http://www.verbaljudo.com/

Marc

Actually, this is only one third of the overall big picture. Of course strategically having the ability to de-escalate any violent altercation is a must have skill,but what happens if it doesn't work? Remember, it takes both parties to mutually agree to sucessfully defusing a violent confrontation. Many "conflict management" courses neglect to point that out and rely soley on the verbal negotiation part as a catch-all problem solver for all potentially confrontational scenarios.

Joe

True Joe, but it's only turning the traditional mindset on its head....

For years, nay decades, instructors have said to students, the most important skill is avoiding the fight in the first place and then gone on to teach anything but...

This is just someone doing the polar opposite..

Not the complete answer, but no worse than only teaching a student how to hit...

Heard and understood! Just want to add that George Thompson's Verbal Judo is in fact a great program. I have the book and have read it to death. Anyone interested in verbal negotiation skills should pick up a copy.

I was really commenting on the slew of conflict management courses that are forced on professional security operators that never consider - due to politically correctness - the confrontation may go to the next level. My slant on this is an in-depth look at the pre-contact, contact and then post-contact phases of the big picture.

Hope that clarifies things.

Joe

Agreed Joe! Back in the early days it was only the physical side being taught, now, as you say due to PC and indeed certain Govt bodies, its only the verbal side being taught, especially to supposed security professionals!

Thankfully, there are some out there (Al for example) who see the need for the whole shooting match..

Glad to hear you look at the post event side too Joe..

I've had the odd post incident experience were I was more worried about the hyped up new team member than anything else... Actualy took one lads weapon from him a couple of years ago...

Can you share that story with us?

I was running a small team in columbia, with a couple of new lads on it. Both had done some time in the military, but not seen action. We got into a wee fire fight and the lads military training kicked straight in and they performed well... But afterwards, they where so hyped up I was a touch worried... And took one of ems firearm from him.. He was so juiced on adrenaline that he was shaking like the proverbial leaf! And all because he had no training in dealing with the aftermath of the situation..