R.K.
I would sign him up for martial arts, Tae Kwon Do or Karate. He will learn how to defend himself, he will also learn self confidence and self esteem as well as self control and respect for others.
My son was about that age when we moved and he had to change schools. We had moved early in the summer so he had the chance to get to know the neighbor kids unfortunately none of them were in his classroom. So one day when his new best friend was on a fieldtrip and my son was on his own for lunch, a kid started to bully him and threatened to beat him up. Everytime my son went to get up to talk to the lunchroom monitor this kid said I'm only teasing. So now move out to the playground and one kid bullying him is now 4 kids bullying him. One kid put a choke hold on my son, he broke the hold and decked the kid. Of course they all got into trouble at school but the upside is my son who had been in Tae Kwon Do for 3 yrs at that point used self control (only hit one kid) defended himself and really didn't hurt anyone ----- and sent the clear message don't bully me I hit back. It only took one day and the word was all over school and he was never bullied again. I mean the rest of his school life right through 12th grade.
I know that hitting is never okay but I am so sick of bullies everywhere. They can be bullies because no one can stop them. With some kids and adults a good strong right hook is the only way they get the message: I will not be bullied.
You can't be PC with everyone ------- because not everyone gets PC.