Karate students learn how to use martial arts to stop bullying

MENOMONEE FALLS (WITI) -- Karate is much more than a sport to these kids, it's a lifestyle teaching them important lessons including how to handle a bully.

"I didn`t really know what to do because it was before I was taking karate class and I kind of felt helpless," said 13-year old Jack Enneking.

Enneking has been both a victim and witness to bullying. It's that feeling of helplessness too many kids have experienced that prompted Karate America Chief Instructor Mark Quirk to begin a Bully Defense Seminar.

"A bully is someone who is repetitively and intentionally trying to hurt someone else physically or emotionally," said Quirk.

Quirk tells his students to ask for help from a teacher, parent, or friend and not to give the bully the power of controlling their emotions.

"To have them believe in themselves and to gain that confidence that they don`t have to believe what the bully is telling them," said Quirk.

When confronted by a bully you have several ways to handle the situation. First, you can simply ignore them. You can also use humor by saying, "I`ve heard that before." Or, you can be more assertive by saying, "don`t say that to me."

During the workshop, students practiced their responses to a bully. But if the altercation gets physical, Quirk showed the children moves to use without being violent and saying to the bully "I don't want to fight."

"Our martial arts schools or role-playing at home with mom and dad can show people what to do if they`re physically grabbed a hold of and different techniques that we have to be able to get away," said Quirk.

The next time Enneking faced a bully who was targeting his friend, he knew exactly what to do.

"I stood up to him and I said could you please stop you`re hurting my friends feelings and he did stop," said Enneking.

Inspiring the community to end bullying.

The next Bully Defense Seminar at the Menomonee Falls Karate America will take place Saturday, March 28th. Those interested are asked to call to schedule a time to attend. For contact information CLICK HERE.