Superpower#1- Focus
For the next seven days I am going to feature one of the Blackbelt Foundational Superpowers daily and include a subchapter of my new book, Developing Your Superpowers which will be available soon!
Today we begin with Superpower One, Focus.
Enjoy, and if you’d like to check out my free webinar on Developing Your Superpowers, you can do that here!
Also, speaking of Focus, it’s just one of the Superpowers that our KMMA Blackbelt Superhero Team will be Focusing on at KMMA Martial Arts & Leadership Summer Camp this year! Get more information on either of our two camps below! And/or click here for a 2 week free trial of our Superpower Development program for the whole family at KMMA!
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Author, Speaker, Teacher, MBA, & 7th Degree Blackbelt
Founder & Chief Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
By the way, reading is a GREAT way to improve Focus as well as learn new things. That’s why it’s one of the Blackbelt Leader behaviors we reward at KMMA. Check out our Book Club card here.
You can have your child read the below excerpt with you for credit towards a Blackbelt Character stripe today!
1.2 What is Focus?
Focus is the ability to block out distractions and concentrate on what’s important.
We teach this foundational truth to students from the very beginning of their journey at Krav Maga Martial Arts. Some kids come relatively focused for their age, and many need lots of work- some adults too.
Truth is, everybody can use better focus. Focus is our first foundation superpower.
One, because true focus is rare and those that have it accomplish amazing feats;
Two, because Focus is the power that makes all of the other Blackbelt Leadership Traits more powerful.
There are 4 main types of Focus we teach at Krav Maga Martial Arts:
- Focus of the eyes.
- Focus of the ears.
- Focus of the mind.
- Focus of the body.
The first two are especially useful for students’ paying attention skills and for interpersonal communication. When a child in school, or a college or adult student for that matter, looks and listens better, they hear and understand more too. This equals improved concentration, comprehension and better grades.
At least as importantly, looking another in the eyes when we speak, and truly listening to understand, are communication skills that we all can improve to great benefit.
Of course the focus of the body- the ability to control our bodies and our behavior- is also important, and we teach these skills through our listening positions, and of course the martial skills themselves. Students that begin with very little physical dexterity, or the ability to sit still without fidgeting, develop a Blackbelt level of physical control in a relatively short time, and this skill spills over into everything else in their lives.
Focus of the mind is especially important for those of us looking to exponentially improve in any area of life though. In a chaotic world, rife with distraction, the ability to truly block out distraction and concentrate on what’s important is indeed a superpower; it’s often not the big things but the small distractions that keep us from our goals and mired in mediocrity.
Like any skill that wields this much power, Focus takes work. And, while we begin every white belt (KMMA beginner) on development of Focus in our Foundations program, it truly is a journey which grows to Blackbelt Leadership Excellence over a few years, on the way to Blackbelt and beyond.
By the time our Blackbelts test for that honor, they demonstrate superhero-like physical skills, tenacity and courage, and the Focus to succeed not just in the martial arts but in all of their academic, career and leadership goals for life.
My training started with Grand Master Del Castillo in 2001, when I was only 4 years old. As a kid, it wasn’t really my decision to get started but I definitely enjoyed it and grateful my dad kept me in it. Without the Superpowers, I don’t know where I would be in life right now. It’s incredible to see how Grand Master Del Castillo has been able to take the lessons we teach in our Blackbelt Leadership Course and put it into a book. Not only have these superpowers set the foundation for my success in life, but he has also been able to create a community where I feel like I have a second family. As an instructor at KMMA, I am honored to be able to have grown up with these lessons and I am more honored to be able to sow into the next generation the same way Grand Master Del Castillo was able to do for me.
Sensei Kyle Bierly
KMMA Chief Instructor, Student and Superhero (that’s me featured on the Focus meme at the top of this email)
“A must read book for learning the life lessons for developing leadership skills on your journey to Blackbelt and beyond! To be a Blackbelt one must train like a Blackbelt and this book shows
you the steps to accomplish that goal. Thank you Master Stephen Del Castillo for paving the way for your students on their journey to Blackbelt and beyond!”
GM Jeff Smith, 10th Degree Blackbelt, seven-time PKA World Light Heavyweight Karate Champion
CLICK HERE TO CLAIM A COPY OF GRAND MASTER DEL CASTILLO’S BOOK!
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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.
Krav Maga Martial Arts Adult Krav Maga training is a complete adult self defense, fitness, and conditioning program for adults who want to learn real world self defense, lose weight, and/or get (and stay in shape).
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.
Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com