Emily's Fight

Emily learning jiu-jitsu from 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu  purple belt, Brett Sbardella

Emily is a 6 year old girl, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, and has repeatedly had to deal with bullies at her kindergarten. Emily's fight began one day a few weeks ago, when she came home upset that she was getting pushed down by three boys that were bigger than her. I gave Emily a big hug, and told her that she needs to tell the adult in charge next time they do this. The very next day my daughter, Emily, came home crying again. She said the same three boys kept pushing her down, and would not let her back up. She told the adults in charge this time, and they got sent to the wall. However, the boys were not done. The next day the three boys continued pushing Emily down, and ruined the new outfit that I bought her for school. Emily came home crying yet again, and this was the fourth consecutive day that she had come home in tears. She told me that these three boys push her down every day, call her stupid, and keep pushing her back down when she tries to get back up. Emily's school, Breckenridge Elementary, preceded to explain to me that this is normal behavior. Then they told me that three boys ganging up on my daughter, and pushing her down is not bullying at all. This is a direct contradiction to the school's bullying policy, which clearly defines pushing and shoving as bullying.

Brett "The Spyder" Sbardella, of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, offering Emily some one-on-one guidance

I have always had a lot of friends in the local MMA scene, and have always heard about Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ for short) being the perfect defense for a smaller person to combat bullying. When I heard that the school was unwilling to help my daughter combat bullying, I did the only thing a parent in my situation should do. I contacted the most respected BJJ instructor in my area, and asked him to help Emily. Brett Sbardella, of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, took Emily's situation more seriously then anyone at her school ever did. He worked with Emily, and the other kids, on what to do when someone bigger than her pushes her down. Now, every Sunday, Emily is learning the tools she needs to protect herself from bullying, and she's never had more fun in the process. Brett Sbardella offers his program for children at the Clare Family Fitness center in Clare, MI.

Brett Sbardella instructing children in the "hip-bump sweep" from guard

Emily is also learning respect, self-confidence, and teamwork from the BJJ class she is taking. She is learning that she needs to do everything she can to avoid an altercation, but when it happens she will be able to intelligently defend herself. Slowly, but surely, Emily is starting to fight back against bullying. And it is all possible thanks to Brett Sbardella, and his children's self defense program at Clare Family Fitness.