Shihan Stephen J. Del Castillo opened his first martial arts academy in Wesley Chapel in October 2000. It was a small place, but one with big dreams.
He dreamed of creating a place that would touch lives one blackbelt at a time and improve people, families and society. Thirteen years and hundreds of students later, Shihan Steve is achieving these goals.
Shihan Steve (Shihan title denotes the status of Master Instructor) has more than 30 years of martial arts experience. He also has a master’s degree, many awards and accolades from his military, civic service and martial arts career. Plus, the August 2013 issue of Success Magazine published a story about Shihan Steve and his school.
But these impressive credentials and personal accomplishments are not what makes Shihan Steve the most proud. Rather, it is the quality of blackbelts his school is producing and the contributions those students make to the community.
“Most of my blackbelts are ‘A’ students,” Shihan Steve says. “But many of them didn’t start that way.”
Shihan Steve asserts that the focus, discipline, courtesy and respect instilled through his program results in students performing far better in school.
“It all starts with development of one’s self-esteem,” he says. “We develop champions from the inside out.”
Shihan Steve has empowered hundreds of kids through his program that uses a system of positive reinforcement and gentle correction.
Especially at the beginning of a student’s training, Shihan Steve says the most important step is to develop a student’s confidence and trust in him or herself and the instructor.
Shihan Steve calls this program Krav Maga Martial Arts. It is one of the most practical self-protection systems available and can be used by people of any age to teach martial arts and improve a student’s spirit and character.
In addition to making sure that every student in every class has fun, Shihan Steve sees that students get a great workout and learn something new. His program and its process results in students growing from wherever they are to where they want to be.
There have been many changes in the 13 years since Shihan Steve opened his first academy. Many martial arts schools have come and gone. Things at his school have changed too — including the school’s name, its colors, logos, uniforms and staff.
“My curriculum also has evolved, ” Shihan Steve says. “But I am very proud that the one thing that has never changed is my vision and mission.
“Thomas Jefferson said, ‘In matters of style, swim with the current but in matters of principle, stand like a rock.’ Our martial arts school, or “dojo” as we call it, has honored this rule. I wrote a vision and mission statement 13 years ago that is still the bedrock of what we do today. Our name has evolved, and our style has been enhanced with the integration of other styles, but our mission and our principles remain the same.”
Shihan Steve is offering free seminars all throughout this back-to-school season, including his Back to School Success seminar and Bully Proof workshops. He also offers free two-week trial memberships to all community youth, as well as teens and adults.
To learn more about Shihan Steve’s school, mission, seminars and programs, please visit www.tampakravmaga.com.
This story was written by the advertising department.
