Our instructors bring to the classroom an exciting, entertaining and powerfully informative Verbal Judo presentation. Students will leave the class with new motivation and a collection of skills that can be put into
use immediately.

Call the Verbal Judo Institute at (888) 966-7421 or e-mail us at mike@verbaljudo.org. 

We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and assist you in your training event.

 

 

 
DR. GEORGE J. THOMPSON, PhD, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE VERBAL JUDO INSTITUTE, INC.
Dr. George J. Thompson is the President and Founder of the Verbal Judo Institute, a tactical training and management firm now based in Auburn, NY. Doc Thompson, aka "Doc Rhino," has an eclectic background, having taught English on the High School level (4 yrs), English Literature on the university level (10 yrs), and served as a full and part-time police officer. Also a martial artist, he holds Black Belts in Judo & Taekwondo. Doc has created the only Tactical Communication course in the world.

Dr. Thompson has written four books on Verbal Judo, each analyzing ways to defuse conflict and redirect behavior into more positive channels. The Institute offers Basic & Advanced courses in the Tactics of Verbal Judo. Doc received his B.A. from Colgate University (1963), his Masters & 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 & periodicals, his training has been highlighted on such national shows 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.

Aside from his well known Police & Correction courses, Doc "Rhino" has designed special courses for educators, medical personnel, government & business employees, and the airlines. The Verbal Judo Institute has branch offices in Australia and Canada, and a national Team of instructors who teach from coast to coast. Doc has taught over 175,000 police officers, and his course is required in numerous states across the country.

On a personal note, Doc and Pam are the proud parents of three-year old, Tommy Rhyno Thompson, and Doc, a survivor of throat cancer, has returned to active teaching. He also currently offers VJ training on the internet, at www.vjou.com., and has two more books forthcoming, Verbal Judo Leadership: The Hard Right (with Gregory Walker), and Hammett's Moral Vision, the book publication of his doctoral thesis.
You can browse his web site, www.verbaljudo.com or write him at VJI, Inc., 2009 W. Genesee St. Rd., Auburn, NY 13021 Office 315-253-0007

EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s, Colgate University, 1963.
Doctorate, University of Connecticut, 1972.
Completed post-doctoral work in Rhetoric and Persuasion, Princeton University, 1979.
HONORS/AWARDS:
Voted Outstanding Educator of America, 1975.
Certified Kubotan Instructor for police.
Guest Instructor on the “Law Enforcement Training Network.”
Black belts in Judo and Tae Kwon Do.
PUBLICATIONS:
Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion
Verbal Judo: Redirecting Behavior with Words
Verbal Judo: Words as a Force Option
Verbal Judo: The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership-Empowering the Thin Blue Line

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LEE FJELSTAD, VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President of the Verbal Judo Institute and an international trainer with a professional background that includes over twenty years of speaking and training experience, Lee is a highly animated, humorous, thought provoking, and entertaining presenter. He has instructed audiences on Verbal Judo in the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, the Netherlands, and in England.

Lee has been interviewed regarding Verbal Judo as the subject of magazine articles ranging in interest from Conde Nast Traveler and Broker Magazine to sports publications like Referee Magazine, and in newsprint articles from the USA Today and the Wall Street Journal to small town newspapers. He has been seen and heard internationally on CNN, nationally on NBC, ABC, and Fox, in Canada on the CBC, and on local television and radio across North America and in Europe.

His professional experience includes five years as a Computer Operations Supervisor for a $130 million computer research and development facility working with classified materials, and an additional six years of work for the Federal Government protecting nuclear weapons systems and assets. He has also worked for s short period as a reserve police officer in New Mexico at the Sandoval County Sheriff's Department and trained close quarter combat to the military, self-defense and defensive tactics to the police, corrections, probation and parole, and military law enforcement officers in numerous states and self-defense instruction to federal and local government agencies as well as civilian programs for corporations, women's groups, and the airlines.

