According to child psychologists, young bullies commit heinous acts because they were bullied themselves. They may also come from a home where love and attention are in short supply.
This is not a justification for their cruelty. But psychologists believe this lack of affection leads them to feel good about themselves by making a smaller, weaker victim feel inferior.
Standing up to their tormentors is not easy for children. And the effects of bullying can impact them for years to come, even into adulthood.
When my daughter Lauren was in middle school we had to change her school as we were moving to Brampton. She was always a shy, well-behaved child. So, when we found out that some of her classmates were bullying her, we got upset and considered changing her school again.
But we realized that was not the solution. Rather, she should stand up to her bullies. To build her confidence and self-defence skills, I decided to enroll her in a karate class in Brampton. I Googled ‘karate Brampton near me’, found Legends MMA, and signed her up. Within six months, she not only felt stronger and more capable but there was a positive impact on her grades as well.
Because I have seen this transformation in my daughter, I am writing this post about why you should also enrol your child in a karate class to make them more bully-proof.
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How Karate Can Help Tackle Bullying
The desire for confidence is the root cause of bullying. Bullies often lack confidence, so they put others down and create fear in others to gain status, command attention, and, ultimately, feel better about themselves.
A child’s confidence and self-esteem can take a big hit as a result of bullying. And because of their fear, intimidation, and low self-esteem, victims may not realize their full potential.
A bully’s quality of life can also suffer if they become social outcasts, and their aggressive behaviours may turn criminal when they get older.
Whether your child is being bullied or is displaying bully-like tendencies, karate can be a great tool to help build their belief in themselves. Here, you will find out why kids who learn karate are not bullied.
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It Prevents the Problem
Bullies almost always pick on someone smaller and/or less confident. A bully will not pick on someone who can successfully fight back. So, if you want your child to be safe from bullies, enrolling them in karate lessons can help.
The most basic and obvious benefit of karate lessons is that your child will learn to defend themselves from attacks. On the other hand, if your child is showing bully-like tendencies, karate will give them a way to channel their energy. They will be taught that bullying and picking fights are prohibited which will lessen such behaviour. Karate also helps reduce anger and aggression and improves the mental well-being of both potential bullies and victims.
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It Stops Intimidation
Even if your child is not currently being bullied, learning karate instills confidence as they know they are far less likely to become a victim of bullying. It increases their confidence which shows in the way they carry themselves, so they come across as less of an easy target.
Children who take karate are less likely to be intimidated by acts of aggression. Instead, they project strength and courage, so are less likely to be bullied.
Being able to protect themselves will also give them the confidence to protect others from bullies. In this way, they can earn the attention, love, and respect of others.
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It Teaches Respect and Discipline
Karate teaches other valuable lessons like courtesy, respect, self-control and perseverance which will stay with them for the rest of their life.
Bullying tendencies in children are often accompanied by a lack of respect for others. Since respect is a core tenet of karate, students treat everyone with respect and learn that mistreating others is bad. Children who lack consistent discipline are more likely to become bullies. Karate, however, provides them with a precise, reliable structure to adhere to for proper conduct.
Bullying can negatively impact the lives of its victims. But learning karate can instill confidence, discipline, and self-defence skills in children. So, if you want to see your child become confident, enrol them in karate training in Brampton today.
