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A More Important Kind of Flexibility

August 26, 2026 by KMMA

A martial artist in a white uniform with a red, white, and blue collar performs a mid-air split, holding onto his feet with his outstretched arms. Below him, an audience of seated onlookers watches the demonstration in an indoor space.

When I was younger, I was pretty flexible.

I could kick high, jump, stretch—and even do the splits.

Today?

     Let’s just say my physical flexibility isn’t quite what it used to be. 😂

But there is another, far more important kind of flexibility that has grown stronger and stronger as I’ve aged:

     My ability to flex in order to accomplish the mission.

I believe in planning. In fact, I believe that disciplined people make plans, prepare thoroughly and execute decisively.

     But life rarely unfolds exactly according to plan.

People get sick. Schedules change. Resources disappear. Opportunities arise unexpectedly. Something that worked yesterday suddenly stops working today.

That is when leaders need to be flexible.

Flexibility does not mean abandoning the mission whenever things become difficult. It means being willing to adjust the route while remaining committed to the destination.

Rigid people often become so attached to their original plan that they forget why the plan existed in the first place.

Blackbelt Leaders learn to do something different:

  • Make the plan.
  • Execute the plan.
  • Evaluate the results.
  • Adapt quickly.
  • and Keep moving toward the objective.

That kind of flexibility is valuable in self-defense, leadership, business, parenting—and life.

An attacker will not cooperate with your preferred technique.

  A challenge will not arrive at a convenient time.

     And success will rarely follow the exact path you pictured when you began.

The goal is not to predict everything perfectly.

   The goal is to become the kind of person who can remain calm, think clearly and respond effectively when reality changes.

That is one of the things we train at Krav Maga Martial Arts.

Yes, we teach practical self-defense.

    But we are really developing confident and competent Blackbelt Leaders—people prepared to survive and thrive in any situation, and empowered to lead wherever life places them.

You may not be able to do the splits yet.

    Frankly, I’m not sure I can anymore either. 😂

But you can become stronger, more capable and more adaptable than you are today.

If that sounds like the kind of growth you want for yourself or your family, I invite you to come train with us.

Prepare to Live. Empower to Lead.

Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founder, Krav Maga Martial Arts