The concept was pioneered by , a former English professor and urban police officer who held a black belt in karate. During his time in law enforcement in the 1980s, Thompson observed that while some officers could naturally defuse volatile situations with words, they often lacked a repeatable framework to explain how they did it. He founded the Verbal Judo Institute to bridge this gap, teaching that "when you react, the event controls you. When you respond, you're in control". Core Principles: Empathy and Impartiality
Verbal Judo is not random “talking nice.” It is a structured protocol. The acronym stands for the five moves you make when a situation heats up. Verbal Judo - The Gentle Art of Persuasion
Humans hate being controlled but love making choices. Options remove the power struggle. The concept was pioneered by , a former