That must have been a fairly long time ago, even in my school days it was not uncommon for bullies to attack in groups, sometimes with weapons.

Quite often the school will repeatedly look the other way when it comes to bullying, but will come down hard on a bullied kid that finally stands up for himself, because "zero tolerance".

Martial arts training can be a great equalizer. Most folks don't know how to fight or stand up for themselves.

School was kind of like the prison system. If you perpetually got beat up you'd be labeled as a chump. Kick the crap out of one or two bullies and word would get out to not mess with you, and those that did were often alone as their friends were scared to have their backs.


I think a combination of both are what helped me out growing up as I was always one of the smallest kids in my class, as I was often a year younger than everyone else. Some of my friends, however, didn't fare so well, but they never stood up for themselves.

And now if a student hits another kid even in self defense they'll be promptly hand-cuffed by school security and put in the back of a police cruiser.

Silly, isn't it?

Wouldn't stop me, nor has it stopped me from telling my daughter to do the same. If you let folks push you around in life you'll forever be a doormat.

But my daughter is in private school where nonsense rules such as zero tolerance don't exist.


One rule that I was taught is "no throwing the first punch." That's not allowed. One may only strike another after they have been struck at, first.