The Future’s So Bright
I got a surprise in the mail recently, from a blast from my past Colonel Waldemar Carmona.
It was a letter congratulating me on my success and wishing us well; and also the above picture which he said he knew would “make me smile”.
He was right.
Colonel Carmona was my boss and one of my early leadership mentors.
I was a young Captain under his tutelage and learned a lot from him.
I also taught his son in my small commmunity martial arts program on the base.
Even throughout my military career I always both trained and taught.
I also was honing my leadership under great mentors.
I suppose it was always my destiny to one day open the school that would grow into the awesome leadership development and martial arts academy that we have today.
Ironically, this pic is from around 97/98- only a short time before I opened the dojo in October of 2000.
There are three meditations (lessons) that I derive from this picture:
- We never know where the seeds we are sowing will take us. I mean, sometimes we do, when we are deliberately sowing towards a specific vision or goal, which i’ve done a lot too… but other times, as in the moment in time represented by the picture, we are sowing seeds for a master plan God has for us before we realize that’s what we are doing.
- I am so grateful that I had great mentors like Colonel Carmona, and that I get to be one to others today. I am grateful I mentor and am still mentored, and also for the great memories that such experiences produce, in addition to the results.
- The future was so bright I had to wear sunglasses. It still is.
Prepare To Live; Empower To Lead!
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founding Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
Author of Developing Your Superpowers Meditations On Mastery Vol One
Check out the Meditations On Mastery Blog and Podcast too!
———————————————————————————————————————-
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