School is starting and that means once again our children will be seeing people who are bullied.
A bystander is a witness, in this case, a witness to bullying, someone who sees another person getting physically, socially or verbally intimidated. A bystander is commonly seen as a fly on the wall, an observer helpless to step in. A bystander has just as big a role as the Bully and the Victim. They can do one of three things:
When teaching courses in classrooms I follow this statement up with one question, “Which one are you?” Most of us do nothing when our friend or a classmate is being bullied, they stand idle and watch. Doing nothing as a bystander helps the bully. The bully wants to draw attention to the situation and have people watch, by standing in the audience, we are helping. This statement is unsettling. The eager students will shout out, “You need to help them!” The majority of bullying is uprooted when a bystander steps in. All it takes is one person to stand next to the victim, and the bully will turn away. It’s our jobs as parents and older siblings to teach the young to stand up for one another. We can all stand up against Bullying. There are a few strategies bystanders can use to help out the Victim, but not put themselves under the bully’s foot:
“Paul, where have you been, I need that book I lent you. Let’s go to your locker.” I see Hapkido as anti-bully training. It teaches you confidence and the ability to assert yourself and stands strong for what you believe in. Remember, Parents, teachers and Sensei’s are excellent people to talk to. They are your support system and can give you advice. It is your job to stand strong.
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AuthorMichael Rowe is the Founder of Alpha Omega Martial Arts and has been dedicating his life to the study and teaching of self-defense. It is his goal to motivate, inspire, and transform the lives of all his students; young and old! Archives
February 2021
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