October is National Bully Awareness Month. I started teaching an anti-bullying program over 16 years ago in 1998. When it comes to bullying I’ve seen it all. I was a prison guard at a maximum security prison, I was a certified FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) instructor and cultural diversity instructor. I am an honorably discharged U.S Marine Corps Sergeant. I Was bullied as a child and raised two successful young men. I was one of two instructors in Florida to get fully certified in the first ever anti-bullying program Bully Busters. I also purchased almost every anti-bullying program I could find. Yet, I noticed that they all were missing something. So, I developed the most complete anti-bullying program “Anta’s Art of Fighting Without Fighting Anti-Bullying” which I teach at my martial arts center, do workshops and authored a 2 DVD set of the program.
My next step in my battle against bullying was to spread the “Art of Fighting Without Fighting” philosophy. In an effort to stomp out bullying I have hand picked a group of extraordinary martial arts instructors to help me spread the anti-bullying gospel throughout Miami-Dade County. “Anta’s Art of Fighting without Fighting” authorize training centers in South Florida are on a quest to stop bullying in their community.
In 85 % of bullying cases there is no intervention. “Anta's Art of Fighting Without Fighting Anti-Bullying” has started a new anti-bullying campaign “Be a Hero Not a Bystander” banner signing. We are uniting to stomp out bullying by signing a banner and pledging to “Be a Hero Not a Bystander.” These “Anta’s Art of Fighting Without Fighting Anti-Bullying” authorized training centers will host anti-bullying workshops for kids, teens and adults. Yes, adults, adults get bullied also. 35% of adults feel that they get bullied at work. We all have banners on site for everyone attending to take the pledge and sign the banner.
Our goal is to have a team of superhero warriors to take a stand against bullying and not be bystanders. The following martial arts instructors will be holding “Anta's Art of Fighting Without Fighting, Be a Hero Not a Bystander” events on Friday, October 10: World karate and kickboxing champion and King of the Cage champion Manny Reyes Jr and World Karate Champion Jeff Roddy in Hialeah/Miami Lakes. Muay Thai fighter and instructor Kedric Fink in South Miami and Kenpo, Muay Thai, Krav Maga instructor Alfred Magnan
in Kendall and I’ll be holding it at my school in Doral. Anta's Fitness and Self Defense banner already has over 250 signature.
New Research shows that victims of bullying suffer the psychological consequences of bullying all the way until middle age, with higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicide. In schools kids will practice fire drills yet there is no anti-bullying plan or drills for students in school. These martial arts instructors are on a mission to change that by conducting free community service anti-bullying workshops and banner signing in Miami-Dade County schools. For more information or to set up a free workshop log on to ArtofFightingWithoutFighting.com.