Cinching the Belt
Another one of the important Blackbelt Leadership principles we teach is “cinching the belt”.
It’s a reminder that, whatever happened before training, once we cinch our belts and step onto the mat, we leave that all behind and focus on why we’re there and what we have to do.
It’s a powerful technique that can (and should) be used everywhere.
We all have bad days.
But then we get to choose if we let the day run us or we run the day.
So, whatever happens, and whatever it is you need to be focused on next, try cinching the belt.
Wherever you are is where you’re at. Focus there. Bring your best to it.
9 times out of ten you can’t affect the other thing by worrying about it; but you can affect the thing you’re working at.
I teach my instructor staff to teach every class as though it were the most important class they will ever teach because, to the students in the class, it is.
Same when dealing with our kids, or spouse, or team or any other group we lead.
Cinch the belt, and lead them well.
Prepare To Live; Empower To Lead!
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founding Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
TampaKravMaga.com StephenDelCastillo.com
p.s. Did you know that I have a Certified Instructor Training (CIT) Program where I teach people to be great coaches? It’s where we produce great Sensei, but many of my Blackbelt Leadership students use it to lead in their own careers, organizations and other teams. Let me know if you’d like more info.
About Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo: Grandmaster Del Castillo is the founding Master Instructor of Krav Maga Martial Arts and has been empowering lives in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties since October of 2000. He is a 7th degree Blackbelt, MBA, author, mentor and success coach, a US Army Veteran and a proud father and grandfather. He is married to Ms. Barbara Del Castillo who helps him run the school. Grand Master Del Castillo began his training in the early 80’s and has high level blackbelts in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Premier Martial Arts and Krav Maga Martial Arts as well as experience in kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do and Jiujitsu. He has high level instructor certifications from BBSI, IKMF, and KMG and has been featured in numerous Martial Arts publications and also Success magazine. He was a competitive sport karate and American Kickboxing instructor until he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he won an Army Green to Gold scholarship and proceeded to ROTC and the University of Tampa. He was commissioned in 1992 and went on to serve in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division and then in several other posts in the US until he left military service to pursue his dream of creating KMMA in 2000.
The Krav MagaMartial Arts Headquarters is in Lutz, FL at 1900 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., 33549. Krav Maga Martial Arts serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and surrounding areas.
See stephendelcastillo.com for more information and to order my book, Developing Your Superpower, Meditations on Mastery, Volume 1.
Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com