#12: Tom Callos – The Martial Art of Kindness

The Black Belt Podcast

“The real goal is not to be a great martial artist, but to be a great human being. A Black Belt is a good human being that is constantly working on themselves, it is somebody of a high level of skill, that brings their practice to life in ways that makes other people stop and look and listen. It’s about the Artist that brings the practice to life.” – Tom Callos

My guest this episode is Tom Callos, who is a Black Belt in BJJ and a 7’th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is a professional consultant, curriculum designer, and educational activist working within the international martial arts community. His mission is to bring valuable new ideas, methodology, practices, and programs to the martial arts world. His specialties are marketing, social networking, martial arts school management, black belt test design, writing, speaking, and developing future Leaders.

This episode is all about taking action and becoming good human beings. My key takeaway is that martial arts is so much more than punching, kicking, and choking. Martial Arts are a vehicle to empower kindness and develop compassionate guardians of our community. As martial arts teachers we have a great power and responsibility to use the power of our words and actions to inspire greatness in our students and communities. We dive deep into the transformative teacher student relationship and how just a few simple words or pointers can shatter limiting beliefs and self-imposed barriers. We discuss the martial arts industry, philosophy, and the importance of consistent deliberate practice. This was a truly special episode with one of the most influential mentors in the game. Tune in as Mr. Tom Callos shares his wisdom, stories, and practical advice on how you can show up and make a difference.