when are you going to use that anyway?

My older daughter started middle school this year, which means she is in grade five. The school is grade 5 to 9 which is a pretty big change for a small person. In my opinion this is when school can get tough. It's not all circle time and hand holding anymore.
Yesterday my daughter used kung fu to defend her cousin and herself.I don't know the details of the situation before it started. An older boy had her cousin in a bear hug and wouldn't let her go, Chantal told the boy to put her down and he wouldn't. Another boy grabbed her from behind. She took him down using the bear hug technique the kids learn at Silent River. The other boy still hadn't let go so she used a front kick to convince him. When he dropped her, Chantal said run, lets get out of here. Unfortunately, her cousin wanted to stay and finish fighting, but in the end, Chantal got her to leave. I was so thrilled to hear that she used a minimum of physical force, and that she actually knew what to do in the situation. Whenever we talk at home about defending yourself she has always worried about hurting someone,but she came through it very well. I am most proud of the fact that she tried to diffuse the confrontation with words first, and that she didn't try to stay and be hero afterwards. I think the most important things she has learned at kung fu are the ones that give her the confidence to stick up for someone and knowing she can defend herself if she needs to.