Bully Buster Bodyguard Teaches Children, Parents and Teachers New Way To Handle Bullies and Bullying

CLICK to listen to Founder John Nottingham's 
Bully Busters Radio Interview

Message from Bullying Prevention Initiative International Founder John Nottingham

Bullying, aggressive behavior, rude remarks, social aggression, and wielding of power have always been around and they won't be going anywhere soon.  The recent politically motivated so called anti-bullying movement attempting to "stop bullying" is taking a, not only misguided and destined to fail approach, but a potentially dangerous one as well.

Bullying is a self defense, parenting and counseling issue.

I was recently on a radio interview called Bully Busters as a call in expert (I would say specialist).  One self proclaimed experts spouted some fear inducing media sound-bytes and then proclaimed that "Bullying Must Stop! We need more laws and more rules to stop it."  The arrogance of the statement and this false and failed ideology is one of the reasons I created the Bullying Prevention Initiative International.

Bringing Common Sense and a Dose of Reality To Bullying Prevention

The idea that we can eradicate bullying with laws, posters and education is tantamount to saying we can create world peace if we just give these people enough power and money.  With respect to their good intentions, we should just put those promoting this on a bus and use this idea to create world peace.  It lacks any basis in reality of history, research or common sense, yet it is thriving.    

DARE, GREAT, STRANGER DANGER Witch Hunts & Alarmism, Now Anti-Bullying

These same types gave us DARE, GREAT, and the Stranger Danger movement.  Over a billion dollars spent and yet the research shows little to no effect, and in some cases, ill effects from those programs.  The fact is that this is not within their power and sadly, they ignore what is.  It is in our power to protect children by teaching them to respond to bullying appropriately.

Schools Can't Keep Your Kids Safe From Bullies

The Department of Justice own data on bullying offers no effective solutions for a child who is the target of a persistent bully.  Furthermore, the list of headlines on youth suicides, attacks, shootings and bullying incidents prove that the school system cannot be entrusted with your child's safety.  I see parents and children who the system has failed and have fallen through the cracks at my martial arts school and bullying prevention programs.  It is a parents responsibility to equip a child for the world we live in.

"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and feed him for life."

Proof Positive That These Bullying Prevention Methods Work!

For over 26 years my team and I have successfully showed men, women and children how to prevent bullying, deal with bullying and thwart bullying attacks.  Now that culmination of experience and knowledge is put into a training program that can be learned via DVD, books, online streaming video, or best - live with one of our BPII trainers.   Now you can ARM your child with the inner-strength and tools to protect themselves against aggressive behavior, bullying and live a life free from those fears.

John Nottingham's Bully Proof Vest

John Nottingham's Bully Proof Vest curriculum gives children the advanced bullying recognition skills to spot a set up and the signs of bullying before it begins.  They are equipped with verbal judo strategies to handle themselves with a centered calm and walk away with dignity in tact.  They develop an unshakable confidence with non-violent, force appropriate self defense techniques that protect them and others in case of a physical attack.  

John Nottingham's Bully Proof and Self Defense methods have been featured in numerous schools and presented to thousands of children for over two decades and has an extraordinary success rate.  Featured on channels, 3, 5, 10, 12 and 15, Good Morning Arizona, The Arizona Republic and in various publications, John Nottingham is a recognized personal safety, bullying and self defense security expert (he say's "specialist").

 To find out more visit us online

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bullying-Prevention-Initiative-International/240455266014141 

or email info@usa-martialarts.com

Confidence Beats Bullying in Phoenix Arizona

Children Learn To Say NO to Bullying and Back It Up With Confidence

Did you know that one of the most powerful tools a child can have to combat bullying is confidence?  We have seen it time and again over the past twenty plus years of teaching bullying prevention and martial arts to children.

Confidence provides a foundation for social skills.  Social skills lead to experience.  Experience in social settings leads to social intelligence.  Social intelligence means that children learn problems solving techniques and how to avoid situations that might lead to bullying, unhealthy peer pressure and bad choices.

At USA Martial Arts & Kickboxing Phoenix, we use a unique blend of Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts in our Karate Kids program to instill character, confidence and safety skills.  Our drills borrow from Krav Maga (Israeli Defense Forces hand to hand combat), Jeet Kune Do, and scenario based training so that children have true confidence in applying the self defense lessons they learn.

Confidence changes the way in which a child carries himself or herself.  They walk taller, make better eye contact, respond to dangerous situations more calmly and are far more likely to access help when needed.

Just demonstrating confidence helps a child avoid the victim profile.  Victims of crime and bullying are often selected based on perceived vulnerability.  As I am always reinforcing in my students,

If you look like a victim, act like a victim, carry yourself like a victim, you are likely to become a victim.  However, If you act like a champion, train like a champion, associate with champions and do what champions do, you are most likely going to become...?  Right, a champion.

