Empowering teenage girls through martial arts

Donning a cape and exuding an aura of strength, Keta Rush is in many ways akin to a superhero. The WOW-Women Of Wrestling performer is deeply respected within the sports community, and her youth advocacy and Team Bully Buster self-defense studios have helped countless youth access their own power. But Keta's fight began long before she stepped into the ring, when she was a young woman herself.

Keita hit puberty in shock. After her mother was in a serious accident and spent 39 days in a coma, Keeta tried to make sense of it, but the young people around her only hurt her.

Keta, like many other children, was bullied. When his parents complained to the school, the bullying got even worse, and the girl who was misbehaving him started beating Keta. Keta fell into depression and attempted suicide. She expresses her feeling that her life has “no meaning”.

Bullying among women, especially among middle school and high school students, is persistent and insidious. Unlike men, women often use more psychological tactics in their unkindness, slowly undermining each other's self-esteem. This can look like spreading rumors or kicking or excluding one girl from her friend group, in addition to the traditional physical bullying common to boys.

I spoke with Keta to better understand her story, her unique perspective on bullying, and her thoughts on how to tackle this troubling issue.

When I spoke to Keita about those dark days, he recalled: He “didn't feel safe going to school.” She says, “I think she felt hopeless every day when she was a freshman.''

Sadly, Keta’s experience is not an anomaly: A recent survey of 13,677 young people found that one-third reported feeling sad or hopeless every day for at least one week in the past year (Sutter, et al., 2022).

Perhaps more than anything else, feelings of hopelessness are linked to suicidal thoughts. Peer relationships play an important role during adolescence, and bullying and hopelessness create a dangerous storm for young people. Like Keta, thousands of young people attempt suicide every year. Some people won't survive. Bullying, whether physical or psychological, can threaten a young person's well-being and life.

Outlet and purpose

Yet, clearly, Keita's story doesn't end there. I asked her how she got through all of this, marveling at her experiences. Keita spoke of finding her passion: acting. She told the story of how she went to what she thought was an audition for a TV show, only to be greeted by a female pro wrestler wearing a cape. Keita was immediately smitten. Before long, she was involved at a professional level, leading her to where she is today as a WOW Superhero with WOW.

Keta wanted to help those who were still suffering from bullying. But as Keta's experience tragically illustrates, it can be difficult for adults to effectively intervene in bullying issues. Keta took the approach of using the martial arts he knew. He does not teach young people how to fight, but to empower them. “Self-development, self-control. How to control your emotions.” These are things that sometimes go unrecognized when it comes to bullying. Keta uses his talents to teach martial arts and confidence to young people.

Research has shown that having a relationship with a trusted adult can act as a protective factor for youth experiencing bullying and potentially reduce the risk of suicide (Park et al. al., 2022). Studies that have employed the use of martial arts to encourage adolescents in secondary schools have also produced results suggesting that such instruction may improve teens' mental health and self-efficacy. (Moore et al., 2023).

hope to act

Keta also cites the central role therapy played in her healing. She says, “Therapy saved me.” Keta acknowledges that many people face barriers to receiving mental health care, including cost, but she wants people to know that resources exist. Facilities such as community mental health centers and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) receive federal funding to provide accessible mental health care (Adams, 2024). Many private clinicians also offer services on a sliding scale.

We discussed the major obstacles teenagers face when it comes to self-esteem. In a world of social media and video games, the art of self-love can sometimes be overlooked. She also points out that bullying is often downplayed and emphasizes the importance of schools taking it seriously. Keta coaches young people not only in self-defense but also in self-compassion.

For young people who are hurting every day, Keta is hope in action.

If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, please seek help immediately. For support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24/7, at 988 or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.

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