A Safer Path: Anti-Bullying with Verbal Jiu-Jitsu

At Team Silva Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Alameda, we believe real self-defense begins before a single punch or kick is thrown. Our anti-bullying program helps kids and adults in the Bay Area — from Alameda to Oakland, San Leandro, and the East Bay — handle confrontation with calm words and smart moves.

We call it Verbal Jiu-Jitsu, because it borrows the same idea that makes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu so effective: use leverage and technique instead of brute force.

Simple Verbal Jiu-Jitsu Tools We Teach

These are practical skills that anyone — especially kids — can use:

• Neutral Mirror:

  
  

  Echo the aggressor’s words in a steady voice to defuse tension.

  
  

  “You think I’m slow? … Slow, huh.”

• Gray Rock:

  
  

  Short, uninteresting answers that give a bully nothing to feed on.

  
  

  “Okay.” “Noted.”

• Exit Bridge:

  
  

  Calmly end the exchange and step away.

  
  

  “I’m going back to class now.”

• Empathy Deflector:

  
  

  Name the other person’s feeling to break the attack cycle.

  
  

  “You sound upset.”

• Name It to Tame It:

  
  

  State clearly what crossed the line.

  
  

  “That was a shove. I don’t accept that.”

Learning these techniques builds confidence and shows kids — and their parents — that self-defense starts with voice and presence.

Chess & BJJ: A Surprising but Powerful Pair

At Team Silva Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Alameda, we also bring chess into the conversation.

Both chess and BJJ train you to:

• Think two or three moves ahead.

• Stay patient under pressure.

• Adapt when a plan starts falling apart.

For kids, that mix of mental strategy and physical skill builds focus in school and resilience in life. For adults, it sharpens awareness and decision-making in high-stress moments.

Train with a World-Class Professor in the East Bay

This is your chance to learn from Professor Sergio Silva, a former world champion from Brazil and a multiple-time national and international champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts.

Professor Silva has been teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Alameda since 2008, helping thousands of kids and adults across the East Bay, Oakland, San Leandro, and the greater Bay Area build confidence and practical self-defense skills.

Joining Team Silva BJJ means you and your family can:

• Build a strong foundation in Alameda family Jiu-Jitsu

• Access proven self-defense training for kids and adults

• Become part of a positive, resilient martial arts community in Alameda

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Whether you’re a parent looking for a safe, growth-oriented activity for your kids or an adult ready to challenge yourself, this is the moment to step onto the mat.

Get Started

Call or visit us at Team Silva Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — Alameda’s home for family Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense.

Learn skills that protect you in daily life, keep you calm under stress, and connect you with a supportive community right here in the Bay Area.

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