Lee has instructed martial arts classes and self defense seminars for over twenty-five years and retains 2nd degree black belt ratings in Shotokan (Japanese) and Tae Kwon Do (Korean) karate. He has also trained in Hapkido, Combat Judo, Arnis, and Aikido. His educational background includes degrees in English, Business, and Organizational Communication with additional work in Psychology and Behavioral Science. Along with Dr. Thompson, and Mr. Andy Sanano, a noted master martial artist from Rapid City, South Dakota, Lee created an instructional video on self-defense for adults and children called The Total Defense System," combining protective personal defense techniques with the tactics and strategies of Verbal Judo which sold internationally.

Lee now spends over 280 days per year traveling and teaching audiences to communicate effectively using Verbal Judo. His client list ranges from corporate and customer service industries, city and county government employees, to airlines, banking and real estate operations. Lee also still trains federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in both Verbal Judo and Self-Defense applications.
He can be reached by calling 941-350-9559

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MICHAEL MANLEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Vice President of Operations and Trainer for the Verbal Judo Institute, Mike has created an exciting, edge of your seat, powerfully informative Verbal Judo presentation. Mike brings mastery to the classroom as a result of his extensive experience. That experience includes 23 years of hands on conflict resolution in the streets of New York City as a police officer. Before his retirement from NYPD, Lieutenant Manley created, staffed and administered The Verbal Judo Training Unit of the New York City Police Department. His duties included the Verbal Judo training of 15,000 Police Officers, Detectives, Supervisors, Executive Staff and Civilian members of the New York City Police Department. After gathering additional experience and credibility in the classroom, he developed into one of NYPD's most valued instructors. Prior to his moving on into the private sector, he assisted in creating the internationally renowned CPR (Courtesy Professionalism Respect) program. This Verbal Judo technique (Tactical Communication) allows police officers to generate cooperation and defuse hostility while treating people with respect.

As Vice President of Operations, Mike coordinates and oversees the training conducted by Associate Instructors when not conducting training courses himself for private corporations, customer service representatives, educational institutions, security departments and law enforcement throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean for the Verbal Judo Institute.

For information: Call (888) 966-7421 Fax: 443-646-0067 Email: mike@verbaljudo.org Web: www.verbaljudo.org

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DOUG HAIG, SENIOR TRAINER
Doug has been a Senior Associate with The Verbal Judo Institute, Inc. since 1991. He has conducted Verbal Judo training for numerous Law Enforcement agencies as well as those in the private sector with wonderful reviews.

Doug's professional background includes twenty years of Law Enforcement experience as a street officer working assignments including patrol, investigations and three years working narcotics as an undercover officer.

He has been employed with the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois in Urbana since 1987 instructing in the areas of communications, firearms, approach and deployment, entry & search, vehicle stops and control tactics. Doug served as the Practical Training Manager there from 1995 to 1997, designing curricula and instruction methodology for all practical training in the twelve-week basic law enforcement course as well as supervising all Adjunct Instructors and Role Players

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GARY KLUGIEWICZ, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Gary Klugiewicz is employed by PoliceOne (www.PoliceOne.com) as a Use-of-Force subject matter expert, researcher, program developer, and training specialist. PoliceOne’s mission is to provide officers with information and resources that make them better able to protect their communities and stay safer on the streets. This is done by providing a secure, trusted and reliable online environment for the exchange of information between officers and departments worldwide, by working with premier trade publications to provide cutting-edge information through print channels and by providing on-site officer survival training.

Under the umbrella of PoliceOne Training Network, Gary is the director of ACMi® Systems (www.acmisystems.net) and a member of the Team One Network (www.teamonenetwork.com) that works in partnership with the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College located in Green Bay, Wisconsin (www.nwtc.edu/publicsafety) provides national tactical training programs. His name has become synonymous with the development of safe but realistic, intense, dynamic simulation training.

Most recently, Gary has collaborated with Dr. George Thompson of the Verbal Judo Institute (www.verbaljudo.com) to develop the Professional Communication Skills Training Program that has been designated as Verbal Judo 102. The PCS Program provides the tactical application of the basic Verbal Judo Program. These Combat Verbalization tactics demonstrate how to apply the SAFER 8 to 5 Concept to Initial Contacts, Disturbance Resolution, Physical Intervention, and Subject Debriefing.

Consulting services are available to provide solutions to workplace challenges and the development of special programs for police, corrections, military, security, and mental health organizations.. Righteous use-of-force law enforcement officer defense expert witness services are available.

