No, it’s not just boys being boys, or kids being kids. Bullies are made not born. Bullying is a big problem that affects a lot of kids. 3 out of 4 kids say they have been bullied or teased before. Here our some strategies we teach our students here at Gracie Barra Northridge to defend themselves against bullying. Our children Jiu-Jitsu’s program focuses on anti-bullying techniques which boost confidence as well teaches self-defense. The first step we teach our students is WALK AWAY. When the bully comes up to you grab your belonging and walk away. If you are able to successfully walk away then find the nearest adult in charge and tell them what happened. Find someone you trust and talk about what is happening to you. Tell your teacher, parent, principal, or any adult in charge. Sometimes bullies stop as soon as a teacher finds out because they’re afraid that they will be punished by parents. Walking away could also mean avoiding the bully. Step 2: If you cannot successfully walk away from the bully then stand up for your self. This does not mean you have to fight or hurt the bully. When you’re scared of another person, you’re probably not feeling your bravest. But sometimes just acting brave is enough to stop a bully. Make sure you have a good posture, maintain eye contact with the bully, and in a loud stern voice tell them “leave me alone”. Step 3: If the bullying keeps persisting and becomes physical this is the time to use the techniques you have learned in class. To deescalate the situation you can take the bully down using a take down and pin them to the ground using either mount or side mount. Do not choke, punch, or kick the bully. Our martial arts program focuses on anti-bullying techniques. Aside from our kids program Gracie Barra Northridge also offers a variety of programs such as adult’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu, women’s self defense, no-gi training, advanced gi, and Muay Thai. We offer classes 6x a week and are one of the few schools in the San Fernando Valley that offers 6AM adults Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes. Come in to our location to try a FREE introductory lesson. We are currently offering 30 days for free*, you do not want to miss out!
*Must purchase Gracie Barra Uniform for free trial
