Martial Arts Teacher Helps Kids Handle Bullies
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (CBS) -- A north suburban martial arts teacher has begun to offer free classes to children who have been the targets of bullies in their schools and neighborhoods.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports, Gerry Cook, 61, says he was beaten up by bullies until he took up martial arts when he was 15.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports
Podcast
He has been teaching self-protection for more than 30 years, and in addition to the free weekly self-defense classes he offers to women every Thursday, he has also now begun offering free one-hour lessons to youngsters from 7 years old on up in his Waukegan studio, to learn how to handle bullies.
"One hour a week, teaching them some basic stuff – how they could hit somebody and get away, maybe – builds a little bit more confidence in them," Cook said.
Cook says he teaches children in his "Bully Proof" classes that 90 percent of the time, bullies will back down if the young people show a little bit of confidence, and even just follow through by telling an adult that someone has been picking on them.
Gerry Cook's Professional Martial Arts is located at 248 N. Lewis Ave. in Waukegan. His "Bully Proof" class meets from 10 to 11 a.m. every Saturday for the rest of the month, and Cook tells the Lake County News-Sun he is thinking of making the free class permanent.
