Royce Gracie, legendary UFC champion and a pioneer of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has made a strong case for integrating martial arts programs into school curriculums across the United States.

Reflecting on his experience in the UAE, Gracie emphasized the profound character-building potential of martial arts…
Which he believes can address issues like bullying on multiple fronts:

It builds confidence in the students, teaches them how to defend themselves.
We’re not teaching them to become fighters but to defend themselves – how not to get bullied and how to protect others.

We’re teaching discipline.
Be on time, bring your gear – your gi.

And if they say: “Oh, my mom forgot the gi”, I tell them: “That’s not your mom’s problem. It’s your responsibility to pack your gi.”

It teaches accountability, respect, and discipline.

Royce suggested that martial arts could offer a healthier outlet for the insecure impulses that lead to bullying:

Why is the bully picking on others? No one ever asks.
It’s often because they don’t have confidence themselves. They’re trying to prove their toughness by picking on smaller kids.

But if they learn martial arts, if they learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, they’ll know how tough they are.
They won’t need to prove it by hurting others.

It’s an amazing way to channel natural masculinity in young men.

He also touched upon the topic of “toxic masculinity”:

I don’t believe in that ‘toxic masculinity’ stuff.

Honestly, I don’t even know how to pronounce it properly because I don’t believe in it.
Men need to be men. Boys need to be boys.