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COACH BOB LINDSEY, NATIONAL TRAINER
Colonel Robert K. Lindsey retired from law enforcement after 34 years of service. He retired at the rank of Colonel from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana. His career included military service, all sectors of law enforcement, as well as governmental security.

The colonel is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the FBI National Academy. He is best known as “Coach” by countless numbers of police officers and law enforcement trainers throughout the United States and other nations.

Since his retirement, he continues to utilize his vast experience to teach law enforcement trainers his renowned course entitled Mental Preparation for Winning & Surviving. His experience and dedication include his tireless efforts to educate police officers around the world. He is a founding member of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, serving on the Board of Directors of that organization for 16 years. He also holds the position of International Instructor Trainer emeritus with Monadnock Lifetime Products.

He writes and creates Tactical tips for police one.com. He is a member and contributor to Team one and IALEETA.

Colonel Lindsey has received numerous awards and honors, including Outstanding Law Enforcement Trainer of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement award from ASLET. Others are too numerous to mention.
Colonel Lindsey is a Verbal Judo instructor having the honor to have received his training from Dr. George Thompson. He has assisted Dr. Thompson in the presentation of the Verbal Judo Instructor Course. Colonel Lindsey also taught with and continues to learn from Gary Klugweicz who he has know for over twenty years. Colonel Lindsey is married to Maggie, and together they share six children and 15 grandchildren.

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STEPHAN P. WOPERSHAL, SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Steve has been with the Verbal Judo Institute since 1991. He is a Senior Associate and Senior Instructor, earning his Black belt in Verbal Judo Techniques in 1997. Since then he has traveled throughout the United States teaching Police Departments, Educators, Correctional Officers, Military Personnel, and Hospital Staff the benefits of Verbal Judo.

Recently, Steve has retired from Law Enforcement, after completing a successful 20 year career in Southern California, starting with San Clemente Police Department in 1980, and ending with Santa Ana Police Department in 2000.

During those years, Steve was an adjunct instructor at the Criminal Justice Training Center, Golden West College, Huntington Beach, and taught in the S.W.A.T. Academy since 1985. Steve earned his Teaching Credential from California State University, Los Angeles.

Serving in the Military since 1965, active Navy as a Corpsman 68-69 Vietnam, Steve is currently a Captain in the Army Nurse Corps, 349th General Hospital, Los Angeles. Using this background, Steve teaches Verbal Judo to various branches of the U.S. Military.

Now as a full-time instructor, and committed to the Verbal Judo philosophy, Steve has utilized his unique background to tailor Verbal Judo specifically for the Medical field, offering classes for Nurses, Doctors, Hospital Administrators, and front line support people. In concert with Dr. Thompson, Steve has developed and offers a forty-hour Instructor Training course for Hospital personnel. Successful completion of this course enables participants to return to their work environment and teach others the philosophy and tactics of Verbal Judo. He is also available to teach the BASIC one or two-day Verbal Judo course to clients who must deal with the public, often under difficult and trying conditions.

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ANTHONY PINELLE, ASSOCIATE
Anthony L. “Tony” Pinelle has been an employee of the State of Colorado since 1976. He completed psychiatric technician training at the Colorado State Home and Training School and was licensed as a Psychiatric Technician with a developmental disabilities option. He worked seven years as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician at a State facility responsible for the care and treatment of aggressive hyperactive developmentally disabled individuals.

Currently, Tony is the Chief of Public Safety at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, where he is responsible for directing and managing all security and law enforcement operations. Prior to being promoted to Chief, Tony served as Deputy Chief, Sergeant, Corporal, Police Officer, and Security Officer.
In addition to his experience at the Mental Health Institute, he has been an active Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Pueblo County since 1984 and has provided security and law enforcement services to the Colorado State Fair, as member of their security management team. He is an established Instructor at the Pueblo Area Law Enforcement Academy at the Pueblo Community College. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Instructor Development Course and the Colorado Department of Human Services Professional Instructor Program.

He has trained thousands of police officers, correctional officers, business professionals, educators, and psychiatric caregivers in the Verbal Judo technique. He has intervened in countless volatile situations involving the general public and psychiatric patients, including forensic, general adult, and adolescents. He is committed to the Verbal Judo philosophy and brings to the Institute his unique teaching style.

