All Videos Tagged bully (Zen Martial Arts Center) - Zen Martial Arts Center

What NOT to Say to a Child that is Being Bullied

2016-08-30T06:36:30.038Z

As parents, coaches, and mentors of young people, let's arm ourselves with the best information we can on the nature of bullying so that we are prepared to give the best advice possible. What we were told as kids may not (and likely isn't) the best advice out there.

Through the years of working with children being bullied, I have heard some well-meaning, yet fairly useless--sometimes even dangerous--advice given to kids. Here, I share the two worst things I believe that we can say to a young person that is being bullied.

Once Bullied, Sacramento Boy now Brave

2010-10-14T08:00:21.000Z

ZEN MARTIAL ARTS, SACRAMENTO, CA - Willie Barnett knows the pain of being bullied. The 9-year-old West Sacramento boy said, "I got shoved to the ground, choked by my sweater, got accused of bad words, kicked and punched in the stomach."

Frustrated by what she called a lack of response from school administration, Stacey Barnett moved her son to a smaller charter school. When martial arts instructor Mike Oliver saw News10's story on Willie in March, he contacted News10 and offered to help the boy with a scholarship to karate classes.

"I saw Willie's story on Channel 10 and was moved by it," said Oliver. "I was bullied as a kid and also experienced similar things. I wanted to make sure kids like him and all kids really have the tools that they need to deal with bullies properly."

Along with the physical moves, Willie and the other youngsters in his class are learning verbal judo: language techniques to try and diffuse a tense situation.

Barnett said her son is like a totally different child, and even notices a big change in his academics. "It's completely changed him," she said. "He's not so worried about being hurt or bullied."

Oliver said his students are transformed through martial arts and other training at the Zen Martial Arts Center. "By the time it's done, they're walking like their favorite heroes, walking like Superman and feeling good about themselves," Oliver said.

Verbal Judo Founder Shares his Excitement

2010-08-22T07:18:26.000Z

Verbal Judo founder George Thompson tells us all why he is so excited to see Verbal Judo being taught to youth in our karate classes. At Zen Martial Arts in Sacramento, we have made Verbal Judo a part of our regular curriculum for both kids and adults. Verbal Judo is the answer to dealing with bullies and verbal both in and out of school.