Verbal Ai (Blending) Ki (with Aggression) Do (Way) De-Escalation: The Gentle Art of Blending Then Redirecting

Aikido is a form of martial arts created by Morihei Ueshiba between the 1920s and 1930s. It is translated as “the way of unifying (with) life energy” or “the way of harmonious spirit.” The martial art is also known as “the gentle art of redirection.”
Many of the techniques in this manual come from Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion, a series of techniques designed by Dr. George J. Thompson, Ph.D. (1941-2011). Dr. Thompson was one of the leading experts in verbal self-defense tactics and trained law enforcement agencies all over the world with his techniques. He advanced the field of verbal self-defense around 1985, breaking down how to apply the techniques for de-escalation and defusing.
This manual is an updated version of his techniques along with understanding and possessing what is known as “Disability Awareness” and how to identify people with many forms of disabilities from mental, physical, psychological, drug-induced, and more. I also talk about how to deal with the criminal mind and people with psychological issues, how to deal with manipulation, how to avoid being set up and manipulated, and even suicide prevention. This knowledge not only comes from my having 20 years of experience working in local, State, and Government Security, Adult and Juvenile Corrections, and Mental Health Treatment Facilities but also 3 years working with Special Needs Teens as a Paraprofessional Special Needs Teacher’s Assistant for a local School District in my community. I have also been training in many forms of the Martial Arts since the summer of 1993, and I have also previously worked as a Bouncer in a Biker Bar for 4 years.
I feel that understanding these disabilities and how to identify them can greatly add to Verbal Self-defense techniques because you handle a person who is suffering from schizophrenia differently than someone who is just choosing to be difficult, and that is why the information is added to this manual.
I hope you find the information enlightening and that it can aid you in your field of work or your daily activities.

Sensei Nathan Chlumsky
4th Degree Black Belt
32 years Martial Arts Training
5x Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
Author
Law Enforcement Professional and
Current 2025 Ph.D. Student
I can't begin to tell how impressive Nathan Chlumsky’s “Verbal Aikido” work is. After 34 yrs. of Karate and 30 yrs. of Corrections work I can see the intrinsic value of the information he has assembled. This is as good as any “people skill training” that I have been involved with and used as a trainer for the Department of Corrections.
James Culpepper
7th Degree Black Belt
Retired Captain for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
College Associate Degree in Psychology
“Verbal Aikido” is a great resource for anyone dealing with the public. Strategies are presented in an easy-to-use and understand format that can be modified to fit different situations. I have used many of the techniques presented in this book throughout my 15 yrs. of teaching. Nathan has organized and compiled information in one easy-to-access book. I love that he has included a chapter on dealing with people who have various disabilities this has been lacking in other resource materials. This is truly a wonderful resource.
Tanya Williams
Mild/Moderate Special Education Teacher
Lead Special Education Teacher Central Middle School, Bartlesville OK
10 years of experience leading and developing the Emotionally Disturbed Program at Pawhuska, Ok. Junior High and High School