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A New Rank, A New Beginning

June 23, 2026 by KMMA

KMMA Families,

This Saturday is Graduation Day.

    Students will earn new belts, new stripes and new ranks.

And we will celebrate every one of those accomplishments.

But this graduation is different.

 

Because this graduation marks the beginning of the next evolution of KMMA.

 

   Our mission has never been simply to teach punches, kicks, blocks, and self-defense techniques, but to create confident, competent Blackbelt Leaders.

Over the years, thousands of students have grown through our programs and become stronger, safer, more disciplined, more confident, and more successful because of their training.

 

What has always made KMMA special is that we are teaching far more than martial arts.

    Now we are making that pathway even clearer than ever before.

 

Beginning in July, students will train within our new KMMA Blackbelt Leadership Academy model.

This model creates a clear pathway from White Belt to Blackbelt and beyond through progressive martial arts training, leadership development, weapons training, performance, mentorship, and personal growth.

Like a college student progresses from freshman to sophomore, junior, and senior, KMMA students will now progress through a series of academies designed to meet them where they are and help them become what they are capable of becoming.

 

FOUNDATIONS ACADEMY
White Belt & Yellow Belt

  • The focus is confidence, discipline, self-defense fundamentals, belonging, and building the habits that create future Blackbelts.

INTERMEDIATE ACADEMY
Orange, Purple, Blue & Green Belts

  • Students continue developing technical skill while beginning a deeper journey into leadership, weapons training, and Blackbelt identity.

ADVANCED ACADEMY
Brown & Red Belts

  • Students focus on refinement, advanced application, leadership, performance, coaching, and preparation for the Blackbelt Crucible.

BLACKBELT ACADEMY

Blackbelts and Blackbelt Candidates continue their journey through mastery, mentorship, leadership multiplication, teaching, and legacy.

This new academy structure allows us to better organize curriculum, improve consistency, create clearer developmental pathways, and provide every student with a more focused and effective training experience.

Most importantly, it helps us fulfill our mission of creating Blackbelt Leaders prepared not only to defend themselves, but to lead their families, schools, businesses, and communities.

 

NEW ACADEMY SCHEDULES

Immediately following Graduation Day, students will begin training under the new Academy schedule.

The schedule has been designed to provide greater consistency, clearer progression, enhanced leadership development, and an even better student experience.

Please see the new schedule and speak with our team this week to confirm your new training times.

At KMMA, we believe success is the goal.

     Growth is the guarantee.

Graduation is not the end of the journey.

     It is the beginning of the next chapter.

  • A new rank.
  • A new challenge.
  • A new academy.
  • A new beginning.

I cannot wait to see what each of you accomplishes next.

Prepare to Live. Empower to Lead.

Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo

Founder & Chief Instructor

KMMA American Martial Arts & Leadership Academy