Bully Proofing through Martial Arts
I was watching videos on stopbullying.gov this morning, and I really loved this one called “One Good Friend.” In it, a young lady talks about her experience moving to a new town and being bullied. The impact of finding a good friend who took her under her wing changed her life.
In the martial arts industry, we often talk about the power of martial arts to help our children ages 7-12 develop physical fitness like flexibility, strength and endurance; as well as mental habits through systematic focus on life skills (Discipline, Honesty, Respect, Communication, Self-Esteem and Belief).
However one of the biggest powers of training in martial arts is the positive social impact training results in. Here at Northwest Austin ATA, students not only create friendships – they create the RIGHT kinds of friendships.
One of the strategies we teach our students is to stand up for others when we see a situation that could potentially escalate into bullying. Bullying is defined by a perceived power imbalance. Kids who bully use their power (which is not only physical strength or access to embarrassing information, but often popularity) to control or harm others. When the onlookers express disapproval or step on on behalf of a person being bullied, it reduces the perceived popularity of the action.
Sometimes all it takes to help a student overcome a difficult social situation at school is that “one good friend” that they can rely on.
Do you believe your child needs a strong social circle to endure potential bullying at school? Would you like your child to be that “one good friend” to someone else? Check out classes at Northwest Austin and lets help our children develop the social skills that they need to improve their own school experiences!
For more information:
Register for a free trial class with Northwest Austin ATA
Read through the research and suggestions on Stopbullying.gov
Watch “One Good Friend” on Youtube
