SIDNEY — Taking-up the martial art taekwondo has proved to be a valuable resource for 11-year-old Gage Ferguson, son of Brenda and Scott Ferguson, of Sidney. As a result of the anti-bullying messages he has learned in the dojo, he was recently able to help a friend in trouble by utilizing some of these tactics.
When the bullying scenario presented itself, Gage intervened, along with the help of two other friends, and stopped a physical attack on a friend during a recent incident at school.
Taking taekwondo, Gage said, has helped him learn how to defend someone.
“When someone is endangered, I just feel like I just have to intervene,” he said of what prompted him to get involved.
Gage’s mom Brenda said, “I’m so proud of him. I’m so proud that he stood up for his friend, and even the (victim’s) mom said she was glad Gage was there. His teacher also said she was very proud of him. We tell Gage, ‘Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.’”
Gage’s parents admits, however, that he has come a long way in developing confidence over the last 16 months since he began taekwondo at Troy Martial Arts in Troy. Brenda said Gage may not have taken the same steps before. Prior to taekwondo, she said, he was somewhat meek.
“He is so much more confident in his abilities and has confidence in himself now. — And he knows how to intervene without hurting someone,” Brenda said.
Lead instructor Chris Journell, and owner of Troy Martial Arts, also said Gage has come a long way with his confidence, control and physical abilities. He described Gage as a “gentle giant” who, overtime, has become one of his best students.
Journell’s dojo presents anti-bullying and anti-abduction sessions on a monthly basis, of which Gage regularly participates. These mini-seminars include a video and physical practice with an instructor wearing a law enforcement/military-level predator fighting suit that allows students to act out the motions of how to fight/defend oneself and then get away in a realistic, adrenalin rushing scenario.
The core of his martial art’s curriculum is about self-defense, Journell said, and anti-bullying and anti-abduction is also integrated.
“Students learn how to de-escalate a bully attack,” Journell said. “(We teach them to) try to avoid physical confrontation at all costs, but if you are going to be assaulted, to use enough force to defend yourself, without going past that threshold, and then go seek help.”
Journell emphasizes, if a predator is subdued and then you cause harm to them past subduing them, you could be held liable.
When asked his thoughts about Gage’s courage to step up to the bully at school, Journell said, “I think it’s discipline; I think it’s the regimen and structure; I think part of it is learning leadership responsibility, and sweat does miracles for children as well. When they sweat, they get more physically active; they feel better about themselves, versus being on Xbox, right? — They get nothing out of that. So (Gage) is forced to better himself, physically and mentally, by coming in here (to class) and participating and challenging himself. … Having supportive parents is also a big part of that equation.”
Francine Dembski, principal of Longfellow Elementary School where Gage attends school, said the school’s councilor goes into the classrooms and discusses anti-bullying at a level appropriate for students from kindergarten to fifth grade. She also said the subject is addressed in the school’s handbook and at the first meeting of each school year.
“The door is always open. Bullying has to be brought to our attention (when it occurs) so we can follow up. … We need to know when is happens here at school. It does help if (students) tell us right when it happens. Because we have cameras and we can have witnesses,” Dembski said. “(Students) are taught if you have any incident, come right to the office. We need to handle it right away.”
Dembski said often times students will either keep bullying situations to themselves, or only go home and tell their parents, but not administrators, for fear of further bullying. She wants to assure students that the school is there to help them. But she also said she always wants to be fair.
Brenda said although students are taught at school not to lay their hands on anyone and to go tell a teacher if they are bullied, she mostly credits taekwondo for Gage learning to deal with a bully.
“He has learned a lot about restraint and a lot more about courtesy and respect; It’s been a night in day (change with Gage),” Brenda said about her son, who currently holds a senior yellow belt. “He’s just got so some much more confidence in himself.”
“I kinda feel like someone who protects someone else. I do feel good (about standing up for his friend),” Gage said. “I knew how to act. Don’t be someone that’s just a witness. Be someone that intervened.”
He plans to continue his progression in martial arts by testing for his green belt at the end of the month.
