Robert, I told my grandson when he went to Secondary school, Never let yourself be bullied. If you are, don't hesitate, one short ,sharp bang on the nose, don't mess about. He went one further and when a smaller child was being bullied on the school bus he asked the boy involved to stop. What are you going to do about it, asked the other boy, aged 14. This, said James and punched him hard on the nose. Said boy then went crying to school and James was labelled a bully despite telling the headmaster he was only standing up to a bully. He was excluded from school, easier, I dare say than sorting out the real problem which was swept under the carpet.
I remember "sorting out" a boy who was bullying my twin brother (he is two hours younger than me and we were 11!!) and can remember the great satisfaction I felt, grinding that boy's face in the mud.
Would I do the same if my brother were being bullied?

Probably