Dr. George Thompson

Verbal Judo tactics & techniques

Dr. George J. Thompson is the President and Founder of the Verbal Judo Institute, a tactical training and management firm based in Auburn, NY. He has trained more than 700,000 police, corrections, and security professionals and his Verbal Judo course is required in numerous states. The course has been tailored for other organizations, including mental health, the gaming industry, and hospitals.

Doc received his B.A. from Colgate University (1963), his Masters and Doctorate in English from the University of Connecticut (1972), and he completed post-doctoral work at Princeton University in Rhetoric & Persuasion (1979). Widely published in magazines and periodicals, his training has been highlighted in such national media outlets as NBC, ABC, & CBS News, CNN, 48 Hours, Inside Edition, LETN, In the Line of Duty, and Fox news, as well as in the LA Times, NY Post, Sacramento Bee, and other publications.

Doc has created the only "Tactical Communication" course in the world and he has written five books on Verbal Judo, each analyzing ways to defuse conflict and redirect behavior into more positive channels. The Verbal Judo Institute, offers Basic & Advanced courses in the Tactics of Verbal Judo, and a five-day Instructor Training option.

As of July of 2009 several new online Verbal Judo resources are available:

* Free audio newsletter for police, corrections and security professionals: http://verbaljudotips.com
* Free multi-media newsletter for civilians: http://verbaldefense.com
* Online and telephone coaching program for individuals who have received prior training in Verbal Judo: http://verbaljudomembers.com

On a personal note, Doc and Pam are the proud parents of seven-year old, Tommy Rhyno Thompson, and Doc, a survivor of throat cancer, has returned to active teaching. You can contact Doc via e-mail at doc@VerbalJudo.com at VJI, Inc., 2009 W. Genesee St. Rd., Auburn, NY 13021, 315-253-0007.

Full list of Dr. George Thompson results

Making your message stick: 7 tips for trainers and teachers
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By Kathy MangoldVerbal Judo InstituteYou’re standing there, behind the podium, because you have an expertise to share. But can you make your audience learn, especially the ones in the back row? You...
Listening and speaking to children means finding common ground
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By W. Lee Fjelstad Vice President of the Verbal Judo Institute Take an interest in what children have as interests, and try to understand their perspective, and you will get a better grip on how th...
Know how to communicate, don't just hope for the best
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If you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing, and you’re depending on verbal instincts to get you through, you can make costly mistakes
Tactical empathy: Safety is all in the approach
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The greatest human act, I think, is to change someone’s mind so that you change their behavior for the better. Peace officers do that routinely and never think much about it! In 1983 I wrote my fir...
Peace Story #3: First day, part 2
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For "First Day" part 1, click here.Here I show you exactly what the Chief could and should have said to me had he had the necessary Tactical Training known as Verbal Judo/Tactical Communication!
Peace Story #2: First day, part 1
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In this peace story I narrate my true experience of my first car stop where I Was challenged by the driver to ‘take him out’ and I did! I then received a complaint and the Chief chewed me out. When...
Peace Story #1: Why you need Verbal Judo
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Truly the only area officers have no required training is the one area where they get almost all their complaints—talking to people! Talking under pressure or in difficult situations is not a Natur...
Tactical Civility: The path of power and safety
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Tactical Civility is the safest and most powerful way to interact with others, particularly with those who may be potentially dangerous or explosive. Let me define the component parts of the term T...
'Chameleon up': Adapting to survive
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Dr. George Thompson explains how you become who you have to be (to get the job done) in moments of crisis. The chameleon is the Verbal Judo mascot which demonstrates the survival trait of being abl...
7 things never to say to anyone, and why
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From the Archives: This piece originally ran in November of 2005, but we thought it was well worth dusting off. By Dr. George Thompson, Founder of the Verbal Judo Institute Part 1 of a 2-part serie...
Tactical civility: Nice guys finish first
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Dr. George Thompson of the Verbal Judo Institute has trained thousands of correctional personnel over the years and is featured on Corrections1.com.He reminds correctional personnel of the need to ...
"They were safer by our presence"
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Warriors are, by definition, protectors. Here, George "Doc" Thompson gives a wonderful rendition of the necessary "Habit of Mind" that every Peace Warrior should develop in order to truly provide s...
The importance of your 'jacket'
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In verbal judo, officers are taught the importance of credibility (your "jacket"), which is built on consistent practice of the credo: "Be tough, be nice, be civil."In this installment of Dr. Georg...
Aim for peace, but be prepared for war
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The most important thing we don’t teach, but should, is a coherent philosophy that can unite the need for physical force and the need to project and infuse those we contact with peace. The "Peace W...
The power of closure
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Here, Dr. George Thompson demonstrates the importance of the credo, "leave people better than you found them at their worst" to increase you personal safety and the quality of your intelligence dow...
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