INTRODUCTION:

We are safer when we use our words to achieve a professional purpose rather than express our personal feelings.  The most dangerous weapon we carry is a cocked tongue and we must learn to use words as a tool rather than a weapon.  Mind and mouth disharmony causes violence.

Everything we teach in Verbal Judo can markedly enhance our ability to look and sound good, as well as be good.  How we do what we do is often the difference between success and failure, and we teach people how to deliver information to others with dignity and respect.

This focus on the “art of delivery” results in fewer complaints from interactions with citizens, hence generating less law suits and complaints from the actions we take.  Many police departments have seen a reduction of up to 80% in complaints and untold dollars saved in lawsuits.  The result is less stress for everyone.

The rest of the Introduction argues that our profession ranks equally among others like law and medicine because the burden of performing professionally in situations where high stress and the potential of violence from non-compliant people is an everyday possibility. 

MODULE ONE:

An in depth definition of the traits of law enforcement, defining a central goal--generating voluntary compliance; our force options and the focus on presence and words.  We continue with the necessary habit of mind: the keeping of a still, or unbiased mental center during conflict as a “Contact Professional,” who is an artist at representing something other that himself.

MODULE TWO:

Law Enforcement Professionals work in the arena of verbal assault, and in this section we teach the theory necessary to understand how to perform a “professional self” before others.  Knowing more about communication than the people we meet enables our people to become who they have to be to handle the difficult situations they face daily.  This module demonstrates that 93% of our effectiveness lies in our delivery style, not our message.  We show how to use  “style” more effectively and safely.

MODULE THREE:

Here we teach the difference between an offensive attacking style of language, Verbal Karate, and the professional re-directive power of Verbal Judo.  We define our terms and demonstrate technique over brute power in a physical demonstration.  We then illustrate Verbal Judo in action through the “Five Step Hard Style” form of persuasion using several types of examples.  If the officer uses the five-step discipline, he or she cannot lose in a court of law.  We teach the limits of words and how to reach their maximum power.  If words fail, physical force can be justified.

MODULE FOUR:

We must work on the minds of the people under our jurisdiction to preserve peace and credibility.  Here we teach the three arts necessary to change the way people behave when they are under an influence, from drugs to rage.  How to influence citizens to think better for themselves than they may naturally desire is the sum of the three arts.  When we do this we maintain a line between order and disorder, peace and violence.

MODULE FIVE:

Here we teach the four basic appeals of persuasion and arm our people with 46 principles of disinterest and flexibility taken directly from real life experiences with people in conflict.  Knowing the four appeals enables us to keep mentally flexible in approaches to persuasion and more efficient in the use of words.  Knowing the ethical and verbal principles help keep us centered and focused on the goal of generating voluntary compliance rather than reacting to personal feelings.

MODULE SIX:

Here we teach the mental discipline or modes of action summarized by three acronyms.  The first teaches how to see events from a rhetorical (or a persuader’s) perspective.  The second teaches how to “read a scene” for the crucial control elements; and the last teaches the five communication tools necessary to change someone’s mind, especially under pressure.

MODULE SEVEN:

No one is safe when they should be acting!  We teach the five times when words fail--summed up by the acronym S.A.F.E.R.--and show how to evaluate the threat and to move to other appropriate force options.  Whenever physical force is used, S.A.F.E.R. should appear in all reports, professionally demonstrating the necessity of such action.  The force option can then be justified in a court of law.