Say No to Bullying: Resistance through Martial Arts
Bruce McCorry's Martial Arts Center
220 Newbury St
Peabody MA 01960
Phone: (978) 535-7878
Email: info@brucemccorrys.com
In 2016, the National Center for Education reported that 20.8% of children in the US schools are being bullied, which means that one out of every five child is a victim of bullying. This is a situation that demands attention, even more so when we realize that in each instance of bullying, it is not just the victim who needs professional help, but also the bully. The question that remains, is how we can provide help.
Bullying and Cyberbullying: The Need for a Solution
The disheartening report from the Center for Education came almost one year after US declared itself a federation with anti-bullying legislation implemented in every single state. This shows us that legislation and adult supervision might help to an extend in reducing the instances of bullying - but even today, we have no foolproof way to ensure that a child won’t be bullied at all in the social spaces that he/she interacts in. Even when adults might be able to monitor classrooms and public spaces where kids interact, it is impossible to rule out the discrete and damaging ways in which bullying might be carried on, either in real life or in cyberspaces where it is impossible to intervene or prevent bullying before it has happened.
Is there a solution? What we need is a strong tactic by which the root causes of bullying can be eradicated and kids could be equipped to resist bullying when it happens. What we need is a more personal solution that can positively transform the everyday lives of potential victims and bullies.
Resisting Bullying through Martial Arts: The Bruce McCorry’s Way
For a number of years now, Bruce McCorry’s Academy of Martial Arts (Peabody, MA) has advocated martial arts as a potentially safe and efficient way to resist bullying. There are several ways in which martial arts can be used to prevent bullying, which Bruce McCorry’s Academy has incorporated into the martial art programs for children:
- Martial art lessons instill children with self-confidence and self-esteem. One root cause of bullying that gives away potential victims is their diffidence and timidity, which martial arts can remedy.
- Often, difference is something kids find difficult to accept in themselves and in others. Core values that are part of martial arts training teach kids to love and accept their own differences, and those of others. This helps to reduce bullying, as vulnerable children find confidence in being able to accept themselves, and potential bullies develop a tolerant attitude to others.
- Martial arts help potential bullies and victims physically as well. It helps weak kids to learn self-defense strategies, develop stronger physique, and thus defend themselves. On the other hand, it helps potentially violent kids to channelize their extra energy in productive ways.
- Through martial arts, children learn social skills such as companionship, team work and tolerance. These are important in learning to value the dignity of others, and thus help to prevent bullying.
A good martial art school needs to develop a space for children to get to know each other, respect differences, develop one’s potential and grow socially through companionship. The children’s programs at Bruce McCorry’s aim at providing such a space for children to grow, so that they learn to defend themselves, stand up for those who are weaker, and respect those who are different.
With martial arts as a solution, it is possible to imagine a future where bullies and bullying exist no more.
Bruce McCorry's Martial Arts Center
220 Newbury St
Peabody MA 01960
Phone: (978) 535-7878
Email: info@brucemccorrys.com
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