This doesn't mean that children will live trouble free lives.  However, we know that people who bully and prey on others tend to test their targets to see how they react.  If a targeted child demonstrates strength, that child is usually passed over for continued harassment, attack or bullying.

Self Defense Maxim: "Bad guys don't have alternative plans, they have alternative targets."

Confidence also makes a child more likely to get help, tell and create problems for an attacker or someone behaving as a bully.  One of the best tools I have ever seen for developing a childs confidence is a good martial arts program.

• A good martial arts program will address the full spectrum of self defense including:
• How to avoid being selected as a bullying or crime target
• Knowledge and warning signs of how criminals operate (or bullying behavior starts)
• How to avoid trouble spots, set ups and recognize trouble behavior and situations
• Actionable steps to divert a pathway to crime or bullying
• Verbal Judo skills to thwart bullying or ward off an attack
• Physical intervention options to peacefully resolve attacks without excessive force
• The important elements of aftercare and protecting your body, mind and emotional health
• The importance of speaking up for others and how to offer bullying first aid by being a friend, inclusive and showing empathy

Bullying is a general term that can have a full spectrum of different ramifications.  Bullying can range from social exclusion, dirty looks, teasing, rumors to a full on attack such as pulling hair, shoving, tackling, kicking or other hitting.  A good martial arts program will teach a child how to properly categorize and respond to varying degrees of bad behavior and what to do about it.

But just knowing what to do isn't enough.  Children need to know deep down inside that they have sure, ever present self defense and bullying prevention capabilities in order to project true inner strength.   We believe that confidence comes from competence.  You can only fake it so much.  Nothing can replace that genuine inner-strength that comes from high self esteem and confidence.

Competence comes from practice and testing skills under stress.  If you can handle yourself against our instructor attackers (affectionately called The Bullying Goon Squad) then you have more confidence.  

Consider a good martial arts school with a bullying prevention program today.  Ask them if they are affiliated with Dr. Terrence Webster Doyle's Bully Busters, Izzy Kalman's Bullies to Buddies, KidPower/FullPower, Verbal Judo or the International Bullying Prevention Initiative.  These are some of the more respected and proven programs available.  If your child's martial arts school is not using these programs, it might be a good idea to suggest it.

For more information contact:
Arizona Bullying Prevention Initiative The Phoenix Bully Proof Project FACEBOOK
Bully Proof Arizona BLOG
Bullying Prevention Initiative International FACEBOOK
Bullying Prevention World BLOG

Phoenix Martial Arts School Teaches Heroic Virtues and Builds Confidence in Children to Handle Bullying

 Phoenix Martial Arts Lessons Instill Hero Lessons To Build Inner Strength To Speak Up Against Bullying


Beating Bullying With Courage
"A novel approach to bullying." is what some Phoenix parents and teachers are saying about John Nottingham's Bully Proof Vest program.  Master Nottingham is a 6th Degree Black Belt and member of the martial arts Hall of Fame for good reason.  He not only trained Special Forces while serving in the military, he now owns a martial arts school, security bodyguard company and self defense training company.


Teaching Friendship Beats Bullying
Students of USA Martial Arts and Nottingham's  Bully Proof Vest  program learn how to have the courage to not be a bystander or give an audience to bullying behavior.  They role play how to resolve bullying situations with words, actions and clever strategies like misdirection.  One of the most emphasized elements of the  Bully Proof Vest  program is children learn to make friends and develop the social intelligence to navigate sticky situations before they become violent or abusive.  That way the harassment and bullying never escalates to a physical level.  


Martial Arts Master With a Mission
"My passion is for teaching.  For children, that is instilling patriotic values, good manners, leadership skills and helping them reach their potential.  I use my protective training skills to make sure they are equipped to handle life's challenges with honor, courage and dignity.    I feel called to this mission as part of my life's purpose and I think people see that in how I teach.", said Nottingham.

I believe that self defense and bullying prevention is a leadership role that starts from the inside out - it's about what we project to others.

Teaching a Hero Culture To Combat Bullying
According to Nottingham, "You notice, most bullying programs out there right now are incentivising a victim culture.  This bullying prevention takes the opposite approach in that it advocates a hero culture, individual empowerment and teaches children resilience that applies to much more than bullying.  We take the approach that we can not always change the wind, but we can adjust our sails."

We take the approach that we can not always change the wind, but we can adjust our sails.  Free speech and individual opinions must be protected - especially the unpopular ones.  However, that does not mean we need to tolerate abuse.  That is where teaching children to speak up for one another and become a hallway hero or protector pal comes in.  We show them how they can become someones bodyguard in a safe and smart way to help others.

Peace of Mind for Children Targeted By Bullying and Their Parents
Students at Nottingham's school, USA Martial Arts & Kickboxing learn to stand up for others, to not be afraid to speak up, the difference between telling and tattling and how to help others in need.  "I don't believe it is practical to rely on effective reporting mechanisms alone.  I have children coming into my programs and school who the system has failed.  They deserve dignity, the right to feel secure and peace of mind.  That is what we strive to give them as well as their parents.  We have solutions that have proven to work over the last 26 years."  

