CINCINNATI — A fitness trainer is showing children the importance of standing up for themselves and giving back to the community as it has been a challenging year for youngsters.
Zach Thomas is a fitness instructor for the new youth Shock a Bully boxing fitness class in Cincinnati. He says it’s all about, “self-development, building self-esteem about themselves, learning to recognize a bully when they see a bully.”
According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of five children experience bullying and that’s why Thomas says this class is so important for children.
“It’s just at the point for some of these kids they want to commit suicide because they’re afraid to go to school,” said Thomas.
Throughout the hour-long class, students learn the fundamentals of boxing while learning how to protect themselves from a bully.
“They’re learning how to box from a professional fighter who’s [fought] for over 35 years,” Thomas said. “So they’re learning at a young age.”
During the month of May, the students in the Shock a Bully class collected clothes to give back to the homeless and less fortunate. It’s all to teach the children the importance of giving back.
“That’s what it’s all about: Building these kids up to be stand-up human beings,” he said.
Over 500 clothes were donated and collected for a free community clothing event.
“It just gave me a sense of gratitude and it feels really, really good, like I actually gave something back,” Thomas said.