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PETER HARRELL, JR. ASSOCIATE
Peter Harrell, Jr. is President of Harrell Communications (www.harrellcommunications .com). He has also been trained and certified as a National Trainer for the Verbal Judo Institute (www.verbaljudo .org) by Dr. George Thompson PhD, founder of the Verbal Judo Institute. He has a BA Degree in Theatre Arts, and Organizational Development from St. Edwards University. Peter formed his company in 1995 and hails from Austin, Texas.

Peter has also been certified to train, Dispute Resolution, Managing Group Conflict, and three of Franklin Covey’s top Leadership programs; “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, “The 4 Roles of Leadership”, and “Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results.” Peter has also provided training and consultant work for The University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Association of School Boards, Nassau N.Y. BOCES (www.nassauboces .org), Gary Job Corps, the City of Austin, and many other public and private entities. He is also a National Institute of Corrections Trainer (www.nicic .org)

Recently retired from a 20-year career with the state of Texas, Peter excelled as an executive management trainer. Peter was given the responsibility of creating, implementing, and delivering leadership training, for executive managers and supervisors in seven of the largest agencies in the state.
Peter continues a 35 year acting career with roles in 50 national and regional commercials, 25 movies, 20 theatrical productions, and over 40 roles in television. Peter’s engaging, dynamic style of facilitating has both entertained and left audiences with a truly “value-added” experience.

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PATRICK J. BUCHER, ASSOCIATE
Pat retired from Law Enforcement after serving 30 years with the Maryland State Police. As Captain and the Commander of Training, his “hands on” problem solving experiences with conflict resolution make him a perfect fit, complimenting the Verbal Judo team. He graduated from Loyola College in Maryland with a Masters degree in Education. His teaching experience includes all of the major police and correctional academies throughout the Maryland, D.C. and Virginia metroplex, as well as the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Center. He has served as Adjunct Staff member for Carroll Community College, and the University of Maryland, teaching conflict resolution, law enforcement curricula, and ancillary courses of instruction. He has taught at numerous governmental agencies and private corporations as a comprehensive Subject Matter Expert, in the management-training arena.

Pat’s effective and up-beat training style as a high energy “enter-trainer” brings an added dimension to our list of teaching professionals. His high-energy style of presentation and his animated delivery brings the class to life and gives life to the presentation.

Patrick travels throughout the United States and Canada teaching Law Enforcement Professionals, as well as Educators, Correctional Officers and other Contact Professionals the benefits of the Verbal Judo tactical language program.

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GARY JONES, ASSOCIATE
After 5 ½ years as a Police Officer (Trenton, MO) and 13 ½ years as a State Trooper (Wyoming), Gary Jones began his career in Corrections in 1997 as a Corrections Investigator at Crossroads Correctional Center, a maximum security institution in Cameron, MO.

In 1999, Gary became the Institutional Training Officer at the Western Region Diagnostic Correctional Center in Saint Joseph, MO. He provided a one-week orientation program for all new staff regarding what they could expect while interacting with convicted felons. He also provided annual in-service training for all staff in order for them to maintain their professional standards. He became certified as a Verbal Judo Instructor in 2000 and has been providing Verbal Judo classes on a regular basis since then.

In 2003, Gary transferred to the Western Region Training Center (WRTC) where his Basic Training courses include Overview of Corrections, Verbal Judo, Professions of Corrections, Stress Management, Constitutional Law, Pepper Spray, Use of Force, Anatomy of a Set-up (games offenders use to take advantage of staff), Staff-Offender Relations, Transportation of Offenders, Restraints, and Staff Safety and Survival. He was part of a design team who re-wrote the 2-day Verbal Judo course presented to students during basic training.

Gary instructs in-service courses, not only at WRTC, but also at six different institutions and numerous Probation and Parole offices within the Western Region.

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JEFFREY R. ROEMER, CPM. ASSOCIATE
Mr. Roemer has an extensive background in the Public Safety area. For 27 years he has served municipal governments in various duties, including Fire Chief for the City of Menasha, WI. Before serving with the City of Menasha, he was Public Safety Director for the Village of Allouez, WI. He has worked in nearly all facets of Public Safety, as a Police Officer, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Technician, and as a supervisor and department head in each of the disciplines.

