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Can I Teach My Children Self Defence?
Posted: April 19, 2022
No one wants their children or child to be bullied or defenceless in situations when you're not present. Thankfully, they don’t have to be, and you can help them for their sake but for your peace of mind.
There are many things you can do to equip them for such situations. By preparing them in advance, you will be equipping your child with skills to effectively deal with bullies. More importantly, you'll help them gain self-confidence and internal strength, two assets that will serve them well for the rest of their life.
In this Ellis Academy blog, we explore the options you have as parents to teach your children self defence so they can protect themselves whilst you aren’t around.
Should I Tell My Child To Hit Back?
The answer to this question isn’t straightforward – it totally depends on who you ask. If you ask a parent they may say I don’t want my child being known for fighting but then again I don’t want him being bullied.
If you ask a teacher, you already know that answer. They as teachers protect all parties so they wish things don’t escalate further.
In fact, Several studies of pre-school and primary school-aged children have found that being submissive to peers and not retaliating increases children’s risk of ongoing bullying.
How Do I Teach My Child Self Defence?
Self defence teaches your child a variety of skills so they’re prepared to deal with and avoid bullies. Hitting back is quite low on the list, the highest and most basics things are developing confidence and learning to listen to their gut.
Here are some self defence tactics you can teach your child to portray:
Confidence
Arguably the most important one. Confidence comes in the form of body language. The more upright your child is the more assertive they look and will therefore act as a deterrent. Teach your child good posture, walk with a sense of purpose and make eye contact with those around them.
Trust Your Gut
Teach your kids to be aware of their surroundings. You don't want them living in fear, but it is smart to be alert if they are somewhere an encounter with a bully is likely. If something doesn't feel right, your child should trust their instincts and leave the area. If that's not possible, then it's time to use other skills such as self-confident body language, an assertive voice, and talking to others.
Stay In A Group
Bullies target individuals, not groups. Bullies look for opportunities where they can find a target alone. Travelling to and from school is often a perfect chance for bullies, so encourage your child to stay in a group with their friends.
Take A Self Defence Class
There are only so many tips as a parent you can give your child to ward off any potential bully. In the unfortunate event of things going violent, then they’re in unknown circumstances.
Violence should always be avoided, but there are some situations where a bully will just insist on fighting. If your child has tried the above techniques and a bully moves in to attack them anyway, then they need to be prepared to defend themselves.
Attending self defence classes can be the difference for your child. Self defence teaches a child to stand their ground, calmly evaluate the situation, and deal with it in a way that will prevent injury to themselves. When a child can protect themselves, they become more confident and self-assured and that affects all aspects of their well-being and safety.
Children Self Defence Classes In Surrey
Our focus here at Ellis Academy is self-defence. Our programme is based on Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with easy fundamentals and instinctive movements, our system is designed for a real-life scenario and we aim to teach it in the shortest possible time.
All our instructors are certified black belts, qualified, and professionally trained to teach martial arts. Our facility is always clean, and we have an extensive schedule for all age groups.
Our academy is situated in Surrey. To find out more about our self-defence programme and the real-life benefits of learning this gentle art don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Alternatively, If would you like any more information, tips or advice, visit our blog page.