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Operations Order: Fall Blackbelt Retreat, Krav Camp, and Graduation

July 20, 2026 by KMMA

MEMORANDUM FOR ALL KMMA STUDENTS, STAFF, BLACKBELTS, AND FAMILIES

 

SUBJECT: Operations Order, Fall Blackbelt Retreat, Krav Camp, and Graduation

         (25–27 September 2026) — RETURN TO THE FIELD: Forging the Next Generation

  1. SITUATION
  2. Enemy Forces

As always, we face both internal and external enemies.

The principal enemies for this operation are COMPLACENCY and SLOTH.

Complacency convinces capable people that what they have already done is enough. It lowers urgency, dulls standards, and turns yesterday’s success into today’s excuse.

Sloth is more than physical laziness. It is the temptation to choose convenience over preparation, comfort over effort, and passive participation over responsible leadership.

These enemies flourish when conditions are easy and expectations are low. They are defeated through disciplined action, shared hardship, personal responsibility, and service to the team.

This operation intentionally moves KMMA back into the field. The objective is not discomfort for its own sake. The field is part of the curriculum. Less-controlled conditions require adaptability, resilience, teamwork, preparedness, and leadership—the qualities expected of every KMMA Blackbelt.

  1. Friendly Forces

KMMA Blackbelt Leaders, Senior Blackbelts, Master Instructors, medical professionals, staff, parents, and volunteers will support this operation. Together, we will establish a safe, disciplined, challenging, and meaningful environment for all participants.

Hope City will serve as the Area of Operations (AO). Friday Blackbelt presentations will be conducted inside the sanctuary. Saturday training, the evening campfire, overnight bivouac, and associated retreat operations will be conducted primarily outdoors. 

  1. MISSION

Team KMMA will deploy to Hope City from Friday, 25 September through Sunday, 27 September 2026, to conduct the Fall Blackbelt Retreat, Blackbelt candidate presentations, Krav Camp, outdoor leadership and community-building operations, Blackbelt testing, and transition to the all-ranks Graduation.

All candidates advancing to Probationary Blackbelt or any certified Blackbelt degree will participate in the complete three-day operation. Additional eligible KMMA students who have opted into Krav Camp will join Saturday’s 0900–1700 training operation.

The weekend will culminate Sunday morning with Blackbelt testing. The all-ranks Graduation will be conducted Sunday evening at a separate gymnasium location, currently to be announced.

  1. EXECUTION
  2. Commander’s Intent

It is my intent that this retreat reconnects KMMA with the rugged, outdoor roots from which many of our strongest traditions were born while deliberately forging the next generation of Blackbelt Leaders.

Recent retreat evolutions allowed us to concentrate on training through more comfortable and controlled accommodations. We have joked that KMMA once deployed like the Army and, more recently, a little more like the Air Force. Both models have value. This evolution intentionally returns us closer to the field—not because discomfort is the goal, but because confidence, competence, resilience, adaptability, and leadership must function outside ideal conditions.

We will:

  • Uphold the highest standards of training, preparedness, safety, and conduct
  • Defeat complacency through purposeful effort and personal responsibility
  • Defeat sloth through disciplined action and service to the team
  • Build earned confidence through demanding, meaningful work
  • Strengthen community through shared experience and shared responsibility
  • Challenge every candidate physically, mentally, emotionally, and as a leader
  • Honor KMMA’s roots while preparing new Blackbelt Leaders to carry the mission forward

The theme of this operation is:

RETURN TO THE FIELD, Forging the Next Generation!

  1. Concept of the Operation

Operations will be conducted in four phases:

Phase I – Arrival, Establishment, and Blackbelt Presentations (Friday at Hope City)

All Blackbelt candidates report, establish the bivouac area, complete accountability and orientation, and prepare for presentations. Candidate Blackbelt speeches will be delivered Friday evening inside the Hope City sanctuary, starting at 6pm.

Phase II – Krav Camp and Field Leadership Operations (Saturday at Hope City)

From 0900–1700, weekend participants and KMMA students who have separately opted into Krav Camp will conduct the standing KMMA training evolutions: mindset and pre-combat drills, combatives, punch and kick defense, self-defense against grabs and holds, kickboxing, weapons defense, and Grandmaster training. Training will occur primarily outdoors and will incorporate leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and field discipline.

Phase III – Community, Reflection, and Preparation (Saturday Evening)

Following training, retreat participants will conduct recovery, chow, study and preparation, leadership activities, campfire community-building, and final preparation for Sunday testing.

Phase IV – Testing, Transition, and Graduation (Sunday)

Candidates will conduct Blackbelt testing Sunday morning at Hope City. Following recovery, cleanup, and release from the retreat AO, Team KMMA will reconvene Sunday evening at the designated gymnasium for the all-ranks Graduation. Graduation location and report time remain TBA.

  1. Tasks to Subordinate Units
  2. Overall Logistics and Coordination: Ms. Barbara

Coordinate Hope City requirements, food, water, sanitation, showers, bivouac support, belts, certificates, awards, special-order items, and Graduation logistics.

  1. NCOIC / Event Lead: Shihan Thomas

Supervise execution, accountability, timelines, training-area flow, field discipline, and coordination throughout the operation.

  1. Officer in Charge: Shihan Winston Del Castillo

Coordinate subordinate leaders, candidate accountability, squad assignments, bivouac operations, and execution in accordance with the Commander’s Intent.