Mr. Roemer has been an instructor in defensive tactics, physical fitness, SWAT tactics, command post and ICS operations. He was trained in Verbal Judo instruction by the founder of Verbal Judo; George Thompson, Ph.D. Mr. Roemer brings a unique perspective to Verbal Judo instruction, with a background in police, fire, EMS, martial arts and business management.

As Police and Fire Chief, Mr. Roemer was responsible for all activities in the municipal Public Safety environment. He has provided departmental support for planning and implementing Information Systems, Dispatch Centers, Emergency Operations Centers, Budgeting, Shared Services, and Command Post and ICS operations, along with many other administrative and supervisory duties. His broad knowledge base allows a unique perspective and understanding of the varied requirements found in the municipal environment. Serving at this level of the organization provided Mr. Roemer with the opportunity to recommend, plan and manage change within the organization and often times, outside of his organization.

As a Public Safety Consultant, Mr. Roemer has been a project manager for numerous Public Safety related organizational, communication, dispatch center, consolidation, information and geographic information systems, operational, and emergency operation center projects. Mr. Roemer also serves as an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Wisconsin Society of Public Managers, the American Academy of Public Managers, Wisconsin City/County Managers Association and the Associated Public Safety Communications Organizations.

Mr. Roemer’s knowledge of Public Safety in a municipal setting has gained him recognition both at a local and national level. He has served as State Representative to the Great Lakes Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Secretary-Treasurer and President Elect of the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Managers and numerous other positions with Police, Fire and Rescue Boards and Committees. Mr. Roemer has been recognized as the 2001 "Manager of the Year" by the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Managers.

Jeff Roemer is a graduate of Northwestern school of police staff and command, the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, is a certified public manager and has an associate degree in police science.

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JOYCE BAKER, ASSOCIATE
Joyce is a nineteen year veteran of Missouri Department of Corrections, specializing in hard skills and “Tactical Communication.” She has taught defensive tactics for eighteen years and PR-24 police baton for seventeen years, respectively, for MODOC. She began her career as one of the first females to work in recreation in an all male prison, subsequently coordinating offender programs such as scared straight, cognitive restructuring programs, volunteer and substance abuse programs in Missouri's largest prison. Joyce was also on the team of academy instructors tasked to devise a three week program for probation and parole officers to certify them as firearms and safety trainers when probation and parole officers gained the right to carry firearms.

Joyce now has 9 years as a full time academy trainer specializing in Verbal Judo, evidence, searches, anatomy of a set up (offender games) and staff survival. She has also served as a consultant for Mineral Area College's law enforcement academy, Missouri Police Corps and presents Verbal Judo courses to educators, health care professionals and public safety agencies throughout the Midwest.

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GREGORY WALKER
Gregory A. Walker is an honorably retired “Green Beret” with 26 years of service to include combat campaigns in El Salvador and Iraq. Among his military awards and decorations Greg has received the Washington National Guard’s Legion of Merit and two awards of the Army’s Combat Infantryman Badge. Mr. Walker graduated with honors from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School. In addition to his military service Greg’s professional background includes three tours of duty as a US Department of Defense high-risk security contractor in Baghdad, Iraq.

A graduate of the University of Alaska (Anchorage), Greg attended the Oregon Police Academy (DPPST) in 1997. His professional accomplishments include two Meritorious Service medals, three Distinguished Service medals, and Oregon’s prestigious Victor G. Atiyeh award. He holds an Advanced certificate in law enforcement and is credentialed as an instructor in 12 police related disciplines to include Verbal Judo.

Mr. Walker is a disabled veteran (Operation Iraqi Freedom). He serves on the Board of Directors for Central Oregon Veterans Outreach in Bend, Oregon, and is active in veteran related issues nationwide.
Books written and co-written by Mr. Walker include The Way of Verbal Judo Leadership – Empowering the Thin Blue Line from the Inside Up, At the Hurricane’s Eye – U.S. Special Operations Forces from Vietnam to Desert Storm, Teammates, and SEAL!

