My Dog Krav, And The Secret To Powerful Habits

My dog, Krav, is such a creature of habit.

He knows exactly what’s supposed to happen next—and he gets upset if there’s a change to the plan!

In the mornings, we go for our “knowledge walks” two or three days a week. Other mornings, I do martial arts or strength training—but at least a couple of times a week, Krav and I circle the lake while I listen to something that fuels my personal or professional growth.

He starts going nuts the moment I grab my shorts, shoes, and especially my Apple Watch and AirPods.
He knows—walk time is coming.

He runs back and forth barking at Barbara, as if saying, “Mom, hurry up! Dad’s about to leave without me!”

Then, in the evenings, we sit out on Kokomo—our back patio—and catch up on the day over a soda water (for me) and a bowl of cold water (for him). I usually throw something on the grill, and he watches the world go by, perfectly content.

Krav’s only a dog, but he’s got a few things exactly right when it comes to habit formation.

You’d think he’s read Atomic Habits by James Clear.

In the book, Clear explains that habits form through a simple loop of cue → routine → reward.

When I reach for my AirPods, that’s Krav’s cue. The routine is our walk. The reward is the time together and the joy he feels doing what he loves.

The truth is—we’re not much different. Our own positive (or negative) habits form the same way.  The key is to design our cues intentionally and choose rewarding routines that move us toward our goals.

That’s also what we do every day at Krav Maga Martial Arts (KMMA) through our Character Development and Blackbelt Leadership programs.

Every time a student bows onto the mat, says “Yes, sir!” with confidence, or helps another teammate—they’re building micro-habits that compound into powerful character traits over time.

Respect. Focus. Discipline. Confidence. Gratitude. Vision.
Our six Blackbelt Superpowers aren’t just words—they’re habits in action.

And like Krav, when you repeat those habits with consistency and joy, success becomes automatic.

Challenge for Today:
Look for the cues in your day—what habits are they leading to?
And which ones could you intentionally design to build your own “Blackbelt Superpowers”?

See you on the mat,

Grandmaster Stephen Del Castillo
Krav Maga Martial Arts
“Prepare to Live; Empower to Lead.”
KMMAUSA.com