Teen Violence and Bullying

Every day in the United States, it is estimated that thousands of kids miss school due to fear of or intimidation by bullies. Some experts assert that the fear of bullying is a leading cause of low self-esteem in children. Worse, statistics suggest that a very small percentage of kids actually report acts of bullying in schools.

For me personally, teen violence and bullying go hand in hand. It is difficult for me to separate the two, and I think it is a mistake to do so. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report the following teen violence statistics: National estimates indicate that 30 percent of youth in grades six through ten are involved in bullying either as a target or as a bully. Some experience both. It is also estimated that 33 percent of high school students were in at least one physical fight within the school year. Finally, 17 percent of high school students reported that they carried a weapon...gun, knife or club.

Children's inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in fear for their personal safety. The victim knows they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. They simply don't follow through for fear of the repercussions from home or school.

Millburn High School in cooperation with The Millburn Short Hills Athletic Club, conducted a one day workshop for the senior boys last Thursday. Part one of this volunteer program taught the senior girls how to defend themselves against a violent sexual attack. This follow up workshop taught the boys how to gain control of a confrontation by nonviolently neutralizing the physical attack. All the techniques are rooted in Israeli Krav Maga and are defensive in nature and designed to de-escalate a potential violent confrontation. The boys learned to defend confrontations with words and never to initiate physical aggression. If attacked, the boys learned to defend themselves with techniques to nonviolently neutralize the threat and gain control to escape or until help arrives.

The primary objectives of the program are to instill confidence in the boys and girls, because bullies or predators are less likely to target self-confident children. There are various forms of bullying. When it escalates to a physical confrontation or assault, our program increases your child's situational awareness and his or her ability to recognize, react and escape to safety. 

As a victim of bullying, I understand that bullies look for victims that appear weak and lack self-esteem. By increasing self-confidence and learning self-defense techniques, it is likely that your child will be less of a bullying target.

For more information on our kids and adult self-defense programs, please contact The Millburn Short Hills Athletic Club, at (973) 379-5651 or MSHACIKM@gmail.com.