Impact Martial Arts will be hosting free bully defense workshops at Cornerstone Fitness & Wellness Center to prepare children for the school year. The workshop is Aug. 13 and sessions are divided by age.

“The goal of the program is to educate and inspire the community to team up and end bullying,” said Sean Gilham of Impact Martial Arts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth who report any level of involvement with bullying behavior are more likely to commit suicide-related behavior.

Gilham said that Impact wants to create awareness and a movement in the community to end bullying and its harmful effects. The workshop is one tool that will help achieve this goal. It will cover four types of bullying: physical, verbal, emotional, and cyberbullying. The workshop will teach students to stand up for themselves and others when bullying occurs and to protect themselves when necessary by using self-defense techniques.

The workshop will also teach students respect for themselves and others. According to the CDC, early training to increase social intelligence and empathy is important for children, as it promotes mental health and positive social behavior.

The workshops are designed specifically for different age groups based on the challenges they are most likely to face. The pre-school and kindergarten age workshop will be from 10:00a.m. -10:45a.m. The elementary and intermediate workshop will be from 11:00a.m. -12:30p.m. The middle and high school workshop will be from 12:30p.m. -2:00p.m.

If you would like to sign up for any of the workshop’s sessions, you may sign up through Cornerstone Fitness & Wellness Center, located at 110 Baker Avenue. You may also call Impact Martial arts at (205)266-0732.