Proud and Grateful
This was Jacob’s Blackbelt speech at his 1st Degree, Certified Blackbelt test. Next month, he’s one of four testing to 2nd degree, Blackbelt Leader!
I am so proud of Jacob and how much he has grown since then. He has matured as a leader as well as a martial artist and I know he’s going on to be a Sensei one day too!
Thinking about Jacob got me thinking about leadership. Step one is learning to lead one’s self.
No-one can lead another well, lest he lead himself well first.
KMMA students develop that, self leadership, early and often. Our “Blackbelt Superpowers”- Focus, Respect, Discipline, Confidence, Gratitude and Vision are a few of the self leadership attributes we develop through our program.
After, students learn to influence others and eventually to lead teams.
As I left the dojo one evening recently, a parent of a new student commented on how impressed she was with the leadership of the young people in blue helping her son in our Foundations class.
I thanked her and shared what I am sharing with you now- how proud of them I am too.
That’s our product.
We develop confident and competent Blackbelt leaders…
None of those young leaders she was giving specific praise about were even blackbelts yet but, as she was describing all the specific ways they were giving her child attention and serving him so well, I couldn’t help but swell with pride.
It was the good kind of pride, not the sinful one. It’s the one that comes with Gratitude. I am proud and grateful for our mission, my team, my tribe and for the great work we get to do for so many.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Proud and Grateful,
Grandmaster Del Castillo, Founder
KMMAUSA.com
p.s. not a student yet? call 813-948-4844 to come and see.
