As a professional mixed martial artist, Josh Quayhagen is well-versed in neutralizing confrontations physically.

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But when someone asked him to put together an anti-bullying program that focused on self-defense, he took a completely different approach, creating what he calls the Peaceful Warriors.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“I don’t want violence to be the first thought,” Quayhagen said. “I teach martial arts and I’m a professional MMA fighter, so I understand the idea and discipline of martial arts. It’s great to be able to defend yourself. But for the most part, I want kids’ first thought to be that they’re powerful with their words.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Quayhagen and his team demonstrated this philosophy to a group of children Monday morning at the Central Public Library as part of its 2016 Summer Reading Program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">During the program, he demonstrated how many conflicts could quickly be resolved with positive communication and taking responsibility for one’s actions.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Quayhagen said his goal is to plant a seed in children’s minds that many problems can be solved with solutions other than anger and violence.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“I don’t like to use the term ‘anti-bully’ because it helps spread that ‘bully’ moniker,” Quayhagen said. “We’re not trying to label any kids. At some point they’re all bullies, they’re all being bullied, they’re all watching happen. The goal of the whole Peaceful Warriors program is to give kids a proactive way to attack it. If someone is being mean to me. … I want to try to kill the hate with love.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Words will last forever. A punch to the face, that will heal and it will probably cause more harm than anything else. The big the thing I want them to know is that their words are powerful, even as a kid.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Over the past several years, the Peaceful Warriors program has taught these lessons at many area schools and youth programs, and it has culminated in a summer camp where kids aged 10-17 can hone their conflict-resolving skills.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Peaceful Warriors summer camp, themed “Haters and Heroes” begins today at 1 p.m., and will continue every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday until June 23.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“At some point we’re all haters because negative things have happened to us,” Quayhagen said. “Bad things happen at the house, and we carry it over to school or whatever it is. When someone’s being mean, that’s an opportunity to stop up and proactively try to help them out.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“All kids need love. Bullies aren’t mean kids. They’re usually just kids that have been bullied.”</span><p>(MGNonline)</p>