National City gym battles bullying with free self-defense classes
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Self-defense starts at One Legacy Training Center, where the mat makes all the difference.
“One time when I was in first grade, someone bullied me and got me in a headlock,” said Jiovani, a seventh grader who’d previously fallen victim to bullying.
More than 120 kids, ranging from three to 13, fill the National City Gym, which offers free self-defense classes to anyone victimized by bullying.
”I was bullied myself growing up,” said Chris Alvarez, owner and trainer at One Legacy, “It’s not easy, I believe through this teaching them that they can defend themselves, not necessarily use it, but that it will give them the confidence to walk with their head up and that will just rappel bullies right away. I believe in that.”
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On average, one out of every five students are victims of bullying, according to a study conducted by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.
”You can be a great fighter, it just depends on what you do in jiu-jitsu to become a great fighter. Anybody can do jiu-jitsu,” said James Owens, a 6th grader training at One Legacy Training Center in Chula Vista.
“I’m way more confident, I know so many techniques to defend myself,” Owens added.
Nathan De la Torre, an eight-year-old who has attended classes for nearly two years, says it has taught him “that size doesn’t matter when it comes to fighting.”
“I’ve gone up against some really big kids and ended up beating them in competition,” De la Torre said.
Not only are kids noticing the difference, but parents are loving the results as well.
“The bullying has taken such an emotional toll, this place has helped his confidence so much. The trainers have been so patient,” said Elana Llamas, a parent of a bullied child, ”They’ve helped my child so much here, not just physically but mentally too. He’s more secure in himself and it makes me feel safer sending him to school every day.”
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