Overcome bullies without violence
Every month in the United States, three million children miss school due to fear of bullies. In the Gracie Bullyproof® program, our goal is to instill in your child unshakable confidence so they can overcome bullies without violence. Due to the non-violent nature of the techniques, CNN, ABC, NBC, and Oprah have featured the Gracie Bullyproof® program as one of the few effective counter-measures to bullying for children.
If you’re interested in instilling your child with unshakable confidence while reinforcing positive values and good character, the Gracie Bullyproof® program is for you! We are currently enrolling kids in our Jr. Grapplers program for ages 8-12.
%
of students are bullied
were physically attacked last year
missed school due to bullying last year
%
fear harrassment in the bathroom
CNN’s Casey Wian reports on the effectiveness of using Gracie Jiu Jitsu to bullyproof any child.
Verbal Assertiveness + Self Defense Techniques
We are currently enrolling our Jr. Grapplers program for kids age 8-12. We will teach them to use verbal assertiveness to deter bullies and several non-violent self-defense techniques to stay safe if physically assaulted.
VERBAL JIU-JITSU TRAINING
One of the most pervasive and damaging forms of bullying is verbal harassment. Gracie Bullyproof® is the only kids’ jiu-jitsu program that makes Verbal Assertiveness Training, or as we like to call it “Verbal Jiu-Jitsu,” part of it’s regular curriculum. We’ve devised a series of role-playing exercises to teach kids how to identify and manage the common threats associated with verbal harassment and relational bullying. Kids taught how to speak assertively and to use direct eye contact and confident posture to deter bullies from targeting them.
SELF DEFENSE TECHNIQUES
Importantly, we don’t teach how to punch or kick, since this often does more harm than good. Instead, we use leverage-based control holds to neutralize threats without violence.
In our Jr. Grapplers program for kids age 8-12, we focus on 33 non-violent self-defense techniques that teach kids to “neutralize and negotiate” with the bullies. A child needs absolutely no experience to start, and we guarantee a noticeable increase in your child’s confidence within a few weeks!
Don’t let your child be a victim – give them the power to overcome bullying today!
Watch some examples of bullying at it’s worst, and how Gracie Bullyproof® has tranformed confidence, competence, and happiness.
FREE TRIAL!
Come try Gracie Jiu Jitsu for 10 days - FREE. No cost nor obligation. We'll provide everything you need.
Kids Belt Ranks
The Gracie Jiu Jitsu belt ranking system for kids up to 14 years old allows them to earn a new belt approx every 8 months, depending on how often they train.
CRITICAL CONFIDENCE
Studies suggest that bullying may be the leading cause of low self-esteem in children, and according to some surveys, less than 15% of kids actually report acts of bullying. Children’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in profound fear for their personal safety. Ironically, the victims know that they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. But, they simply can’t follow through for fear of the physical harm that backs the bully’s every action. And, therein lies the challenge – how do you instill in a victim of bullying the confidence to face the tormentor, look them in the eye, and back them down? The answer is simple – teach the victims to defend themselves against physical attack, and the rest will follow.
FIGHTING FIRE WITH WATER
Most martial arts programs rely on striking the attacker with violent punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, but in the Gracie Bullyproof® program we take a different approach. All the techniques are purely defensive and utilize no strikes. Furthermore, we teach children how to defuse confrontations with words and never to initiate physical aggression. If attacked, we offer techniques to non-violently neutralize the threat and gain control until help arrives. In the Gracie Bullyproof® program, we teach the children how to fight fire with water so that you never have to worry about your child becoming a bully under our guidance.
The Gracie Bullyproof® program prepares your child using a three-pronged approach:
Increased Awareness
Harassment comes in many forms. Sometimes, a victim doesn’t take a stand because they can’t differentiate between “joking” and “bullying.” We teach your child to differentiate between harmless play and harmful harassment so they know precisely when and how to act in each circumstance.
Unshakable Confidence
A confident child is a bullyproof child. Bullies seek “easy targets” – those who will tolerate their abuse. We arm your child with the tools needed to overcome physical, verbal, and psychological harassment, so they are so confident in themselves that no bully will try to harass them.
Total Responsibility
We prepare your child to deal with bullies without turning them into one. We emphasize discipline, responsibility, and respect throughout the course, and teach five “Rules of Engagement” to ensure they never abuse their power.
Rules of Engagement
Teaching a child jiu-jitsu without teaching them when to use it, is akin to giving someone a gun without teaching them how to use it. Gracie Bullyproof® is the only kids jiu-jitsu program that actually teaches children precisely when they can, and cannot, use the techniques they are learning. The five “Rules of Engagement” are regularly rehearsed in class so that children will never abuse their power and, equally important, they will not hesitate to take a stand when abused by bullies.
Rule 1: Avoid the fight at all costs.
Rule 2: If physically attacked, defend yourself.
Rule 3: If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle).
Rule 4: Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.
Rule 5: When applying submissions use minimal force and negotiate.
Although we discuss the Rules of Engagement in Gracie Bullyproof® classes, we strongly encourage you to discuss the Rules at home to assure your child that they have your support in the event that they need to take a stand against bullying.
“PUSH TEACHING” VS. “PULL TEACHING”
Above all else, the teaching methodology used in the Gracie Bullyproof® program is unlike anything else in the jiu-jitsu community. Not only are all the entry-level techniques presented in the form of “jiu-jitsu” games so that kids are highly enthused about learning them, but we use “push teaching” rather than “pull teaching.” When a child makes a mistake, we don’t focus on the error, instead, we emphasize the correctly executed aspects of the move. Through this carefully layered positive reinforcement, we help the kids reach their full potential without jeopardizing their love for the art.
GRACIE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
We have found that our instructors develop powerful bonds with every student at the University, but especially with our youth practitioners. We leverage this connection to help you develop your child’s character for success in all aspects of life. The Gracie Character Development Program consists of six chapters: Responsibility, Health, Respect, Citizenship, Manners, and Caring. We spend two months on each chapter. In every class, we discuss the featured character trait for 10-15 minutes, emphasizing the simple things your child can do to make it a part of their life. The secret to success lies in our use of a unique point-based reward system that we tie to attendance at Gracie Game Day, a special two-hour party where they get to play tons of games with all the instructors and kids. Only kids who score enough points during the two-month period qualify to attend Gracie Game Day, so it’s a powerful incentive for kids and a useful tool for parents to develop positive behavior at home and school. Gracie Game Day is so much fun that parents will often put on a uniform just so they can join the party!
FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GRACIEKIDS.COM & SATELLITE TRAINING
Upon enrolling your child in the Gracie Bullyproof® program, you qualify for a free subscription to GracieKids.com. GracieKids.com provides you with detailed video instruction on every technique in the course enabling you and your child to review techniques, or learn new techniques, from home! Furthermore, if you ever take a family vacation to a destination that has a Gracie Bullyproof® Certified Training Center, your child can participate in a class free of charge!
See some Gracie BullyProof® Videos Below:
Slice 1: Standard Trap & Roll Escape
Drug Defense
Prepare Your Child For Life