Mr. Walker lives, writes, and teaches Verbal Judo from his home in the high desert of Central Oregon

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Verbal Judo World Offices

WILLIAM KING, DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIA
Bringing a Quality Tactical Communications Course to Australia

Verbal Judo was introduced into Australia in 1993 by Will King, who at that time was a sergeant with the Western Australia Police Service, and held the position of Senior Instructor with the police Tactical Training Unit. Unable to find any specific training in Australia in relation to tactical communication, Will traveled to the USA at his own expense and completed an intensive training course with the founder of Verbal Judo, Dr George Thompson.

Inspired by the credibility and power of the training in communications, on his return, Will introduced Verbal Judo to the Western Australia Police Service. After 2 years of training, studying, and utilizing the material, he returned to the USA and spent several months studying with Dr Thompson to further his knowledge and expertise in Verbal Judo.

"If only I'd had Verbal Judo 20 years ago," was one of my initial thoughts whilst sitting in my first class with Dr Thompson back in 1993. In fact that's a comment I hear regularly throughout my courses. At last, I had found a system that works - under all conditions, with all people. As a life skill the specificity and scope of Verbal Judo is immense. I can tell you, it saves a lot of worry, heartache, and stress. If you have the opportunity to attend, or your organization arranges a verbal judo course, DO IT!" - Will King, Director
In 1995, Will was awarded the position of sole Australian associate and trainer for The Verbal Judo Institute, Inc. USA, and commenced offering Verbal Judo courses and seminars to organizations and businesses throughout Australia under the business name ‘Verbal Judo Australia.'

In 1997 Will left the Police Service due to the popularity and increasing demand for his courses and seminars in this unique training, and became the Australasian Director on behalf of Dr George Thompson, the President and Founder of the Verbal Judo Institute Inc, USA. Verbal Judo Australia is the sole provider of Verbal Judo training throughout Australasia.

Will has been invited as a guest speaker for training seminars throughout Australasia and the USA, and the subject of local and national newsprint articles and the current affairs program "Today Tonight" in Victoria. Over 20,000 people have received this training nationally.

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DARCY PENNOCK, CANADIAN ASSOCIATE
Darcy holds a Criminology degree from the University of Alberta and a Police Science Diploma from Grant MacEwan Community College. He has been a provincially appointed peace officer since 1992. Darcy is currently employed as the Community & Crime Prevention Coordinator at the University of Alberta.

Darcy delivers a dynamic, high-energy presentation, based on Dr. Thompson's philosophy of 'Entertrainment'. He is committed to ensuring that his courses are entertaining as well as educational and thought provoking. He has taught both the Law Enforcement and Contact Professionals course across western Canada, from Vancouver Island to the Northwest Territories

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BO MUNTHE, BORN APRIL 13TH, 1943 IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
After spending 19 years in insurance and banking businesses Bo Munthe went in to full time Martial Arts training as a professional instructor. He started his Martial Art training 1958. He is nick named the “Grandfather of European Ninjutsu” (today known as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu). Bo introduced this ancient Martial Art to the following countries; Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Holland, Spain, Greece, England, Scotland and Ireland between the years of 1975 – 1985. He travelled numerous times to Japan for training in the Grandmasters dojo. In 1985 Bo was awarded Bu-Fu Yukosho in Gold from the Grand Master for his diligent work of spreading the art of ninjutsu. Bo holds the grade of kudan (9 dan) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. He is also graded to kudan, 10 dan in Jiu Jitsu and 10 dan Tai Jutsu and awarded the title Soke, all in 2005 by Jiu Jitsu International. From the Swedish Budo federations he got the highest award for his work in Swedish Budo, 1997.

Bo has been working since the mid 1980’s with violence prevention for the working groups in jeopardy of threat and violence in the workplace. He has founded his own system, called VAKSAM®, as a tool for creating safe workplaces and work environment. He is using his more than 50 years of Martial Arts experience to create mental awareness, body knowledge, harmony for and an awareness of security for staff and employers.

