He remembers his times here at The University of Tampa, where he double majored in philosophy and communications, was in the ROTC program and ran a Taekwondo class in the McNiff Center.
His love for martial arts began at age 13 with American karate.
He earned his black belt in 1986 and continued studying many different martial arts, eventually forming his own school in the art of Krav Maga.
Del Castillo had many accomplishments outside of martial arts as well.
He joined the Army where he earned the Green to Gold scholarship to attend UT.
After completing his double-major, Del Castillo went to Germany to continue his training in martial arts.
While there he worked on his masters degree in counseling and psychotherapy.
Following three years in Germany, Del Castillo spent five years in Bayonne, NJ.
He served as a Military Planner for the Military Traffic Management Command and later as the Chief of Operations for the 1301st Major Port Command.
Out of his many accomplishments, Del Castillo says that his greatest accomplishment was the opening of his school, Premier Martial Arts.
Shihan Stephen Del Castillo, as most know him, opened his school in 2000.
Krav Maga is the fighting system of the Israeli Defense Forces.
Del Castillo finds that this art, out of the many he studied, is the most practical and direct.
At his school, Krav Maga is taught to the adults and a system called “Daimyo” is taught to kids.
This system is one that Del Castillo formed himself.
It contains different features from the many arts that he has studied over the years.
The school’s mission is to empower the lives of adults and kids through the martial arts.
This is one mission with two parts.
The first is to allow students to build self-esteem, form the ability to focus and other life skills that will empower them to become contributors to our world The second part, of course, is self-defense.
“Those that come to learn to fight also get fit, and those who come to get fit, also learn how to fight,” says Del Castillo.
Del Castillo remembers his experience teaching martial arts at the McNiff center very clearly.
He and his lifelong friend Paul Baumann were partners in teaching Spartan Taekwondo. Following graduation, Baumann went off to pursue a career in a counting.
Baumann, also in the area, looked up Del Castillo and the two reconnected. Baumann had suggested to Del Castillo that they should open a school. With the combined financial advice of Baumann and vision of Del Castillo, the two were able to open Premier Martial Arts.
Our UT alumnus has had many accomplishments and doesn’t forget the values he has learned along the way.
Shihan Stephen had some words of wisdom for today’s members of the ROTC program: “Really enjoy the great years at UT. The values you learn will help tremendously, whether it be in your career or in the military.The leadership training in ROTC is the most important training a student will ever receive.”
There has been talk of Del Castillo bringing Krav Maga to the Spartans, but as of right now it is only talk.
Until then students can visit TampaKravMaga.com for more information and sign up for a free trial lesson.