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3 Great Examples of Verbal De-Escalation

September 12, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

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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

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