PARENT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Chris and Holly Santillo
BY GIANNA GRONOWSKI
Chris is an alumnus of Harvey Mudd College
and Georgetown University, receiving a
bachelor’s degree in computer science and a
master’s degree in business administration.

Holly received her degree in anthropology
from Williamette University. The parent duo
maintain strong backgrounds in martial arts
and run Potomac Kempo in Arlington, where
they teach skills such as “breathing through
breathless times.” Together, they embody the
phrase “a healthy mind in a healthy body.”
The Santillos believe broadening chil-
dren’s worldviews and supporting an open
mind lead to resilient adults. At home
in Virginia with friends and family, they
love to spend time in Old Towne, where
their roots are. Their family can now be
found traversing the globe and living out a
nomadic lifestyle, from the vast dune sea
of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, to the snowy
landscape aboard the Trans-Siberian
Railway. The family’s newfound favorite
activity is hiking, citing it as an escape from all
other distractions.

You believe in “a healthy mind in
a healthy body.” How does this
influence your parenting?
As parents, we all spend a lot of energy mak-
ing sure our children learn what they need
to learn—and rightly so. But nurturing a
healthy mind isn’t that simple. Our physical
state has a tremendous effect on our mental,
as well as emotional, states. So, as we work
34 Washington FAMILY NOVEMBER 2022
to raise children who are mentally and emo-
tionally happy, healthy and resilient, we will
only succeed if we make sure that they are
also physically happy, healthy and resilient.

How do the principles of martial
arts translate to parenting?
The martial arts—when properly taught—
are a methodology for life. How to positively
interact with others, how to overcome chal-
lenges, when to yield, and when to stand
firm... thus it shouldn’t surprise us that par-
allel principles will come to light in life, as
well as parenting. We personally can’t begin
to count how many times we have used
martial arts training as a metaphor to illus-
trate and clarify challenging concepts or
situations that confront our family.

Did the ideas of opening minds and
broadening horizons to develop
strong, resilient adults lead you to
travel with your boys?
Absolutely. We traveled full-time with our
children for almost three years. We were on a
PHOTO PROVIDED
Not your average authors, Chris and Holly Santillo
have embarked on an adventure with their three sons
around the globe that embodies the message in their
book, “Resilience Parenting: Raising Resilient Children
in an Era of Detachment and Dependence.”