Throwback Thursday
For Throwback Thursday today, I want to celebrate Shihan Harley Del Castillo.
Shihan Harley is truly one of the best martial artists I have ever met.
He’s fit, confident, strong and fast. His technique is impeccable.
He’s an A student studying Cyber-security at the University of South Florida, and the consummate example of Blackbelt Leader.
He’s a great teacher and leader and a joy to be around.
None of this is surprising.
Excellence happens daily, but not in a day.
Harley was with me when I opened the dojo in October of 2000.
at the Grand Opening of this dojo 21 years ago- then called Daimyo Martial Arts. That’s Harley’s Abuelo Oscar with him.
He grew up training. He also competed and was in fact a state and national champion with his bo form.
Harley truly grew with the dojo, learning more and more as my style and system evolved and we refined the system that is Krav Maga Martial Arts today.
with his brothers Diego and Winston and my Krav Maga teacher Eyal Yanilov.
We’ve trained together with so many great teaches and have so many great memories and, while of course I have several great memories with my son, not all of which are martial arts related, I can truly say that I think that the KMMA education he had growing up, and the bond we’ve formed working and growing together ever since, has been an invaluable experience and created invaluable memories for us both.
with Grand Tujon Leo Gaje, our teacher’s teacher in the art of kali.
I am super grateful for all the memories of Shihan Harley’s first 21 years, and thoroughly enjoying this season where he and I get to work together sowing into others at our dojo.
Proud and grateful.
with my friend and mentor Grand Master Jeff Smith, 7x PKA World Kickboxing Champion
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Author, MBA & 7th Degree Blackbelt
Founder & Chief Master Instructor,
Krav Maga Martial Arts
TampaKravMaga.com
ShihanSteve.com
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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