High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Verbal Self Defense, aka `Verbal Judo`, is defined as using one`s words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault. It is a way of using words as a way to maintain your mental and emotional safety. This kind of `conflict management` involves using posture and body language, tone of voice, and choice of words as a means for calming a potentially volatile situation before it can manifest into physical violence. This often involves techniques such as taking a time-out, deflecting the conversation to less argumentative topics, and/or redirecting the conversation to other individuals in the group who are less passionately involved.