Meet Our Founder

Her Story

Kristel Roxas is a powerhouse of passion, with a fierce love for martial arts, fitness, and Jesus. Growing up in the Philippines, she learned the value of hard work and perseverance from a young age, raising chickens, ducks, and pigs with her siblings, and climbing trees for fun. Kristel's love for martial arts was sparked by her two older brothers, who introduced her and her sister to the world of boxing, and fueled by her fascination with martial arts movies, which she and her sister would recreate in their backyard.

It was 13 years ago, Kristel walked into a martial arts studio seeking self-defense training after a traumatic incident that resulted in an ongoing cycle of fear, depression and anxiety. After finding herself exhausted in battling through it all by herself, she woke up one day hearing these words, “Get up!” It was at that moment she knew that the strength she needed couldn't come from her, but something bigger, God. So, she dedicated herself to studying the gospel, the study of Muay Thai Kickboxing and found herself competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Kristel's dedication to growing in her faith is matched only by her passion for sharing it with others. She loves teaching women and children about Jesus, martial arts, and fitness, and believes that these disciplines can help women and children develop confidence, discipline, and resilience that will serve them for a lifetime.

Kristel's story is one of perseverance, passion, and dedication. It is a testament to the restoration power of Jesus to transform lives, the power of physical health and the importance of sharing that transformation with others. At Maganda Fitness we want to inspire and empower women and children to reach their full potential through the practice of martial arts and the love of Jesus.

"I can't express enough how much I enjoyed taking the women's self defense class with Kristel! She was not only a great instructor but also an amazing listener and a true sister of God. Being a part of her program not only helped me physically prepare for any circumstance but also mentally. I realized that our strength doesn't come from our gender or size but from our faith in God and our community. The techniques I learned will forever be so helpful and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of such a wonderful program. Thank you, Kristel!"

Marilyn, Las Vegas, NV