One thing we dread as any parent and that is the thought of our children being bullied. When most of us parents grew up, bullying you would only hear of generally in the playground. But now we are in a modern digital world with phones and tablets, children may also have social media accounts where they also can get abused.

This is a tragic thought as they may not be able to escape it. So, you may be thinking what can you do to stop or even prevent bullying.

Is kickboxing or martial arts good for children being bullied?

It may seem a crazy idea to take your child to a combat sport or martial art discipline but the results are actually counterproductive. Martial arts have an amazing amount of positives on children’s lives and taking up a discipline will certainly give them more confidence to not be afraid of.

This is because bullying can be much more than just physical and kickboxing can help boost a child’s confidence as well as give them friends and a team to keep their spirits up too.

How many Children are Bullied?

Bullying comes in many forms. From physical bullying to verbal and even cyberbullying, children suffer on a daily basis.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), ‘almost nine out of 10 bullied children become a victim’.

Below are some more statistics showing how common bullying is:

• 89% of 10-15 year olds were victims of verbal abuse
• 78% of boys experience physical bullying, compared to 52% of girls
• Over 80% of bullying happens completely, or partially in school

What are some signs of bullying?

There are quite a few different signs of bullying to look out for in your children. However, below is a list of the most common symptoms:

• Frequent mood swings
• Decline in school grades
• Injuries
• Lost/destroyed possessions
• Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick & more
• Sudden loss of interest in once enjoyed activities
• Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem

Can Learning Martial Arts Stop Bullies?

1. Self awareness
2. Confidence
3. Self defence

These three things are all available in the martial arts field. Not only can it give your child the knowledge of physical self defence, however it can also help your child become more self aware and confident too.

However, martial arts can help your child learn how to:

1. Keep calm under pressure
2. Identify a real threat
3. Read others
4. React quickly
5. Critical think

This means that learning martial arts can give much much more to your child than you may initially think. All of the above techniques can also help with verbal or cyberbullying too.

Evolve MMA suggests that:

‘Martial arts is for everyone, whether your child is the bully or the one being bullied. Enrolling your child in martial arts classes will instill in them the knowledge and the wisdom of self-defense, all while teaching them true values like respect, sportsmanship, responsibility, and camaraderie.’

What are the 3 S’s to Beat Bullies?

1. Speak Up

Being confident and assertive can help deter bullies.

2. Stay safe

Remember to protect yourself against bullies. If you are in physical danger, remember to get the help of an adult.

Fitroots suggests that:

‘Using your body should never be the first solution…When you can, save your energy for something more important (like getting away). But when it is called for, then use it without fear of punishment, as you never know what might happen.’

What Next?

Martial arts is a great way to help children who are suffering from being bullied. Not only does it give children the self defence techniques that they may need, but it can also give them a sense of confidence, camaraderie and strength too.

Read more about the benefits of kickboxing for children in our article ‘The complete guide to kickboxing for kids’ here.

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