• HOME
  • ONLINE TRAINING
  • JOIN US
  • CONTACT US

Self Defense Tutorials

Learn self-defense quickly and efficiently

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

3 Great Examples of Verbal De-Escalation

September 12, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • reddit

Here’s a great video that I found of Dan Inosanto’s earliest students, Tim Tackett, talking about ‘verbal jiu-jitsu’ at Erik Paulson’s gym in California.

That might sound boring but it’s super-crazy important stuff!!

He starts out by telling the story of how an acquaintance of his spent 6 years in jail for throwing a single punch. That punch knocked his opponent out, who then fell, split his head open on a concrete planter, and then died (we also discussed this issue in the Death After the Knockout article on this site).

The point is that having the verbal skills to avoid a fight are just as important as the physical skills to win a fight.

And then he gives 3 great examples of exactly what to say if it looks like a fight seems inevitable. Memorise these phrases so you can spit them out verbatim at the drop of a hat and/or modify them to fit your exact circumstance.

Here’s the 2:17 video…

You should watch the video, because of course it’s not just the words he says; it’s his tone of voice and body language that convey the real message.

But for your reference, the 3 examples of verbal de-escalation that Tim provides go like this…

DE-ESCALATION 1

Potential Opponent: “What the hell are you looking at?”

You: “That shirt man, that’s a really cool shirt?  Where did you get that?”

DE-ESCALATION 2

Potential Opponent: “What’s your problem?!?!?”

You: “My dad died last night and I just came in here to have a drink.”

DE-ESCALATION 3

Potential Opponent: “

Potential Opponent: “Are you looking at my girl??!?”

You: “Is her name Madeline because she sure looks like Madeline? Is she your girlfriend? Look, let me buy you a drink!”

Just as it’s worth perfecting your right cross and your rear naked choke, it’s also totally worthwhile putting some time in practising your verbal defusing skills.

Your verbal jiu-jitsu techniques can keep you out of trouble, out of fights, and out of jail, so drill them!

 

Filed Under: Featured, Mindset, Self Defense Basics Tagged With: Dan Inosanto, De-escalation, knockout, legal considerations, mindset, preparation, psychology, self defense basics, Tim Tackett, video

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

SELF DEFENSE TUTORIALS

Detailed Self Defense Tutorials coming soon - click here for more info

Recent Articles

The Zombie Walk Footwork Drill

The Zombie Walk Drill for Improving Your Footwork in Striking

The Zombie Walk is a great warmup drill that’ll sharpen your footwork, improve your ability to get angles on your opponent, and blend movement with striking. To do this drill your partner – the feeder – holds his hands forwards to simulate a fighting position. Then he walks towards you at a slow, zombie-like pace. […]

Stephan Kesting vs Chris Leben

Is This Good Pain or Bad Pain?

Pain is subjective and contextual. Awakening to chest pain in the middle of the night is terrifying — a possible sign of a heart attack. But the very same stabbing pain after a hard workout is experienced completely differently: maybe it’s your pectoral muscles shrieking from too many pushups, or your lungs burning from hard […]

Striking Stamina and Power Drill

A 1 Minute Burnout Drill for Aggression, Power and Stamina

Here’s the world’s simplest conditioning drill that I want you to try… Set a timer for one minute Unload on a heavy bag with punches as hard as you can Keep it super simple: just left-right-left-right-left-right Hit as hard as you can and as fast as you can, making every single punch a knockout shot […]

Illegal but Effective Combat Sports Techniques

Too Deadly for Boxing, MMA and BJJ: Illegal but Effective Combat Sport Techniques

Many people learn martial arts to learn how to handle themselves in a real fight. But many martial arts are sports and sports have rules while street fights don’t. That means many things happen in fights that aren’t allowed in certain martial arts. Although it started out as “no-holds-barred”, mixed martial arts has rules today. […]

Recent Articles

  • The Zombie Walk Drill for Improving Your Footwork in Striking
  • Is This Good Pain or Bad Pain?
  • A 1 Minute Burnout Drill for Aggression, Power and Stamina
  • Too Deadly for Boxing, MMA and BJJ: Illegal but Effective Combat Sport Techniques
  • The 4 Deceptions to Set Up Your Knockout Strike

ARTICLE INDEX

  • Advanced Tutorials (2)
  • Conditioning (13)
  • Featured (120)
  • Firearms (3)
  • Grappling (43)
  • Lethal Force (6)
  • Martial Arts Mythbusting (7)
  • Mindset (23)
  • Product Reviews (2)
  • Self Defense Basics (91)
  • Self Defense Tutorials (6)
  • Striking (52)
  • Weapons (19)

Go Shopping

Self Defense Products on Amazon

Other Great Sites

Grapplearts

Resources

Striking
Grappling
Weapons
Mindset
About Us
Privacy Policy
Contact Us
©Stephan Kesting, All Rights Reserved