From Target to Confident: How Martial Arts Protects Kids from Bullying

Martial Arts: More Than Fighting

Martial arts can be simply described as an art of learning how to fight — but it’s far more than just punches, kicks, and throws. The real goal is to stand strong and confident when others intend to make you fall.

Why would someone want to bring you down?
It could be ego, jealousy, misunderstanding — or, more commonly, bullying.

Bullying happens for various reasons. Some do it to show dominance and feed their ego; others to hide their own insecurities — all by picking on someone they believe will offer the least resistance.

Recently, there’s also been a worrying rise in religious and ethnic bullying, where frustration and hate are taken out on minority groups. And, being the cowards bullies are, they target those who seem least likely to resist — often in groups.

This group mentality makes things worse. It gives a false sense of validation: “If no one stops me, maybe what I’m doing is okay.”

Why We Must Act — For Our Children and Ourselves

Bullying today isn’t just physical. It can be verbal, emotional, or even online.
As parents, guardians, and adult learners, we all have a responsibility to act.

If every other child appears strong and confident, but yours looks timid and unsure, we cannot ignore it. It’s our responsibility to prepare them for the world — not out of fear, but out of love.

Some people think they will start training “when trouble is near.” This is a common misconception — it’s like saying, “I’ll revise just before the exam"

The point is simple: training early and consistently prepares us both mentally and physically. Most of the time, your confidence will naturally shine through, deterring potential bullies because you no longer appear to be the person offering the least resistance.

Children today are growing up in comfort — and that’s fine — but life also requires resilience and self-belief. We must give them balance: the strength to handle challenges, not just comfort.

If parents allow their children to grow up without addressing a lack of confidence, it can unfortunately get worse — showing up in many areas of life, from work and social situations to marriage and beyond.

You can watch how the bullying unfold in this video : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQzjxErEfso/?igsh=MXVpaGN2MjB3MXJieg==

Why Train with Us

At Al Qawi Martial Arts, we’ve proudly served our community for almost two decades, offering classes for both kids and adults across East London and Essex.

Our teen and adult sessions are fully segregated, providing a safe and modest environment for males and females to train effectively.

All our coaches are highly experienced — but more importantly, they are mentors.
Our focus isn’t just on technique; it’s on building confidence, discipline, and character.

If you want your child — or yourself — to grow stronger, more confident, and better prepared for life, learning effective and proven techniques - start with us.

Sensei Arif Kassam 

Head Coach 

Al Qawi Self Defence