IMPROVING THE BODY, MIND
Academy welcomes bullied kids
Those who train mixed martial arts are accustomed to sparring — but there’s a different kind of fighting going on at one Windsor gym: The fight against bullying.
“If a child comes to you and says they’re a victim of bullying, you have to take it seriously, because this is going to affect them later in life,” said Sean LaBute, co-owner and head kick-boxing coach of Hybrid Training Academy (on the top floor of Market Square, 2109 Ottawa St.).
“Having been bullied myself, as a child, is what got me into martial arts.”
That’s why LaBute and head jiujitsu instructor Jeff Robert have launched the Lambs to Lions contest at their gym. Until the end of the month, HTA is accepting reallife stories of local children who have been bullied.
From those stories, two candidates will be selected — a boy and a girl — to each receive one year’s full membership with the gym, at no cost.
The two winners will get free regular group classes and use of the facilities, plus eight hours of private instruction from LaBute and Robert, as well as personal training gear.
Eligible candidates must be of school age, from kindergarten to Grade 12. There are also runnerup prizes.
Under LaBute and Robert’s tutelage, students learn and practise combat-effective striking and grappling techniques. But the benefits of MMA training are more than physical.
“Martial arts are proven to give you the strength, the confidence, the self-esteem to get through situations,” LaBute said.
“We don’t promote a violent approach .... We don’t want physical altercations, but we want the kid to have the confidence and the abilities if it gets to those situations.”
While bullying is most common among children, there’s no denying its long-term impact on individuals. One of LaBute’s motivations for the Lambs to Lions contest was a bullying story with a tragic end: An adult HTA member committed suicide in 2014, at the age of 20.
“If I’m able to affect a child positively with martial arts, early on, I can save (someone) from childhood depression, which becomes teenage depression, and sometimes suicide,” LaBute said.
“One of our club members ... came in from a bullied situation early on in life. We just caught him too late.”
Beyond the sweat and the skill development, LaBute emphasizes the camaraderie, enjoyment and social benefits that come with a positive training environment. He considers the members of the gym part of the HTA family.
“I know, over the course of a year, we’ll really make a difference in some kids’ lives.”
Entries to Hybrid Training Academy’s Lambs to Lion contest should be sent to Jeff Robert via jrobert@jiujitsuwindsor.com. Submissions can also be made via www.htawindsor.com or www. facebook.com/htawindsor.
The deadline for entries is Dec. 1. The two winners will be announced on Dec. 15. For more information, call the gym at 1-866-959-7776.