Interview with Luca Domenicone, Founder of Monkey Performance Experience

An idea of performance born from the intersection of basketball, neuroscience, and athletic training.

What is your name and what is your role?

I am Luca Domenicone, founder of Monkey Performance Experience and an athletic performance coach. My goal is to help every individual unlock their full potential through a scientific and personalized approach to training.

What is your background?

My journey is the result of the combination of sport, education, and personal research. I grew up playing basketball, a sport that took me all the way to my debut in Italy’s Serie A1. At the same time, I was always fascinated by understanding how the mind and body influence performance.

This led me to study athletic preparation, Strength & Conditioning, neuroscience, motor learning, and return-to-play training. Working with athletes and teams at different levels taught me that the best training programs are not the most complex ones, but those built around the individual. From this experience, the philosophy behind Monkey Performance Experience was born: helping every person reach their full potential by training the body and mind as one integrated system.

Who are the partners with whom you developed this project?

Monkey Performance Experience was born from my vision, but it has grown thanks to a team of professionals who share the same values. We believe that expertise, empathy, and collaboration are what truly make the difference. That’s why we constantly exchange ideas, invest in education, and work alongside physiotherapists, nutritionists, osteopaths, and local sports clubs. The project bears my signature, but it grows every day thanks to the people who have chosen to share and believe in this vision.

When did you decide to open your gym/box?

There wasn’t a specific moment—it was a realization that developed over the years. Working as an athletic performance coach, I understood that I wanted to do more than simply improve performance. I wanted to create a place where training, personal growth, and scientific methodology could coexist.

Why did you decide to open a gym?

I could have continued coaching people within existing facilities, but I wanted to create an environment that truly reflected my philosophy. For me, coaching means guiding people through a journey of growth, building confidence, self-awareness, and skills that go far beyond physical improvement. My greatest satisfaction comes from seeing someone regain self-confidence, achieve goals they once thought impossible, and rediscover the joy of training.

How did you choose your gym equipment partner?

I wasn’t simply looking for high-quality equipment—I was looking for a partner who shared my values and approach. From our very first conversation, Xenios stood out for its professionalism, expertise, and genuine attention to our needs. I found people who listened, offered valuable advice, and guided me throughout the decision-making process, turning a business relationship into a true partnership.

What were the biggest challenges you faced while bringing your project to life?

The greatest challenge was introducing a model that differs from the traditional gym concept. We developed a personalized training system capable of accommodating people with different goals within the same space, alongside a flexible Personal Training model integrated with return-to-play programs. Explaining this innovative approach required time and consistency, but today it has become the defining feature of Monkey Performance Experience.

How did Xenios support you in overcoming these challenges?

Xenios supported us primarily in selecting the equipment that best matched our training philosophy. Thanks to continuous communication and expert advice, we were able to choose solutions that perfectly suited our facility, feeling supported throughout one of the most important stages of the project.

What is the mission of your project?

The mission of Monkey Performance Experience is to prove that a gym can be much more than just a place to work out. We aim to promote a culture of movement based on science, personalization, and a people-first approach, creating an environment where well-being and performance grow together. In the coming years, we want to continue investing in our team, innovation, and local partnerships without losing what truly defines us: authentic relationships with people. My goal is that everyone who walks into Monkey remembers not only the facility itself, but above all the experience they had and the quality of the journey they built with us.