Learn to recognize bullying

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and Edna business owner, bullying survivor and anti-bullying activist Luis Jimenez, owner of Zen Martial Arts in Edna, wants to shed some light on some of the root causes of bullying, as well as recognition and prevention.
    “Bullying is one of the worst things in our society,” he said. “Its been in existence since humankind has been in existence. Usually bullies are people who have been bullied at home, or at work, and it is just a behavior that repeats.”
    Not only can the effects of childhood bullying last long into adulthood, the link between bullying and suicide is becoming clearer as time progresses. In 2008, researchers at Yale University analyzed almost 40 studies conducted which focused on bullying and suicide. They found, collectively, that bullying victims were between two and nine times more likely to commit suicide. 
    According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and Jimenez believes that the old platitude “just ignore them” is now direly insufficient.
    “Bullies can control your life. It is about power and control,” he said. “They can take away your freedom of will. It is so powerful, because when we deal with kids, it isn’t only physically. It’s psychologically, verbally.”
    Jimenez believes that getting to the core of the problem is paramount in solving bullying situations.
    “People who say ‘just toughen up’ do so because they don’t want to be involved. We need to get to the core of the problem. Get the parents involved. Find out what is going on, at home, at school.”
    The reasons for bullying are many, from trouble at home, to a culture that glorifies power and authority, to mental illness. That, combined with the fact that it is difficult to prove and to track in schools and social settings, makes it a difficult problem to deal with overall, but Jimenez said there are things that can be done on a small scale to make a difference a little at a time.
    “I tell my students ‘don’t be a bystander, be an upstander,’” he said. “Learn to recognize bullying. Bullying is more than once. It is repetitive.”
    He also said that bullies often prey on people who appear insecure, as bullying is often due to insecurity in itself. He said even little things like walking with good posture and making eye contact can help dissuade a would-be bully. He also advocates for martial arts training as a deterrent for children, saying it helps with discipline, confidence, and, of course, self defense.