  1. Medical Support: Dr. Mike Reisman and Dr. Saroja Medidi

Maintain medical readiness, monitor participants and environmental conditions, and coordinate response to injury or illness. Dr. Sensei Reisman and Dr. Sensei Medidi will also be testing for their 3rd Degree, Senior Blackbelt ranks this weekend by the way. But given their degree of pure awesomeness, I feel quite convinced they can confidently and competently do both. 

  1. Training Cadre: KMMA Master Instructors

Conduct instruction, enforce testing and safety standards, lead assigned evolutions, and develop subordinate instructors and squad leaders through purposeful delegation.

  1. Master Council: Shihan Harley, Shihan Carolyn, Shihan Adam, Shihan Thomas, Shihan Michelle, and Shihan Winston.

Maintain standards, provide oversight, evaluate Blackbelt candidates, elevate Blackbelt Leaders and advise the Commander.

  1. Media and Documentation: KMMA Marketing Director Christine Holtzman and Miguel Martinez of M Group.

Coordinate sound, music, photography, video, and appropriate documentation of the operation without interfering with training, reflection, or testing.

  1. All Blackbelt Candidates

Attend and complete all three days; arrive prepared for outdoor bivouac; deliver the assigned Blackbelt presentation Friday; participate fully in all training, leadership, camp, cleanup, testing, and Graduation requirements; and contribute to the welfare and success of the team.

  1. Coordinating Instructions and Timeline

FRIDAY — 25 SEPTEMBER

Candidates report, bivouac establishment, accountability, and orientation: 1700

Blackbelt Presentations, Hope City Sanctuary: 1800

Camp operations and lights out: Time TBD

 

SATURDAY — 26 SEPTEMBER

Morning accountability, hygiene, breakfast, and preparation: 0800

0900 – Krav Camp formation, warm-up, mindset, and pre-combat drills

0930- KMMA Combatives

1000- Punch and Kick Defense

1100- Foundations of and Self-Defense Against Chokes, Bearhugs, Grabs, and Holds Standing

1200- Lunch

1245- Kickboxing Sets

1330: Ground Defense

1415: Weapon Defense: Stick and Knife

1500: Weapon Defense: Gun

1600: Grandmaster Training Block

1700 – Krav Camp complete; non-retreat participants released

Evening – Recovery, chow, study hall, Master Council activity, Warrior Walk or leadership evolution, campfire, and preparation for testing

Lights out: Time TBA

 

SUNDAY — 27 SEPTEMBER

Morning accountability, hygiene, breakfast, and preparation: Time TBA

Blackbelt Testing: Time TBA

Recovery, AO cleanup, accountability, and release: Time TBA

All-Ranks Graduation: Sunday evening; gymnasium location and report time TBA

 

  1. SUPPORT
  2. What to Bring

ALL KRAV CAMP PARTICIPANTS:

  • Complete training gear: boxing gloves, groin protection, mouthpiece, shin guards, belt, and any other required protective equipment
  • Closed-toe athletic shoes suitable for outdoor training
  • Personal medications
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent (“bug juice”)
  • Weather-appropriate clothing and rain protection
  • Labeled personal training weapons, if desired; training weapons will also be provided

ALL WEEKEND RETREAT PARTICIPANTS:

  • Tent or other approved outdoor sleeping shelter
  • Sleeping bag and sleeping pad or air mattress
  • Pillow
  • Toiletries, towel, and shower items
  • Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
  • Camp chair
  • Change of socks and dry clothing
  • Personal hygiene and medical items
  • Any personally desired snacks, clearly labeled

Participants should pack to remain safe and functional through heat, rain, insects, darkness, and changing outdoor conditions. Specific severe-weather instructions will be issued as required.

  1. Food, Water, and Facilities

KMMA will provide all scheduled meals and drinking water for retreat participants. Hope City has no shower facilities, but does have nice bathroom facilities- so we’re only kind of roughing it. Participants remain responsible for personal hydration discipline, mess-area cleanliness, and proper disposal of all trash.

  1. Uniform
  • Friday Blackbelt Presentations: Class A, full gi
  • Saturday Training and Sunday Testing: Class C, KMMA shirt, appropriate training pants or MMA/long shorts, and belt. In these outside training scenarios, BDUs or other long but flexible and durable pants are recommended.
  • Sunday Graduation: Class A, full gi
  • Field and camp periods: appropriate modest outdoor clothing and closed-toe shoes
  1. Field Discipline

Every participant will maintain accountability for personal equipment, preserve the Hope City property, keep the bivouac and training areas clean, follow safety and quiet-hour instructions, and leave the AO better than we found it. Candidates and senior students will assist younger or less-experienced participants without being asked.

  1. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
  2. Command

Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo is the Commanding Officer for this operation.

Shihan Winston Del Castillo is the Officer in Charge.

Shihan Thomas is the NCOIC and Event Lead.

Squad assignments, reporting instructions, emergency contact procedures, weather contingencies, and final Graduation instructions will be published separately or by fragmentary order (FRAGO).

  1. Commander’s Charge

We are returning to the field—but we are not going backward.

We return to recover something valuable: the shared effort, adaptability, resourcefulness, responsibility, and earned confidence that emerge when conditions are less controlled and every member of the team must contribute.

The tents, outdoor training, weather, insects, campfire, and shared work are not inconveniences surrounding the retreat. Properly approached, they are part of the retreat. They give us another arena in which to defeat complacency and sloth and another opportunity to practice what a Blackbelt Leader is supposed to be.

We honor those who built the path before us by preparing those who will carry the mission after us.

 

Return to the field. Forge the next generation.

Prepare to Live. Empower to Lead.

Point of Contact for this order is:

Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo

Gr*********@*****sa.com