We all want to give our kids the best of everything.

And this is especially true if, like me, you come from humble beginnings.

Of all the mistakes I may have made in raising my boys up in the way they should go, that could have been one of them.

I mean, compared to some, I guess they weren’t that spoiled.

But I did have a natural inclination to want to give them everything, and especially while they were little.

Of everything I have ever given them, though, there is only one thing that I am absolutely, positively sure that served them well; and in fact, it’s the only gift I gave them that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

And that’s the gift of having grown up in the martial arts, and particularly at my dojo.

This is the gift of Focus, Respect, Discipline, Confidence, Gratitude and Vision…

Of fitness, fun, friends, and leadership.

Most of all, of education and experiences that have prepared them for success for the rest of their lives.

My eldest son, Shihan Harley Del Castillo, is in his final year of college and already set up for a successful career in Cybersecurity.

And he’s equipped with the grit, leadership, character, and attitude to win at this and anything.

And oh, by the way, he didn’t always want to train; but now he’s grateful that he did and for all that decision yielded him.

I interviewed him on his experience growing up in the dojo.

                                                                                                     You can listen to it here.

———————————————————————————————————————-

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 commissioned 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.

See stephendelcastillo.com for more information and to order my book, Developing Your Superpower, Meditations on Mastery, Volume 1.

Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com