You Can’t Fake That
You may know that KMMA just had an epic Blackbelt Retreat Weekend, where 36 students tested to Blackbelt levels of various degrees and over 90 students trained at the Krav Camp Saturday…
or that my teacher Grandmaster Jeff Smith was our guest of honor, observed the whole weekend, gave an amazing sparring clinic Saturday and presided over our Blackbelt test and graduation…
or that he promoted me to my 8th Degree.
And I am proud of all of that.
But I was even more proud about something he said to my team and I in our staff training today.
He said, “you can’t fake that”.
What he was talking about was about the large numbers of confident and competent blackbelt leaders, their great physical performance, demonstrated character and the quality of the public speaking, as demonstrated by their Blackbelt speeches Friday night, the impromptu ones around the campfire Saturday, and the ones that a few gave at the graduation ceremony Sunday.
But more than any of that he addressed specifically what they said and how they said it.
He was impressed by the intensity of their emotions, about their personal accomplishments and those of their brothers and sisters in the tribe.
He was praising the team for the meaningful difference that we make in so many families, in so many people’s lives, and in so many positive ways.
Of all the great things I have to feel proud about right now, this is the greatest.
And I am proud and grateful for all the amazing Sensei, leaders, team and tribe that help make this so.
They love our tribe, mission, what we get to do and the difference we make too…
and you just can’t fake that.
Prepare To Live; Empower To Lead!
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founding Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
TampaKravMaga.com StephenDelCastillo.com
p.s. you can register for the next krav camp here and save 20% when you use coupon code “Freedom” today!
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 an 8th 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. Today I continue to train, learn, sow and grow under the mentorship of World Champion Grandmaster Jeff Smith, who regularly visits the academy to help sow into my teams and students as well.
The Krav MagaMartial Arts Headquarters is in Lutz, FL at 1900 Land O’ Lakes BLVD and now our new location in 8836 US 19, Port Richey! Krav Maga Martial Arts serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Port Richey 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