?
Yes.

(07:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yes.
Trying out for other teams.
Do you do Team USA or anything?
No, no, not yet.
Maybe someday.
Athlete development camp, maybe.
Oh, very good.
Okay.
Very cool.
If you had to, like, pick athing that you were like, this is
not my favorite event, whatwould that be?
Probably forms.
Forms.

(07:39):
Really?
Okay.
Yes.
Okay.
Well, I.
You know what?
A lot of sparring people arenot forms people.
But it's so.
Forms are so great.
I love forms, but you can haveyour own likes and dislikes.
It's okay.
So.
So you're here Spring National.
What are you looking.
Your dad did the gumdo testing yesterday.
You said.
How was that watch watching?

(08:00):
It was good.
It was good.
It was really entertaining.
Do they do here when they dothe testing?
I haven't been for a while.
Do they do the archery?
The archery or not whenthey're testing here?
I don't know.
Do they do they have anybodycutting like the, with the live source,
the.
Bamboo in the fire?
Yes.
Okay, very cool.
I know I've seen the archerybefore, but I don't know.
I didn't know if they like.

(08:20):
You can't really shoot bow andarrows in hotels and convention centers.
I wasn't sure.
I didn't think so.
Very cool.
And what other events are youplanning while you're here in Fort
Worth?
Forms, Weapons, sparring, combat.
Very good.
And what kind of.
Do you have some goals forthis like tournament season that
you are focused on or, or evenlonger term goals, things that you're

(08:40):
looking at in your martialarts career?
My goals is becoming a world champ.
World champ.
A world champ and combat.
Combat.
Combat thing.
So you're looking to get somemore points this weekend while you're
here and go to world championship.
Have you competed in the TOC before?
Yes.
So this is an old hat.

(09:01):
You've done it a bunch before.
Okay, very cool.
And, and one of the thingsthat we like to ask all of the people
that we've been interviewing,you know, the junior brand investor
picking these awesome athletes.
I think it's just cool to seeall these additional, you know, you
know, investors.
I mean, you guys areinvestors, but it's cool to be highlighting
these individuals.

(09:21):
So what does it mean for youto be an athlete?
That goes beyond the belt.
To me it means applying allthe skills that martial arts taught
you on daily basis.
Like sharing everyone, likewhat to do?
Like believe, respect.
Not just doing it inside themartial arts, but doing at school,
at the supermarket, likeasking someone, hey, like, where's

(09:44):
the orange?
Where's this?
But like, instead of likebeing shy, like believe in yourself
and go ask.
Oh, that's a great one.
That confidence.
Were, you know, you know, inyour past, were you a shyer person?
Were you a more outgoing person?
I was a shiny person.
So you found that doingmartial arts has really helped with
that?
Yes.

(10:04):
Okay, very cool.
And what about any, you know,you've got world champions.
Kind of the plan, you know, orthe goal for.
Do you have any other longterm plans?
Are you.
I see you've got a red black collar.
Are you, you know, followingsteps, a little instructions?
Yes, yes.
My goal is to be a chiefinstructor and maybe a master.
I love it.

(10:24):
I think that's a great goal.
Okay, awesome.
Well, we really appreciateyour time today.
Thank you so much.
Not just for coming in, youknow, dealing with our tech issues
and figuring this out, but tobe an inspiration for other martial
arts.
We really appreciate, reallyappreciate it.
Thank you.
You're welcome.