Bullying has reached epidemic proportions in today's society and while some schools, workplaces and governments are taking measures and attempting to curtail bullying, the sad reality is that bullying may often occur when there is no authority figure present to stop it and it may occur when and where there may be no witnesses to corroborate that it even occurred.

Bullying incidents are further exacerbated by bystanders who witness a bullying incident and take no action to intervene or help diffuse the situation and thus they become complicit in the bullying behavior through their inaction.

The unfortunate reality is that a child or an adult who is targeted by a bully may be the only person who can stop it and they often must face their antagonizer(s) alone and without help.

Even when the target of bullying summons the courage to stand up to a bully, they still need to possess the skills necessary to effectively deal with a bully.

Non violent conflict resolution skills may work in some cases to diffuse a bullying encounter; however those skills may not work in others situations.

The better prepared one is to face a bully on whatever terms the bully brings to the altercation, then the better one is equipped to bring a swift and favorable end to a bullying encounter.

Further compounding the challenges for those being bullied is the unfortunate reality that in some instances when a person who is being bullied takes necessary actions to stop the bullying, then the victim may be subject to the same punishment as the bully.

Schools, workplaces and public places may expel, suspend or arrest all parties involved in certain incidents. In some cases conceptually flawed and ineffective “zero tolerance” policies merely allow entities enforcing such policies to avoid analyzing the events that transpired leading up to the incident and by punishing all involved they avoid admitting what really happened on their watch and/or they avoid dealing with the underlying events that resulted in the incident. In the end the victim may be bullied AND get punished for taking action to stop it. What is wrong with this picture?

With proper training and preparation no one need suffer the actions of bullies and/or the ineptness or inaction of overseers or indifferent bystanders. Where there is preparation there is no fear.

Moo Duk Kwan® martial art schools certified by the nonprofit United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation® teach the Soo Bahk Do® martial art system with an emphasis on developing personal safety awareness and skills to avoid conflict whenever possible and the skills necessary to prevail in a conflict when avoidance is not possible.

Help protect your child by empowering them to stand up for themselves, so they are not the subject of a video like the following:

Mom, Dad, I'm Scared

Words Hurt

Nobody Is Coming To Save You

http://youtu.be/Ff55Bp12boY

Who You Gonna Call?

http://youtu.be/Whwbamvf-3s

Take A Stand Against Bullying

Disney Channel Celebrity Demi Lovato Stands Up Against Bullying

Welcome To My Life

Bullied To Death Memorials

The Only Way to Stop Them is to Stand Up To Them

2010 Karate Kid Movie Trailer 1

Protect your child by empowering them to stand up for themselves.

For the location and date of a Bully Proof  program near you call (888) 766-2245 or search here

The call is free and the benefits are priceless.

Sponsored by Members and Supporters of the nonprofit United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation®