The Power of Love
Not sure what you thought about when you saw that title…
you may have thought about the Huey Lewis or Celine Dion song of the same titles, or someone you love, or just wondered, what’s this guy about to say about love.
But, for the purpose of this blog, I want to share a couple of stories that explain what I’m talking about, and why I’m talking about it.
In my Blackbelt Leadership classes, I sometimes share a lesson I learned from one of my mentors many years ago on the subject.
I put a 10-foot 2×4 on the floor and stand with a $10 bill asking, “who would walk across this board for this $10.
Of course, almost everyone volunteers.
Then I ask, “what if I took the same board and put it between two buildings 100 feet above the street? Would you still do it them? What about for $100? $1,000?”
Of course, except for an occasional lad trying to be funny, nobody opts in for that offer.
Then I ask, “for the parents in the room, your child is in the other building on the other side and the building is on fire. If you don’t get there to save him or her, they will die. Who will cross that plank 100 feet up to save their child.
If you are a parent, of course you know everyone says they will and, with that revelation comes an important discovery.
I am usually using the metaphor to describe the importance of having a strong enough why attached to the goals we set.
Today I am using it to explain the power of love.
As I think about it, and what I’m going to share with you next, I guess the two lessons are inextricably entwined…
You see, what I wanted to share is how much I love my tribe- my students, and families and teams of Krav Maga Martial Arts.
The truth is, if I’m transparent, that there were many times in the last 22 years that we could have gone out of business.
Early on it was especially true; I didn’t really know what I was doing and made many mistakes that should have been fatal.
But because I love what I do, and even more who I do it for, so much; failure was never an option.
I had some really hard times, and some really hard fights, and even lost a few battles along the way.
But I never quit because I love what we do for people too much.
I love what I’m called to do, and I love that I’m called to do it.
And, tribe, I love you.
That’s why, even in recent history when the pandemic and the world’s reaction to it threatened our survival once again, I knew we would make it.
I knew it because it is the only thing to do…when you love someone.
I share this with students and non-students alike today because you love some people too.
If you really love them, you know what to do, and need to know what you’ll never do.
We all miss the mark sometimes, stumble or fall, or even lose some battles.
Just remember that we never lose until we quit.
I’ll never quit on you.
With Love,
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founding Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
TampaKravMaga.com StephenDelCastillo.com
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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