Defend Against Bullying
The Problem
As a parent, you worry about your son's or daughter's safety at school, especially when a violent incident erupts. Schools just don't seem to be safe anymore. As these violent incidents, seen on television, are rare, they do occur. However, the real threat is in the bullying your child might endure every day, on or off school property.
Dealing with the problem of a child being bullied in school is one of the most frustrating things a parent will have to deal with. It's a heart wrenching experience. On the one hand a parent worries about the welfare and safety of their child because they know he or she is getting beat up on a daily basis and the situation just gets worse; on the other there are school principals who assure the parents that the problem isn't as bad as they make it out to be and that everything is under control. As the situation worsens there is the process of lodging complaints with the police and dealing with an unmoving school board seemingly unwilling to work on the parents' and victims' behalf. The message is reinforced that the bully has more rights than the victim.
There are instances of school kids, in junior and senior high schools, becoming very depressed from being bullied, to the point where they do something drastic to end it all. There is no reason for bullying to get to this point.
The Founder's Philosophy on Bullying
From personal experience, bullying is scary but it can be resolved. Not everyone will agree with the manner of resolution but it does work; possibly because it is the only thing that bullies understand. In this case, the victim must fight fire with fire. In other words the victim must not be afraid to fight the bully. It worked for the founder.
Musado Hapkido Training
Parents who have brought their bullied children into the Musado Hapkido program noticed a marked improvement in their child in about four to six months. Despite school authorities' worries about turning victims into bullies the students learned respect and discipline; one high school student was slapped in an attempt to goad him into a fight and the Musado Hapkido student walked away and was never bothered again. This is a type of discipline that requires courage. It isn't everyone who would just walk away from this type of provocation. In another instance, a student, who is ADHD, eventually felt he had to use force to defend himself when surrounded by three bullies. He punched the provoker in the jaw and ran to the principal's office.
A Word of Caution
Victims who do defend themselves are usually in trouble because by the time teachers come on the scene all they see are two or three children/teens brawling, followed by a lot of finger pointing. Who to believe? Although your child will learn how to fight, they will also learn restraint, respect for others and self-discipline. The martial skills they develop will enhance their confidence and they will come to understand that they don't have to fight. Having said that, if your child is obliged to defend himself/herself school suspensions can result and other possible repercussions such as the threat of law suits from the bullies' parents or possibly assault charges. Each case and situation is unique, leaving the parents to deal with them in the best way they can; however, their child is probably safe and this bully will not likely bother them again.