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J. ANTONIO R. RODRIGUEZ, COQUE, SP MADRID, SPAIN
Coque is a veteran member of Spanish Guardia Civil since 1982. He holds a High University degree in Law. Nowadays is teaching and training in Tactics and Criminal Law, at the Guardia Civil Academy for Officers in Madrid. Antonio is practicing martial arts since more than 30 years and holds black belts in Judo (3 Dan), Aikido (2 Dan), Karate (2 Dan), Police Self Defense (4 Dan), Self-Defense and Sambo; and is certified trainer in Judo, Karate and Police Self Defense.
 
He has been operative member of Special Intervention Unit (U.E.I.). In Spain it is the last ditch defense. When all other measures fail, the UEI is called to handle the worst-case scenarios. He has been member also of the Antiterrorism Group (G.A.R.), Spain´s tactical fight against terrorism.

In addition to his Guardia Civil Coque’s professional background includes two international tours of duty. He has been member of the Western European Union during the war time in Bosnia as police officer. One year and half maintaining contacts with local authorities that were in conflict, in order to carry out WEU tasks and implement WEU policies; to ensure exchange of war prisoners, wounded soldier, etc. Protecting war victims and taking statements from witnesses of war crimes.

Antonio also has been an International Police Officer in United Nation for two years, working as court police legal advisor and as project manager for the State Investigation and Protection Agency.

Now he is a full time trainer and teacher for Law Enforcement giving course across Spain, Europe and South America.

Antonio Coque writes books and articles on defensive tactics and he travels extensively both to learn and to teach.

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DON GOLD, AFRICAN DIRECTOR
Born and bred in the province of KwaZulu Natal (KZN), South Africa, Don was first exposed to Verbal Judo in 1994 and has been Involved in personal risk analysis and survival training for over 35 years, with more than 25 years police service. A founder member and handgun & unarmed combat instructor to the first intake of the South African Police Special Task Force (national SWAT unit), Don served as inspector of explosives (bomb disposal specialist), took part in many investigations, counter-insurgency operations and performed extensive undercover work. His last responsibility in the SA Police Force was chief police reservist for the KZN Midlands, with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Involved in many aspects of the protection of VIP’s including (among others) Dr. Henry Kissinger, Mr. Ian Smith and South African politicians (both past & present), Don has worked with members of US and Israeli Secret Services and was actively involved in the training of close protection officers and intelligence personnel.

As KZN chief instructor of Kimura Shukokai karate, Don is a 5th Dan black belt whose more recent martial arts experience includes eastern grappling, blade & stick systems, having received extensive training in Africa, Europe, the USA and the Far East. Don emphasizes confrontation avoidance when teaching various forms of personal security (including armed & unarmed defensive tactics, anti-hijacking, anti-rape and home intruder management).

Don is president of the Minimum Force Institute of Africa, which presents Verbal Judo, Compliance & Control (Conflict Resolution & Force Management), Close Protection and Flash Point! gun-fight survival courses to law enforcement and security departments. Based on natural instincts and skills, the methods and tactics taught on these courses are easy to learn. He has coached a number of SA National practical shooters, including 1998 North American IPSC Champion, Clint Rafferty.

His clients include municipal & provincial law enforcement departments, nature conservation bodies (including the World Wildlife Fund and Southern African Wildlife College, Kruger Park), many casinos from the major Southern African gaming groups and South African Airways. He is a consultant to KZN Provincial Government, KZN Wildlife and a number of private security companies.

Don writes articles on defensive tactics for local and foreign publications. He regularly presents his popular courses to government, corporate and other organized groups throughout South Africa and neighboring territories. He travels extensively both to learn and to teach.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR POTENTIAL AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS, AND TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO US OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS.
WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE HELP US.
SUMMARY
We have received numerous complaints from across North America of people teaching or attempting to teach the Verbal Judo program contents. Apparently most do not do it very well and many have hired trainers in good faith thinking they were affiliated with the Institute. When they did not receive the quality of presentation they expected they contacted us only to find these trainers were illegally using our name and copyrighted information. Since we do not wish to spend all of our time in court we ask you to hire only those you see on this web site listed as certified instructors. All others who are certified to train are restricted to teach only within their respective organizations and never outside for profit or not.
By these actions they harm us all financially and do even greater harm to the reputation of the Verbal Judo Institute. This becomes of even greater importance as we become more main stream and grow.
OUR REGARDS AND SINCERE THANKS