There are not many things we hate in this world. We find ourselves in the middle of many topics but one thing that truly gets our blood boiling is bullying. October is Anti-Bullying Month. Violence and bullying remain persistent problems among young children coming into adolescence. Schools are the one place where most parents have little to no control over the things that are happening to or around their children. With a world this is growing more chaotic by the day, this is very troublesome for many.
We believe that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great way to help kids in situations where they are either being bullied or to stand up to de-escalate the situation. When someone decides to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu an internal switch happens and they begin to understand the physical damage that can be done to another human being, making them less inclined to act out in this type of way.
It is important to instill in our children the skills necessary to stand on their own two feet and be competent in many aspects of life. Putting your child in a martial art like jiu-jitsu prevents numerous things from happening.
Anti Bullying Month: Bullying in Schools
Check this video out: here.
To some people they see bullying as “a part of growing up” or “kids being kids” but it has become an even bigger issue with the rise of the internet.
When a kid is picked on every day, whether that is physically, socially, or through cyberspace, one of three things will happen. They will bottle up those emotions and explode one day, learn to defend themselves and fight back, or hurt themselves to cope. As parents, we want to avoid the first and the third options for our children so they can be comfortable in school.
The facts are that every 7 minutes a child is bullied. ~4% of the time an adult intervenes and ~11% of the time a peer intervenes. It is important to instill in our kids the tools to protect themselves because if they don’t know how no one is stepping in to help.
Suicide remains among the leading cause of death of children under the age of 14… read that again. Over the last three decades, the suicide rates of 10 – 14 years old have grown by more than 50%. Teaching kids the proper way to deal with bullying and having some comfort in their ability to do so is key.
Scary things happen when bullying and harassment are not taken seriously. School shootings in most cases are happening as revenge moves to get back at “those who hurt them”. With the rapid increase of them across the country it makes it hard for parents to feel comfortable letting children go out.
Using BJJ in The Right Ways
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a combat sport that can be used in self-defense. BJJ is based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds. It focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, controlling one’s opponent, gaining a dominant position, and using several techniques to force them into submission.
BJJ should not be used as a scare tactic, just because you train does not mean you should go pick fights with people. You are not better than someone just because you train, this is a sport that will humble you very quickly.
Most people walking around are not trained in any form of combat. Just being able to hang in there for classes gives you a significant edge over literally everyone else.
Benefits for Teenagers Especially If They Experience Bullying
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instills real confidence in the person who trains. After surviving the first six months you feel as if you are a new human being. You learn to be unafraid of someone your size that is across from you and in some cases even someone larger than you.
Jiu Jitsu changes the way you look at life and allows you to learn how to protect yourself in a safe, uplifting environment. You build genuine relationships with those that participate in the sport and would even argue that those that practice BJJ become better leaders amongst their peers.
Anti Bullying Month: Get Your Kid in Jiu Jitsu
1 on 1 sports like jiu-jitsu have benefits that go way beyond the four walls they train in. Your child will morph into a highly functioning individual that will learn to rely on their skills! Who does not want something like that for someone they love?
There is no greater gift you can give your child than the one of Brazilian jiu-jitsu – especially if they are running into bullies within a school setting. Schools are a place to learn, grow, hang out with friends, and a place to just be a kid. We must continue to allow this environment to stay this way to allow our children to prosper and be their best selves.