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Students of USA Martial Arts learn to recognize warning signs for danger, places and times where bullying and conflict is more likely to occur and steps to redirect that pathway to violence or abuse.  He points out that over 85% of bullying goes unreported and most bullying takes place out of sight of teachers.  Nottingham says that these skills will serve them for the rest of their lives and contribute to a more peaceful community and compassionate world. 

He's offering a free report on bullying by writing to info@usa-martial arts.com  


Children's Martial Arts Bullying Prevention WEBSPECIAL
Kickboxing WEBSPECIAL

  

Bully Busters: The Battle against Bullying with Tips for Parents and Kids on VoiceAmerica Outreach Today

Bully Busters: The Battle against Bullying with Tips for Parents and Kids

Aired January 18, 2012

Hosted by Melissa Jenkins-Simon with Co-Host Diane Stafford

Listen to the show on Bullying:  LISTEN NOW

Download mp3: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/download/58770

itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=456371519

Today I was a phone in guest on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel show Outreach Today with Melissa Jenkins-Simon.  www.voiceamerica.com/show/1955/outreach-today  The above links will allow you to hear it if you missed to broadcast.

The featured subject in the show was Bullying and how parents can help equip their children for bullying.  I was asked about some of the strategies I teach to assist children with bullying education and training.  In this blog I have included some of those tips and expanded on the ideas for which we didn't have time.

Bullying Prevention - A Professional Protectors Point of View
To this day I believe my programs are the only bullying prevention programs:

• Developed by a professional protector
• Trained in bullying prevention
• Conflict resolution
• Verbal Judo
• Advanced Threat Assessment
• Non-violent/force apporopriate self defense, who is also a teacher with over 26 years of successfully teaching bullying prevention.

My Bully Proof Vest and Bullying Prevention Bootcamp (teaching one this Saturday for free) programs cover the full range of bullying prevention issues including avoiding, deterring, de-escalating as well as force appropriate, less violent personal protection.

My bullying prevention programs focus on:
 1. Treatment of the intended target of bullying (I do not like to label children a "victim").
 2. Treatment of the child exhibiting the bullying behavior.
 3. The social atmosphere and culture enabling the process.

The Three Shields Bullying Prevention Approach
This three pronged approach is what I refer to as the THREE SHIELDS strategy.  Drawing upon ancient martial arts wisdom, the three shields also represent the MIND, BODY and SPIRIT, or elements of a human being, that must be considered.

Each bullying situation is unique so it is important that we don't overly generalize and recognize the importance of understanding the dynamics and facts before rushing to judgement or offering overly specific prescription without adequate diagnosis.  This is where the wisdom of caring teachers, parents and administrators comes in. They can bring a sense of calm wisdom to bear in an effort to treat the situation appropriately.

Five Steps To Handling a Bully Effectively Without Fighting
1. Make friends.  Friendship beats bullying.
2. Tell everyone until they listen.
3. Avoid the bullying set up and bad situations. Listen to your gut.
4. Take a stand early.  " STOP! "
5. Defend yourself from bullying. Nobody has the right to hurt you.

Verbal Judo Comeback Lines to Stop Bullying
1. Humor: "You're funny. The last time I heard that I was in pre-school."
2. Cleverness: "I hear you. Too bad my spam-box is full."

How Parents Can Help Children With Bullying
1. Be a good listener and actively work on your relationship with your child.
2. Be a good role model of safe behavior and how to problem solve using your mind and peaceful means.
3. Role play safety and bullying scenarios as quality time.
4. Watch for signs and be prepared to stay involved.
5. Use resources and get educated so you can respond rather than react.  Use it as a teachable moment.

Following the show my friend and fellow martial artist, Police Officer Eric Gugel commented on his experience as a law enforcement professional and father regarding bullying.  He shared with me that he is being called in to deal with bullying situations as a Police Officer.  He encourages individuals, parents and children to learn conflict resolution skills.  Thanks Officer Gugel for your service to your community and being a great role model of professional law enforcement.

Be a Hero

"If You See Something Say Something!"

Conflict Avoidance for Bullying Prevention overview
A = Always practice safe habits and avoid potentially bad situations with alertness to safety priorities
B= Breathe to stay calm and respond rather than react out of emotion
C= Communicate with confidence, body language is key for projecting inner-strength. Tell others - you're not alone.
D= Defend yourself. Common sense before self defense but nobody has the right to injure you. Protect yourself from physical bullying and escape to safety.
For more click here

For more information we are hosting a Bullying Event
The hosts were kind enough to mention our Bullying Prevention Bootcamp for children this Saturday at USA Martial Arts & Kickboxing Phoenix.  The free bullying prevention workshop will be from 12:30-1:15 and cover some fundamentals from my Bully Proof Vest program.  Contact info@usa-martialarts.com or call 602-896-8721 to register for this free event.

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