What’s the program about?

In the Bully Shield program we first teach kids the skills needed to stand up against bullies.  Facing a bullying situation without knowing how to properly handle it can crush a kid’s confidence and the negative repercussions can be felt all the way to adulthood. This may be a kid’s first test on how real life can be beyond the safety of home and parents.

It’s important that they are equipped with a set of tools that will help them manage the situation and avoid getting caught by surprise.

What makes this program different from other martial arts?

One word: Realism. Instead of flashy kicks and fancy moves, the techniques taught in Jiu-Jitsu are simple, effective and most important, they work in real self-defense altercations.

The Bully Shield program is divided into 2 groups:

Little Heroes: from 5 to 7 years old.
Jr Warriors: from 8 to 14 years old.

How are the kids going to know when to use these techniques?

We believe that if self-defense techniques are taught in isolation, without a proper context, the kids are not likely going to know when and how to use them.

One thing is to have a perfect form and another is to be sure of when it’s the correct time to use the techniques they have learned in class.

What sets us apart is that we teach our students different levels of response according to the level of threat (a verbal aggression will have a different protocol than a direct punch to the face). 

In class, we re-create realistic scenarios (bully bumping into kid in the hallway, calling names, messing with hair) and teach our students the proper protocols to follow, from telling teachers and parents, to how to stand straight, how to face the bully, how to modulate an assertive voice, what exact words to say to the bully, and finally when it’s ok to use Jiu-Jitsu.

When the time comes, they’ll know exactly how to act according to the situation and be confident in using self-defense as an extreme option.

Are the techniques taught in the program designed to hurt the bully?

The techniques learned in Jiu-Jitsu are designed to control and restrain the threat. We teach the kids not to punch the bullies once a dominant position has been achieved. These non-violent techniques are a clear demonstration that the intention is always self-defense, not hurting the attacker.

Children are more confident in applying techniques that are designed to control and restrain a bully than to hurt them.

Another important set of techniques taught in the Bully Shield program that are not taught in other martial arts schools are escapes from worst case positions. The bully has taken the fight to the ground and is striking from on top, how does one escape from that? Jiu-Jitsu has the answer!

Will the program help my child develop a good character?

In addition to the techniques, we incorporate a Personal Growth talk in all of our classes. In the circle group discussions, we touch on the importance of discipline, citizenship, respect, gratitude, integrity and other character traits that will complement the values they are learning at home.

A natural byproduct of learning self-defense is a boost in their self-esteem which makes kids become more confident, courageous and sure of themselves in all areas of their lives.

What’s the teaching methodology?

When addressing such a serious issue like bullying, it’s important that the kids feel relaxed and open to learning. One of the best ways kids learn is by playing and Jiu-Jitsu is no exception. We disguise a lot of the exercises as games, where kids are actually developing their Jiu-Jitsu skills while playing.

Our formula is to maintain a balance between playfulness and discipline which keeps kids engaged during class and makes them look forward to the next one. So, we have lots of fun while learning Jiu-Jitsu!

How are you sure the program works?

Over the years, we’ve seen countless examples of children who show up to their first class timid and afraid, and after a few months they transform into confident, assertive, and resilient kids.

Bottom line is, once they learn to stand up to a bully, they can stand up to any challenge life will throw at them.

Can I do a free trial first?

Yes! We offer 3 free classes for you and your little one to get a better idea of the class structure before enrolling them in the program. Set them up for success and book your first free class. They’ll be glad you did!

Little Heroes (5 to 7 Years Old)

“Training disguised as play!“

This program is for children between the ages of 5 and 7 years old.

Many martial arts schools make the mistake of mixing children from 5 to 13 years old in the same class!

In order to be more efficient with our teaching, we decided to divide the children in 2 groups.

Our Little Heroes classes are for children from 5 to 7 years old because at this age the attention spam is short. We adapt our instruction methodology for them by keeping the presentation short, simplifying the techniques taught and by ramping up on the fun!

This way, the children in this program learn techniques and also develop fundamental skills such as good posture, balance, athleticism, comfort in close contact positions and confidence to defend themselves.

Jr. Warriors (8 to 13 Years Old)

“Stand up to a bully, be confident for life“

This program is for children between the ages of 8 to 13 years old.

We notice that at this age children can process more information, so we teach more advanced moves, focus on showing small details in our presentation and while still important to keep the fun alive, we enforce a little more discipline during the class.

At this level, children will learn a complete set of reliable techniques that will help them handle just about every possible bully scenario.

And once they feel capable to confront a bully, they’ll have the confidence to confront any challenge!

To take advantage of our 3 day free trial, sign up for a trial or contact us at Mastery Jiu-Jitsu and a student services representative will help you get started right away!

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