About Us
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About Our School
Welcome our Krav Maga Martial Arts website and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your family. Our team of dedicated martial arts professionals are standing by to assist you on enrolling into a program that is the perfect fit! We are a family leadership and character development program that also happens to teach the most practical self defense in the world! In every KMMA class you and/or your family will have fun, get a great workout and learn something new!
Krav Maga Martial Arts is located in the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes area, right where 41 and Dale Mabry merge. We have been empowering lives through martial art in Pasco and Hillsborough counties now for almost 20 years, since October of 2000. Krav Maga Martial Arts offers, pre-school karate kid classes, elementary aged karate kid programs, family martial art classes, Kickboxing classes and Krav Maga classes. Krav Maga Martial Arts Founder Shihan Stephen Del Castillo opened our dojo in Wesley Chapel in 2000, after serving as an officer in the US Army. Shihan Steve is a 8th Degree Blackbelt and Master Instructor that has been training for over 38 years. He’s also a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Tampa and A Master of Business Administration form the University of Phoenix. Shihan Del Castillo draws upon his years of military and other leadership experience to train students not just for success in the martial arts, but for success in life!
Our Mission
We create confident and competent Blackbelt Leaders, prepared to survive and thrive in any situation, and empowered to lead, where they’re at and into their futures.
CORE VALUES
Focused:
We are Focused on our Mission and Vision, our goals and our outcomes. We don’t do drama, nor get distracted. We are Focused on our goals, our team and creating confident and competent Blackbelt Leaders.
Disciplined:
We do the things we say we are going to do, without exception. This dedication to Discipline starts at the individual level. We develop it in our students and model it in our business. We train every day to learn and grow to reach and then stretch our potential. This is how we make ourselves, our team, our business and our students better!
Empowered:
Team KMMA is empowered and empowering; empowered by Grandmaster, to take responsibility for the welfare of the Mission and students, to make decisions and to take action in the best interest of each; and charged with the empowerment of our students into Blackbelt Leaders! Team KMMA employees are always empowering towards their students, acting consistently and deliberately to create confident, competent and empowered Blackbelt Leaders.
Responsible:
We practice Extreme Ownership. We don’t blame others or make excuses. We act decisively and always with the Mission, student and goals in mind and as the priority.
Positive:
We think, speak and act positively. Negativity is not tolerated. We are high energy, positive and always solution, not problem oriented. We practice what we teach and model the incredible power of positive mental attitude in our business and our lives.
A Word From Our Owner - Grandmaster Stephen Del Castillo
Instructor/Owner Stephen Del Castillo
Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo is the Founder and Master Instructor of Krav Maga Martial Arts. He is an 8th degree Blackbelt with over 38 years experience, as well as an MBA and a Former Captain in the U.S. Army. He has been operating our Martial Arts Academy since October of 2000. Shihan Del Castillo is A Master Instructor on the Board of Directors of Blackbelt Schools International. He has been Instructor Certified by Krav Maga Worldwide, International Krav Maga Federation and Krav Maga Global and has won numerous awards and accolades in the martial arts, including Master Instructor of the Year and Best Regional Martial Arts school by the World Head of Family Sokeship Council. For all of Grand Master Del Castillo’s personal accomplishments, though, he says his greatest pride comes from the many great Blackbelts that have grown up at KMMA and gone onto amazing leadership positions either here as instructors or in the US military, business, college or ministry work. He is happily married to Barbara Del Castillo and the proud father of five. When Master Del Castillo isn’t training people in the martial arts or training other trainers to do so, he enjoys reading, training, church and family time and touring on his Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle.
Why Choose Krav Maga Martial Arts?
Leadership Development
Our world class instructors not only ensure that students have fun, get a great workout and learn something new in every class, but develop leaders. We prepare youth to lead at school, in college and to uncover and empower their calling for the future. We partner with parents, who often train alongside them, to raise up kids in the way they should go. The adults in our program appreciate our leadership program too, many already leaders in their own industries. We are a community of leaders continuing to grow. Come join our leadership family!
Real-World Self Defense
We also happen to teach the most practical self defense in the world. We pray for the best but train for the worst. We will train your body and mind to survive any threat, defend your family and get home safe. Krav Maga is the self defense system of the Israeli military and teaches self defense versus modern day threats including strikes, grabs and holds, stick, knife and gun.
Our Martial Arts Team Takes Great Pride In The Reviews We Receive
See What Our Community Members Say About Our Programs
Richard Woodward
From the moment that I stepped into the dojo in June I have had nothing but a positive experience from interactions with fellow students, the instructors, to Shihan himself. This is a close knit family atmosphere and it makes the training evolutions easy to learn, apply, and grow on. Just got my Orange Belt, and one day I hope to get my Black Belt and join the elite of this school in due time!!! Outstanding School!!!
Jeremy Haddix
My son and I have been a part of the KMMA family for just over a year now and we love it. Not only do we learn the best self defense techniques on the planet, but we also learn life lessons and wisdom from Mr. Del Castillo and his highly trained staff. Everyday we learn something new, get a good workout and have fun. We will be members for life.
Jannie Gunnlaugsson
I love everything about this place! I went for a free women's self-defense class and then was offered a two week trial of their Krav Maga classes and I loved them! This style of martial arts is so much better than the karate I took as a kid! There are no katas or routines to learn; it's all about self-defense. You hit your attacker with everything you've got and get home safely. You can do these techniques whether you're a 300 pound man or a 100 pound grandmother. I was concerned, at first, that I wouldn't be able to do this sort of thing because of my back and neck problems, but I was encouraged to work at my own pace and everyone has been very accommodating. I've been going for just over two months now and I can already stand a lot longer than I could before and I'm getting stronger with every class! I've found that many of the other adults have similar limitations or old injuries and we've all been able to do these classes. If you're not sure if you can do it, do a two week free trial and find out! You might be surprised. I also love the welcoming, family atmosphere here! The instructors all learned my name right away and have welcomed me to every class. They use a lot of positive reinforcement and high fives, so I always feel good there. Finally, I love what I'm learning there! I can already defend myself from chokes, headlocks and some knife attacks and I also know how to hit back hard and fast! As a single woman, I love knowing that I can defend myself if attacked! That alone is invaluable! I feel stronger and more self-confident and that feeling has carried over into my everyday life. I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone take these classes!