Bullying in today’s world

In today’s world, the number of ways bullying can take place are ever growing. But never fear! Karate is one of the best ways to build confidence both physically and mentally to help prepare our children for the situations they are likely to encounter as they learn to navigate this digital age.

Before we get into how karate assists in this process, it’s important that we talk about the types of bullying that can occur. We have to talk to our kids about recognizing these types and what to do with each one.  The goal should never be to fight first and ask questions later.  Some of the common bullying issues our children might encounter are:

1. Physical bullying

2. Verbal bullying

3. Indirection bullying

4. Social alienation

5. Intimidation

6. Cyber bullying

When you are learning karate, confidence comes in two forms, mental and physical.

MENTAL: Karate teaches mental confidence through respect, understanding how to respond…etc. When we talk about being mentally confident by using karate, we do not mean using violence, we mean being able to do something like holding eye contact through an intimidating situation or being able to walk away without making it a larger problem and not feeling bad about it. Knowing a child has good discipline and can handle any situation that is thrown at them also builds great self-esteem as well. Through all of these different mental skills, it gives children a sense of accomplishment while progressing to a new belt color.

PHYSICAL: Physical confidence is instructed though skills associated with a routine practice of various skill sets that enhance the physical self. Such as building strength, balance, assertiveness, boldness, understanding a building process, etc.  When you start karate, you start at the lowest level and eventually graduate to the next belt. You child will continue to build strength as they strive to graduate to the next level, which is also building their stamina up.

 Like life, karate is a building process, you are always building upon your skills, both mental & physical.