Back To School

Brand new term, same old problems?

Back to school this week. For most, it’s an exciting time. New year, maybe new school, new adventures, new teachers, classes, subjects and friends. But for some, this can be a worrying and daunting time. And, in a world of pack mentality, on social media and in real life, it’s easy for someone under pressure to fall victim to bullying. They don’t want to tell tales, for fear of ridicule. They don’t want to stand up to the bullies for fear of getting in trouble or reprisals. It can feel like a helpless situation with no escape, and this can make one of the most exciting times of their lives feel like one of the darkest.

Being a victim of bullying can cause long-term mental health effects, confidence issues and, in extreme circumstances, self-harm and even suicide! But did you know that getting your child involved in martial arts, boxing and combat sports in general, can hugely benefit their lives in multiple ways? We’ve seen time and time again in our range of junior classes, that we can help build confidence and boost self-esteem. When trying to decide, you will find there are multiple styles to choose from, as well as a wide array of clubs in your area.

But choosing the RIGHT club and the RIGHT style, is just as important as training itself. When choosing a place to train, do not be fooled and conned out of hard-earned money by clubs offering “self-defence”. Research your local clubs thoroughly and choose the one that feels good for your family and that has a proven record of producing children that can defend themselves. Many local clubs and styles advertise self-defence, but what they are teaching would be laughable if the consequences weren’t so potentially dangerous.

This can be a problem with some of the more traditional martial arts. They come from a time and place, where they were once effective, into a modern world where they have no place being advertised as self-defence. Yes, if you want to learn a traditional style, that’s fine, but DO NOT be under any illusion that it will be all you need in a self-defence scenario. We know first-hand, because we have students from other styles, that come from a very high level, with years of training behind them (some even competing at international level), and they see within one class, that they have spent years wasting their time and money, and that all the skills they learned are actually good for nothing.

It’s not funny for us, it’s sad. These are kids that already have the qualities of hard work and dedication, but for a lost cause. We, as coaches, then have to spend a long time undoing bad habits and building them a solid foundation to work from. Being confident on its own is often enough to deter bullying, as confident people appear less vulnerable or easy to pick on. And giving anyone the confidence to defend themselves or others is great, as long as it isn’t false confidence that could potentially get them hurt even more.

The skills they learn from a younger age here and at other reputable clubs will then go on to help them prosper in adult life. By encouraging them to get away from the TV or computer for an hour a day and exercising will also help them feel better, fitter, stronger, healthier and happier. With hundreds of local kids training with us every week, we know they can make new friends, no matter what school they go to, always giving them a familiar face to say “hi” to. A gym should always feel like a safe place they can come to anytime, talk to anyone about any problems, be surrounded by positive role models and stay away from hanging around in groups or gangs.

To find a good club, we would suggest…

• Find a club that comes recommended by people that actually know about martial arts, not just a sponsored link, adverts or comments on Facebook.
• Look at the club’s website and social media for a feel of the vibe and atmosphere.
• Look for coaches with DBS and insurance policies.
• Look at the lineage of its instructors and their qualifications (and check if those credentials are worth anything as anyone can be the president of the WTAFIGOH association!)
• And look for the club’s record in full contact competitions.

Are they producing fighters that are winning credible competitions?

Not everyone wants to fight. In actual fact, only a small percentage end up competing. But you want to know that the techniques you or your children are learning are being used under full contact rules and working don’t you? Otherwise, how do you know? If you want our honest opinion, here are some of the most effective forms of self-defence you should look at.

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Boxing
• Muay Thai Boxing
• Kickboxing
• Judo/Wrestling

These arts have their place in the modern world and are highly effective, with many health benefits from just training. This isn’t an advert for our Academy, this is a shout out to everyone who provides safe and effective training, and an informative post to parents. If we are not suitable for you or your children, let us know where you are based and we will find your nearest club that we can personally recommend. We know of some really good coaches that work wonders with kids in our area and would be more than happy to recommend them.

Seeing anyone become a victim of bullying is horrible and we would rather be safe in the knowledge that we helped you choose a good club, than let you go somewhere and waste your time and finances on monthly tradings, upgrades and additional classes, none of which may help if ever called upon. On that note, we would like to wish all our current students all the best for the new school year; have fun, learn a lot and be sure to stand up to any bullying against yourself or anyone else.