How Do Self Defense Classes Help With Bullying?

Anyone with children in school knows that bullying is a serious problem that students face both in and out of the classroom. Stopbullying.gov reports that 28% of U.S students in grades 6-12, and 20% of students in grades 9-12, have been bullied. Unfortunately, though, research shows that only 20 – 30% of those who are bullied actually notify adults of the situation, with common reasons why being that they are scared to speak up or fear that they will appear to be weak.

The real question now is what can be done to help those who are bullied and prevent it from happening again in the future? A personal recommendation of ours is to have children take a self defense class. Here are a few ways that they can help:
They Improve Communication Skills

Knowing how to communicate properly with a bully can help defuse a situation before it gets too out of hand, and can especially help with preventing things from becoming physical. And in addition to knowing the right way to speak to a bully, self defense classes can also help children and young adults learn how to communicate with their bodies. For example, they’ll learn how to look and feel more confident, which can deter a bully from approaching them in the first place.
They Offer Real-Life Experiences

Depending on the class your child is enrolled in, they may have an opportunity to role-play in some potential bullying scenarios. By having the chance to fine-tune their skills and practice their responses, children can be better prepared to tackle these kinds of situations when they unfold without an instructor by their side.
They Teach Self Defense Tactics

Most importantly, any self defense class will teach its students the right tactics they need to care for themselves in a number of situations. So, if they are ever approached by a bully, they won’t just have to do the best they can to protect themselves – they’ll know exactly how to respond and do so correctly the first time around.

For those of you with children at home in Exeter or Salem, New Hampshire, we highly recommend that they join a self defense class. In fact, you should too! After all, bullying doesn’t necessarily end when you graduate, so it’s important that we’re all prepared.

To learn more about the self defense programs we offer at Renzo Gracie NH, please give us a call at (603) 777-2775 today.