Martial arts can help kids prepare for a potential encounter with a bully. But perhaps not in the way you might expect. Rather than teaching kids to use physical contact to stand up to a bully, martial arts teaches kids other ways they can diffuse a threatening situation.
One of the foundational values that almost all martial arts programs promote is respect. Students of all ages are instructed to respect their instructor and their fellow students. Over time, kids learn that his respect for others carries over into all areas of their lives.
Bullying goes against this primary value of respect and involves deliberate and repeated behavior where the intention is to hurt another person. Building on value of respecting others, here are three ways martial arts teaches kids to deal with a bully:
1. Self-Confidence
Instilling confidence in a child can be one of the best ways to deal with a bully. Feeling confident begins with body language. Rather than walking around with their eyes down and shoulder hunched, the postures of martial arts teach kids to stand up straight and make eye contact. This more confident stance also helps kids speak with more confidence.
2. Self-Discipline
To progress in martial arts, students must be committed to their training. This commitment fosters the development of self-discipline in kids. Self-discipline is a valuable skill for a child to have if a bully ever confronts them. Kids with more self-discipline can remain calm, even when under pressure or faced with an uncomfortable confrontation. Staying calm helps you to think more clearly and diffuse a threatening situation.
3. Self-Defense
Martial arts teaches self-defense skills; however, the confidence boost for kids doesn’t come from using these skills during a physical confrontation. Most martial arts schools don’t promote using violence while faced with a conflict. Instead, a child who knows they have the skills to defend themselves against a threat experiences an increase in self-confidence.
GF Team Toledo offers a safe and fun Kids program that focuses on the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu and self-defense. We have classes for kids ages 5-7 and 8-12. To learn more about how to get started, contact us today.
