How did Bas Rutten overcome bullying?

Bas Rutten overcame bullying by using martial arts as a means of self-defense and empowerment. He described being severely bullied due to his skin condition and asthma, which made him a target at school. After watching Bruce Lee movies, he was inspired to start martial arts to defend himself. His journey in martial arts started with taekwondo and later included karate and Thai boxing, which significantly boosted his confidence and ability to stand up to bullies. Rutten emphasized that learning martial arts not only allowed him to defend himself but also helped him feel empowered and in control, eventually leading him to confront and overcome the bullies he faced 1.