In a small town in Texas, a 13-year-old girl named Apolonia Nuncio has made headlines after standing up to her school bully using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to control and choke/armbar a girl twice her size. Nuncio’s story has garnered widespread attention and praise for her bravery and the importance of self-defense.
Apolonia Nuncio Vs. School Bully
According to Nuncio, the bullying had been going on for months, and she had tried various methods to stop it, including ignoring the bully and telling a teacher. However, nothing seemed to work, and the situation continued to escalate.
The opportunity presented itself when Apolonia Nuncio encountered her bully in the schoolyard. Using her BJJ training, she confronted the bully and set in a standing rear naked choke, before using the position to get her to the ground and transitioning into a tight belly-down armbar.
The bully quickly tapped out, and Nuncio professionally released the hold.
Nuncio’s father expressed his pride in his daughter’s ability to defend herself, saying, “We don’t condone violence, but we do condone self-defense.” He also emphasized the importance of using martial arts for self-defense rather than aggression.
A 13 year old #BJJ savage finally stands up to the school Bully and locks her into a rear naked choke before transitioning into an armbar… pic.twitter.com/rJMtcojdeE
— Fight Haven (@FightHaven) February 26, 2023
Since Nuncio’s story went viral, many people have praised her for her courage and used her experience to raise awareness about the issue of bullying. Nuncio hopes that her story will inspire other kids who are being bullied to stand up for themselves and seek help.
The school district has also taken notice of the incident and has emphasized its commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students. They encourage students to report bullying incidents and seek help from teachers or counselors.
A 13-Year-Old Jiu-Jitsu Wizard
Nuncio’s father, Gilbert Nuncio, noticed that his daughter was coming home upset when she was 9 and decided to take action. He enrolled Nuncio in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in San Antonio (10th Planet ATX) to help her deal with bullying at school.
Apolonia’s BJJ journey was not simple though. She had a tough time on the mats during her first months and even lost her first “street fight” after attempting to use Jiu-Jitsu with a year of training under her belt.
She has advanced in leaps and bounds since, though, after starting to compete. Even then, aged 9, she was considered a BJJ prodigy, stringing together an incredible series of wins, with even boys falling victim to her ruthlessly effective technical Jiu-Jitsu.
“My fighting nickname is Apolonia: The Mayan Warrior,” explained Apolonia Nuncio. “Where we got Mayan from – it’s from my culture. And warrior, because I’m a warrior.”
Currently, Nuncio is the “Pound for pound #1 13yr old under 80 pounds” as per her Instagram account.
Jiu-JItsu For Self-Defense Against Bullies
Nuncio’s story has also caught the attention of the BJJ community, with many instructors highlighting the benefits of martial arts training for self-defense and confidence-building.
Tom Deblass, who has celebrity status in the BJJ community, has been particularly vocal about it lately, offering free training to kids that are victims of bullying and eventually opting to form a non-profit called “Buddies over Bullies” in order to help as many kids as he can.
“I can’t even understand the level of meanness,” said DeBlass, 40, in an exclusive interview with the New York Post. “I always want to help, but I am getting sick of saying I am sick of bullying. I said I have to do something about this.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the story of Apolonia Nuncio serves as a reminder of the importance of self-defense and standing up to bullies. Her courage and bravery have inspired many and sparked a much-needed conversation about bullying and self-defense.
