Superpower #3: Discipline
TampaKravMaga.com
CHAPTER 3
Foundations Superpower #3: DISCIPLINE
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
Discipline, like so many of our Blackbelt Excellences, is a super power.
I call discipline a superpower for two chief reasons:
- It carries with it the ability to significantly improve one’s own life and also the lives of those around us and;
- It is a very rare power amongst most, but a very common one in people that produce superior results.
As a society at large we most often discuss the subject of discipline as pertains to that of a child; and it is true that it is important to begin the development of this power early. It is also true, however, that we need to exercise discipline at every stage of our life and, in fact, the presence or absence of this power in adulthood is one of the most significant indicators of the results we will achieve.
KMMA instructors of course give this lesson as is appropriate for the specific audience in the academy. When we are teaching to the kids or juniors, we discuss discipline in the way of demonstrating obedience and language of respect to parents and teachers, and also the application of discipline to the student’s lessons, at school and at the dojo, towards the accomplishment of the desired goal- i.e. better grades at school and the Blackbelt or next degree or major goal in the martial arts.
It is this latter understanding of discipline that of course applies to us in our adult lives. Rather speaking about our career, or fitness, or finance, or relationships or any other of the many “adulting” things that we do, our discipline, or lack thereof, moves us closer or further away from our desired goals daily. I can personally attest to evidence of both in my own life; instances in which I successfully applied discipline and accomplished great things, and others in which I did not, and failed as greatly. Of course I have seen this distinction in hundreds of students over the last many years too. Those that develop Discipline almost always become Blackbelts; I am sure they most often achieve the rest of their goals too. The magic of Discipline works for almost everything.
The great news is that we are not destined to live in our pasts. We can never go back and change it, but we can begin to apply the superpower of Discipline to get from where we are to where we want to be. The first step is understanding the mechanism by which Discipline, or lack of it, moves us closer or further from our goals; the second one is developing and then applying habits of Discipline that propel us where we want to go.
The reason that the attribute of discipline is so very relevant to our success and failure is because neither generally happens very quickly. With a few exceptions wherein someone gets unusually lucky or blessed, as in a lottery winner, or something terrible happens totally outside the realm of one’s control, as in a freak and terminal accident, our successes and failures happen a little bit at a time, over a long time. We don’t get instantly fat or instantly fit, instantly wealthy or instantly broke, instantly educated or instantly not, nor instantly successful in business, relationship or any other worthy thing. The truth, while not popular today, is that success happens slowly, like crockpot cooking, not quickly like a microwave. Small positive actions, done consistently over time, move us towards what we want; while small negative actions push us further away. It’s the very small incremental nature of this truth that makes it so illusive and insidious. We don’t notice the effects immediately and, therefore, often don’t take consistent enough positive action to create the desired results nor recognize and control the bad ones to curtail their destruction.
This is where discipline comes in. As Hebrews 12:11 says “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Discipline produces health. Discipline produces financial peace. Discipline produces strong relationships and discipline prepares us for the unexpected, as is the example of our discipline in training self defense skills to prepare for a day we hope will never come.
If you are like me, pondering on this issue will bring many emotions. At once I am convinced about areas I need to do better and reminded that the best is yet ahead. Like you with yours, only I have the power, with God’s help and blessing, to create the future I want for myself and those I love. Through the application of Discipline in my own life, and my best attempt to create the same in my children and those that I lead, I create my future.
How about you? In what areas do you need more discipline in your life? What disciplines could you start today that you will thank yourself for this time next year? What about for your kids or those you mentor? Answer these important questions and then get started. Every worthwhile goal is accomplished the same way as earning a Blackbelt- one class, one week, one month and one belt at a time. Repeat consistently, with discipline, and before you know it, you’ll be a Blackbelt Leader too!
* this is the intro part to chapter 3 of my new book, Meditations On Mastery Volume One, Developing Your Superpower.
It should be published soon! (I’m waiting patiently!)
If you’d like more info on the book as it’s released, just drop your name and email here and i’ll keep you posted!
Discipline is just one of the Superpowers we develop at KMMA and that will be featured on our Martial Arts & Leadership Summer Camps this year!
Register for a 2 week free trial!
or get more info on our camps here:
KMMA Summer Martial Arts & Leadership Camp 1! June 14th-25th
Krav Maga Martial Arts Summer Martial Arts & Leadership Camp 2! July19th-30th
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TampaKravMaga.com and Krav Maga Martial Arts have been empowering lives through the martial arts in the Tampa Bay area for 20 years!
Founded in 2000 by Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo, a 7th degree Black Belt and Sr. Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts and Karate lessons for pre-school children ages 3-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need – specialized for their age group – for school excellence and later success in life.
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If you have any questions about our program, or would like to go ahead redeem your 2 weeks FREE, you can call us anytime at 813-547-6368 or visit our Krav Maga Martial Arts website.
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 commisioned 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.
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