Stop Bullying - Arm yourself with bullying Information

'I hate school, Ryan keeps hitting me!"
"No one likes me, they laugh and call me names."
"The other girls call me ugly and look at me and whisper together"

These are bullying stories I hear from kids all the time. I started to teach karate but at first not kids. I began to teach children after I reflected on my experiences as a child. It brought back memories of my early years being bullied. Bullying stops here, it stops now at Cape Coral Karate!

Kyoshi Ron Joslin

Size Does Not Matter- Stop Bullying

When I was a kid, eight or nine years old, there was a neighborhood bully named Dale

French. I lived in fear of Dale daily. He was three 3 years older than

me and wasn’t afraid to use his fists to get his way. One hot summer day, I learned a profound lesson when Dale French and I went to the local corner store to

get a treat. We got to the store and at the door, a smaller kid about a year younger

than me was coming out of the store just then. The kid stopped and thoughtfully looked at Dale, sizing him up. The kid says, “Hey I’ll bet you I can knock the wind out of you with one

punch.” My eyes got big in surprise I didn’t know how Dale would take it. Dale

said, “No way how much do you want to bet?” with his usual scowl. The

kid promptly replies, “I’ll bet your quarter.” The amount being agreed to the kid stands directly

in front of the bully and tells him to take a big breath and hold it. “Let me know when you’re

ready” " the kid said. I watch as Dale obediently draws a huge breath and holds it with a nod,

without hesitation, the kid fires a lightning-fast punch directly into the solar plexus of Dale French. Dale stands there for the count of two and moves his hands, palms up as if it were no big deal. Dale suddenly bends in half at the waist and then hits the sidewalk, thump! I was shocked but happy. I turned to the kid who at this point had a smile on his face, I said, “How did you do that”? The kid replied, "I just started karate classes, this punch was the first thing I learned." He was already confident in his punch. Who knows how many quarters he collected? This small kid, no more than eight years old became my

hero that long ago summer day. I'll never forget that day or the confidence I saw on that kid's face. Protect your kids from the trauma bullying can cause your children. We can and will help at Cape Coral Karate.

True story by Master Ron Joslin - Cape Coral Karate

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Information is the Starting Place

What Is Bullying - Follow the Links

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Types of Bullying

There are three types of bullying:

Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:
- Teasing
- Name-calling
- Inappropriate sexual comments
- Taunting
- Threatening to cause harm
Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
- Leaving someone out on purpose
- Telling other children not to be friends with someone
- Spreading rumors about someone
- Embarrassing someone in public
Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:
- Hitting/kicking/pinching
- Spitting
- Tripping/pushing
- Taking or breaking someone’s things
- Making mean or rude hand gestures

Where and When Bullying Happens

Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen travelling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or

on the Internet.

Frequency of Bullying

There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:

The 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, nationwide, about 22% of students ages 12–18 experienced bullying.
The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that, nationwide, 15.0% of students in grades 9–12 report being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.

Date Last Reviewed August 1, 2023

Cape Coral Karate is the safe place for all kids. You do not have to feel like there is no answers to bullying. Call for a private consultation with 8-degree black belt Kyoshi Ron Joslin. 239-314-6165

Warning Signs for Bullying

Many warning signs may indicate that someone is affected by bullying—either being bullied or bullying others. Recognizing the warning signs is an important first step in taking action against bullying. Not all children who are bullied or are bullying others ask for help.

It is important to talk with children who show signs of being bullied or bullying others. These warning signs can also point to other issues or problems, such as depression or substance abuse. Talking to the child can help identify the root of the problem.

Signs a Child Is Being Bullied

Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs.

Some signs that may point to a bullying problem are:

Unexplainable injuries
Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness
Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem
Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide

If you know someone in serious distress or danger, don’t ignore the problem. Get help right away.

Signs a Child is Bullying Others

Kids may be bullying others if they:

Get into physical or verbal fights
Have friends who bully others
Are increasingly aggressive
Get sent to the principal’s office or to detention frequently
Have unexplained extra money or new belongings
Blame others for their problems
Don’t accept responsibility for their actions
Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity

Why don't kids ask for help?

Statistics from the 2018 Indicators of School Crime and Safety - PDF show that only 20% of school bullying incidents were reported. Kids don’t tell adults for many reasons:

Bullying can make a child feel helpless. Kids may want to handle it on their own to feel in control again. They may fear being seen as weak or a tattletale.
Kids may fear backlash from the kid who bullied them.
Bullying can be a humiliating experience. Kids may not want adults to know what is being said about them, whether true or false. They may also fear that adults will judge them or punish them for being weak.
Kids who are bullied may already feel socially isolated. They may feel like no one cares or could understand.
Kids may fear being rejected by their peers. Friends can help protect kids from bullying, and kids can fear losing this support.