BJ Penn to star at UFC Gym for National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence -
20th March 2014
(Southern Courier)

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UFC 127 at Sydney Acer Arena in 2011, when Jon Fitch (left) drew against BJ Penn in the main event title fight. Source: News Limited

Bullying is not OK. This is the message that one of the toughest men in the world, UFC fighter BJ Penn, will be spreading on Saturday at Alexandria.

UFC fighter BJ Penn will be at Alexandria to spread the word about bullying.

Penn was the first non-Brazilian native to win gold in the black belt category at the World Jiu Jitsu Championships.

He is the former UFC Lightweight Champion and the former UFC Welterweight Champion, and he holds a no-nonsense approach to bullying.

“It’s great to be involved with an event that has a positive message like this,” BJ Penn said.

“I think people need to be aware that bullying occurs everyday and everywhere and is not limited to any particular age or economic class.

“We need to get the message out that bullying is not OK and will not be tolerated in our society.”

To do just this, in support of Australia’s National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, UFC Gym, in partnership with local businesses, government bodies, sporting teams, influences and athletes will be hosting a community day on Saturday.

The event has been called BRAVE, and the idea is to raise awareness and funds for the anti-bullying charity Bully Zero.

Selena Short is getting behind National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Source: News Limited

CEO and co-owner of UFC Gym Selena Short said that it was everyone’s responsibility to stamp out bullying in our society, and that she hoped that Saturday’s event would help get the important message out.

“Together we can help educate people, both victims and offenders, by giving them our support to reform and restore,” she said.

“We want to help promote the underlying values by which we, and many sports, stand for: respect, honour, discipline, courage, strength and having fun.”

One of the star attractions of the free event will be Penn, and fellow UFC fighter Urijah Faber, but there will also be opportunities to meet NRL star Matt Cooper, Roosters cheerleaders, MMA model and presenter Allira Cohrs, UFC Octagon Girl Kahili Blundell, and NBL star Bruce Bolden, among many others.

BJ Penn from Hawaii, USA, is wrestled to the ground by Jon Fitch in 2011. Source: News Limited

Everyone will be out there for the same cause, and Penn said that bullying was something he’d experienced in his life, and that he thought all the stars on the day would be keen to send a message that it wasn’t acceptable.

“Everyone gets bullied in their life, whether it may be from a family member, schoolmate or a stranger,” Penn said.

“I have been bullied both physically and verbally, and maybe that’s one of the reasons I was so interested in the martial arts and learning to defend myself.

“I found and still find that studying the mixed martial arts gives me the discipline and focus needed to deal with the stresses of everyday life.”

While there has been a lot of debate around the UFC being too violent, Penn said he didn’t think that was the case.

“Mixed martial arts is an art,” Penn said. “The UFC combines the excitement and skill of boxing, wrestling and all forms of martial arts.

“We are highly trained professional fighters, and so while our sport may not be for everyone, we fight because we love the sport and the competition.

MMA is highly regulated and there are rules in place to protect the fighters.

“For me and I guess most of the MMA fan base, it is the ultimate form of individual skill and competition.”

KEY DETAILS

¦ National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence is Friday March 21, 2014

¦ On Saturday March 22, UFC Gym, at 93 O’Riordan St in Alexandria, will hold a community day - BRAVE, from 10am to 4pm

¦ The aim BRAVE is to help raise awareness and funds to support the Bully Zero Australia Foundation in their quest to provide genuine and enduring care for bullying victims and their families.

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