Verbal Judo for the Contact Professional 1-DAY Workshop
Sponsored by: Maine Municipal Association
Date: 9/2/2026
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 250 Haskell Rd. Bangor, Me. 04401
Time: Registration: 8:00-8:30 am / Workshop: 8:30am-4:30 pm
Presenter(s): Curtis Smith, Vice President of Training, Verbal Judo Institute
Cost: MMA Member –$150 / Non-Members: $300
Registration for this event will close on 8/31
VERBAL JUDO is the only tactical communication course in America. The principles and tactics taught enable attendees to use “Presence and Words” to calm difficult people who may be under severe emotional or other influences, redirect the behavior of hostile people, defuse potentially dangerous situations, perform professionally under all conditions and achieve the desired outcome of the encounter.
This one-day course provides the opportunity for students to practice learned skills in an open and safe setting.
*NOTE: This course uses real and/or realistic examples of extreme customer situations and may contain profanity. Participant discretion is advised.
Who Should Attend:
If you work with the public and you ever find yourself in conflict situations – this is the class you should attend! This workshop will focus on conflict resolution techniques and how to handle conflict situations with expertise when they arise. This workshop is open to all municipal officials and employees.
Course Information:
Verbal Judo, or Tactical Communication, enables staff to focus on the behavior of others while maintaining their own and others’ safety and then use Appropriate Presence and Words to achieve a professional poutcome. Verbal Judo, like Judo itself, uses the energy of others to master situations. It contains a set of communication principles and tactics that enable the user to generate cooperation and gain voluntary compliance from others under stressful conditions. These tactics are especially useful when dealing with hostile, angry, upset, frustrated or disgruntled people. Verbal Judo teaches a philosophy of how to look creatively at conflict while offering specific, powerful, and usable strategies to resolve tense situations. Attendees will learn to respond to situations rather than react to personal feelings. Additionally, participants will come to understand how to deal with difficult people behaviorsand how to use conflict management tactics and persuation to defuse confrontational encounters.
The course has precisely defined training goals that address concerns important to both the organization and its individual employees. They are:
- Personal Safety
- Decreased Complaints
- Enhanced Professionalism
- Reduced Stress on the Job and at Home
- Reduced Vicarious Liability
- Increase staff morale
- Improve outcomes with residents
Certifications:
- Maine Town & City Clerks’ Association – 5 optional points for MTCCA Certification Program
- Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association – 1 point for MFCA Certification Program
- Maine Town, City and County Management Association – 7 credit hours in ONE of the following categories: Leadership, Human Resources, or Legal
- Maine Municipal Tax Collectors’ and Treasurers’ Association – 5 optional points for MMTCTA Certification Program
- State of Maine Animal Welfare Program – 7 hours of continuing education credits for Animal Control Officers - Also fulfills Core 1 (ACO Safety) and Core 4 (Officer Wellness) requirements.
- Maine Office of Community Affairs – 6 CEUs in Legal Issues hours for Code Enforcement Officers
Cancellation Policy for MMA Workshops:
Cancellations must be submitted using this Cancellation form to cancel your registration for an event.
- Cancellations received before August 26, 2026 will be assessed a $15 administrative fee for processing.
- Cancellations received on/after August 26, 2026 will be charged 50% of the course fee.
- Any registrant who does not attend and does not cancel their registration (i.e., no-show) and any cancellation received the day of the event will be charged the full registration fee.
- Registration substitutions are permitted for registrants within the same municipality/organization and will be assessed a $15 substitution fee. Please email [email protected] to request a registration substitution. Registration transfers to a future training offering are not permitted.
If you have questions about the cancellation policy, please contact the Educational Services Office at (207) 623-8428 or [email protected].
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