But really, $4,400 to master verbal judo?

If the agents take immediate action and, say, close the place down, knowledge of verbal judo can be a very handy weapon, Ms. Delaney said.

"If the individual gets highly irritated, what verbal judo can do for the agent is, he talks his way out of the irritable situation," she said.

Like verbal judo, the running mouth can turn weakness into strength and it has always flourished in rough neighborhoods, army barracks and jails.

Verbal self-defense, also known as verbal judo, is defined as using one's words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault.

The library's guards learn verbal judo to deal with malefactors.

Later that night at a bar on Avenue B, the two engaged in what was to become a favorite ritual: verbal judo.

We'll teach you verbal judo.

The 20 mothers, who receive $20 an hour for five-hour shifts, are armed only with training in what they call "verbal judo."

Mr. Giraldo hires a fraction of the bouncers he interviews every month, looking for those with "verbal judo" skills, he said.