Empower Children to Stop Bullying

Every day, in schools across America, children are being bullied.  Often, children who are bullied lack the size and confidence necessary to successfully stand up for themselves.  Simply telling a child to stand up to a bully is a hollow sentiment if the child is not also given the tools and confidence to effectively do so.  Ineffective attempts to resist the bully may be met with increasing amounts of ridicule and violence.  Self-defense based martial arts not only teach children the skills to defend themselves, but also give them the confidence to stand up to bullies and avoid physical conflict altogether.

Bullies seek out children who they view as being weaker than themselves, who are unwilling or unable to stand up to them.  For this reason, it is often the smaller, quieter, or more gentle kids who become victims of bullying.  Even if these kids can muster enough courage to speak up, the bullying may not stop and these efforts may actually make the situation worse.  Left unchecked, bullying can lead to depression, anger, disciplinary problems, poor grades, or worse.  Kids need to know that they not only should but can stand up for themselves because bullying is never okay, but they must be taught how.

A martial art program that teaches based on real-world self-defense will always start by building up a child’s confidence through techniques specifically developed to be effective when applied by a smaller, weaker person against a larger, stronger opponent.  These techniques will be taught within the context of the most common attacks a child is likely to face when being bullied, such as shoves, punches, and a variety of grabs like headlocks or bearhugs from multiple positions.  By giving the child tools to handle a variety of situations against increasing resistance and a multitude of partners, the child learns that he or she can not only survive but thrive in the worst situations.

School is supposed to be a safe, fun place where children go to learn, grow, and play with their friends, but bullying makes going to school a terrible experience for many kids.  Bullying affects every aspect of a child’s life and this can have a grave impact on his or her future.  For a bullied child, there often must be an intervening force to prevent and reverse the effects of bullying.  Realistic self-defense based martial arts empower children to take control of their lives and futures.