- May 2, 2024
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Growing up as an undersized kid, whether in my neighborhood, school or even at church, I was the victim of many heinous bullying incidents. Oh, how I wish I would’ve grown up in George Rego’s Jukido Academy, where he elevates self-defense and even makes it look cool.
The dojo recently celebrated its 16th anniversary in Flagler County, and, in light of Bully Prevention Month, Rego and his classes took to Flagler Beach for their annual event known as “Beach Shugyo.”
“Shugyo refers to specialized intense training that is designed to push the individual’s limits as a martial artist,” Rego said. “The occasional implementation of Shugyo serves to improve one’s abilities, fighting spirit and reinvigoration of one’s daily training in authentic martial arts. It’s a wonderful event with students of all experienced levels. It’s a fantastic celebration of our individual and collective efforts in attempting to master the martial arts and ourselves.”
Many times this question has been posed to us all: “If you could have one superpower, what it would it be, and why?”
Some of our answers usually include unlimited power to break into banks, x-ray vision for reasons I’d rather not say, or mind reading to selfishly manipulate situations. I know; we can be a bit devious. But, through Rego’s martial arts, his students train and obtain certain powers, but, just as the superheroes, they also learn discipline to master their abilities.
“Practicing on the beach, in the cold morning hours, before the sun the sunrises, allows us to highlight the inherent duality of martial arts,” Rego added. “Martial arts are filled with seemingly contradictory ideas, one being the highly dangerous individual who, at the same time, is one of the most respectful and honorable people you'll ever meet.”
Jukido Academy has taught martial arts to thousands of students, specifically for self-defense. Many were victims of bullying and have success stories of overcoming bullies in a reasonable way. This topic has become one of national notoriety, and, with social media’s growing popularity, the discussion has only gotten worse. According to americanspcc.org, one in three American students say they have been bullied at school. What should be a place to learn and make friends has become a place where kids can injure others, physically, verbally. That’s a sad thought.
The Jukido Academy can be reached at 445-8754.
To see more photos, go to www.facebook.com/jukidoacademy.
