Former Olympic trainee uses judo skills to train others in de-escalation | Good to Know

Judo has been a part of Akron resident Bert Griggs' life since he was 11 years old.

For several years, he was ranked in the top 5 judo masters in the United States.

Over time, the martial art founded in Japan helped him develop life skills, and today, more than 50 years after his first judo lesson, it's at the core of his business at GentleWay Institute.

The company provides de-escalation training to government agencies and corporations, helping participants develop skills for uncomfortable or even dangerous situations.

Griggs and GentleWay partner Ron Mosley held their first classes in 2019 before the pandemic hit. Since then, Griggs said he's rebuilding his client base with interest growing in the company's training.

It all started with judo, which means "gentle way" in Japanese, said Griggs.

A chance at the Olympics

In the '70s, Griggs played baseball and learned judo. His interest in the martial arts was intense, he said.

He'd watch Kung Fu Theater on local channels 61 and 43 and episodes of the "Green Hornet."

When medical issues forced him to quit playing football at the University of Akron his junior year, Griggs kept up with judo, rising to the upper ranks in the nation.

"I loved judo. It was the thing that gave me my self esteem," he said.

He also landed a counseling job at Edwin Shaw while still in school, providing another block to the foundation of the GateWay Institute.

His judo training led him to the Colorado Olympic Training Center in the '80s, where he had the chance to become an Olympic athlete.

"The chance to work out with people like national champions, it was a great experience," he said.

Held back by knee surgeries and other ailments, he didn't quite make it.

But he became a resident athlete at the center, meeting Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Charles Barkley and other star athletes.

Judo training comes in handy as bar bouncer, detox counselor

While at the center, he picked up a job to earn some extra money. He'd never been in a fight in high school, but that changed in Colorado.

"In Denver, I got in a few fights here and there because I was a bouncer in a bar," he said.

After Griggs left the Olympic Training Center, he took a job as a detox counselor, gaining experience he would use in GentleWay Institute training.

"It was mandatory in the state of Colorado that everybody see a counselor before discharge," he said. "I was a lead counselor [and] managed the dorms. That also helped me with the de-escalation."

A return to Akron

He returned to Akron in 2017 and started an electronics store business that didn't work out.

Griggs decided to go back to what he knew best and established GentleWay Institute. He said the training offered differs from large organizations, who have prepackaged classes.

GentleWay training is tailored to individual companies or organizations, he said. A recent client was Akron Public Schools' safety team.

"I had to bring in all my crew," he said.

Carol Bowes, clinical supervisor of counselors for Urban Ounce of Prevention Behavioral Health Services, said a recent session with Griggs proved informative and popular with the organization's staff.

"We had about two hours together and he was great," Bowes said Tuesday. "He was fun in his training, friendly and funny. The counselors had a great time with him."

Bowes said Griggs demonstrated how verbal and physical skills can de-escalate a tense situation and prevent it from becoming a full-blown conflict. The demonstration included practical judo moves to remove oneself from the clutch of someone else.

"He showed what we would do if a client grabbed one of us," Bowes said. "[He] showed how you can get your arm out of someone's grasp."

The right time for de-escalation

Griggs said he's seen society diverge from the gentle way embraced by judo's teachings.

"What happened to, 'I'd like to buy the world a Coke?'" he said. "What happened to all the peace songs when we grew up?"

The changes have made the time just right for GentleWay and the training it provides, he said.

"I've been in street fights. I've been a bouncer in a bar," he said. "I can show you stuff that actually works. If you practice it, you'll be able to do it."

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron judo expert Bert Griggs uses 'gentle way' for de-escalation