By Megan Sprague

Jonathan and Kaite Auton have never been the victim of a bully. But if they are targeted in the future, the siblings will know how to handle the situation.

“This is easier than regular fighting, because sometimes bullies are bigger than you are. You can learn to defend yourself without punching or kicking,” Jonathan, 9, said of the Bully Busters class he has taken for the past four years. “I’ve never really been bullied, but I’d like to know what to do if I am.”

That philosphy of dealing with bullies in a non-violent manner is the focus of Bully Busters, which Pete Nappier teaches at The Gym Co. in Mooresville.

“I teach about peaceful resolution because you will face bullies all your life, no matter how old you are,” he said sensibly. “I want to teach kids early how to deal with it so they can be more successful in the future.”

The classes show students how to de-escalate an existing problem or prevent one in the future.

“When the kids come in, I always ask how school is going and about their problems,” Nappier said. “Then we use the 12-step program to show them how to safely distract the bully from his target. It’s simple stuff, but I know it works based on the feedback of the kids and their parents.”

Some of the steps include trying to make friends with the bully, trying to reason with him or simply walking away.

“You have to understand, a bully has probably been picked on before,” he said. “By understanding this and focusing their attention elsewhere, you’re one step ahead and controlling it before it gets to a physical level. Once you’re to the fighting stage, it never de-escalates.”

If the steps don’t seem to be doing the trick, Nappier includes lessons in Aikedo to help a child ward off an attack.

“Aikedo uses the force of the attacker against them and deflects the blows,” he said. “It’s much safer than kicking or punching. Aikedo isn’t about physical harm, it’s self-defense only.”

Jonathan and Katie’s mom, Keisha Jolly, is thrilled with the progress she has seen in her children.

“They have built up self-confidence and really seem to enjoy it,” she said. “I think it really helps with going to public school and gives them the tools to defend themselves, so I don’t have to worry about them all the time.”

She said Jonathan’s grades have also been improving since he started the class.

“He has more self-discipline and knows he has to show (Pete) his report card,” Jolly said.

Classes start at the “Little Ninjas” level, with 4-to-5-year-olds and span all the way to adulthood. More information on classes or Bully Busters can be found at http://www.safetyawarenessinstitute.com.

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