About GentleWay
Built from experience. Designed for real life.
GentleWay Institute helps organizations build the practical behavioral skills people need to communicate, manage conflict, recognize risk and navigate difficult situations — safely and effectively.
Our work is grounded in real-world experience, adult learning and skill development — not theory alone.
Let’s TalkThe origin
It started with Judo.
Judo means “GentleWay.” But the idea behind GentleWay is bigger than martial arts.
Judo teaches people to understand movement, balance, timing, positioning and the energy of a situation — and to respond with control rather than unnecessary force. We carry the Judo values into the work we do.
- Respect
- Courtesy
- Honor
- Self-Control
Those principles became the foundation for the GentleWay Institute. We took that mindset beyond the mat and applied it to what people face at work every day: difficult conversations, conflict, emotional escalation, unpredictable behavior and moments when safety can change quickly.
99% Verbal. 1% Safe Judo™.
Communication, situational awareness and de-escalation come first. When physical safety skills are necessary, Safe Judo™ offers practical, non-aggressive techniques to create space, regain balance and get-away to safely.
No restraints. No takedowns. No unnecessary force.
Built to give back
From the mat to the workplace. From family tragedy to corporate America.
GentleWay grew from a simple belief: what we’ve learned should be used to help others. We grew up understanding the value of community, hard work, discipline, respect and looking out for one another. Those experiences shaped who we became — and eventually shaped why we created GentleWay.
Judo taught us that strength isn’t always about force. It’s about balance, awareness, timing, control and knowing how to respond when circumstances change. Through Judo training Bert traveled the world and learned to interact with different cultures and communities, which proved foundational in the work done by GentleWay.
For Ron, family tragedy and overcoming violence in our community led to a belief we can help people communicate better, manage conflict, recognize risk and protect themselves and others. By focusing on the positive and leveraging the power of education, he grew to want to give back to others, in all communities or if they work in corporate settings, education environments or provide healthcare or social services.
GentleWay is our way of combining life-lessons with practical evidence based learning practices to give back and make our communities and workplaces safer.
Why GentleWay exists
Because the people helping others sometimes need help navigating the challenging moments, too.
- Educators work with students and families.
- Clinicians care for patients and their families.
- Social services professionals work with people experiencing difficult circumstances.
- Public agency workers serve communities.
- Officers operate in unpredictable environments.
- Retail and field-service employees encounter customers wherever the work takes them.
- HR and Learning & Development teams help their people succeed across all of it.
The environment may change. The people may change. The risk may change.
The need remains the same. People need practical skills they can use when communication gets difficult, situations become unpredictable and the moment matters.
Our approach
A proven foundation. Designed around the way you work.
GentleWay doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all training. Our Tailored-by-Design™ approach starts with a proven foundation of behavioral skills, then shapes the learning experience around the people, environment, risks, policies, interactions, schedules and outcomes that matter to each client.
- Your people
- Who they serve, where they work and what they encounter.
- Your environment
- The physical, cultural and operational realities of the workplace.
- Your risks
- The situations most likely to create conflict, escalation or safety concerns.
- Your policies
- The guidelines and standards that shape how people should respond.
- Your real-world interactions
- The conversations, behaviors and scenarios employees actually experience.
- Your schedules
- The operational realities of when and how people work.
- Your outcomes
- The results and goals that matter most to each client.
- Then: build capacity
- Reinforce the skills. Training can be delivered by GentleWay, by your organization, or through a shared model — whatever makes the most sense.
What makes us different
Six things that show up in every engagement.
- Tailored-by-Design™
- A proven foundation shaped around your actual work, people, risks and environment.
- Practice Over Theory
- Real scenario-based learning, roleplay and guided practice turn concepts into usable skills.
- Culturally Relevant
- Communication and scenarios reflect the people, communities and environments being served.
- 99% Verbal. 1% Safe Judo™
- De-escalation and communication come first. Practical physical safety skills are used only when appropriate.
- Build Capacity
- Training, coaching, refresher sessions and train-the-trainer options help organizations keep developing the skills.
- The Self-Care Difference
- Effectiveness and safety are connected to wellbeing, resilience, stress and the ability to manage difficult work.
The people behind GentleWay
Experience matters.
GentleWay was built by practitioners who have spent their careers working with people, navigating difficult situations and developing others.
Bertram “Bert” Griggs
CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR OF LEARNING + COACHING
Bert brings a rare combination of experience across judo, behavioral health, crisis prevention, conflict management and professional training.
His background includes international judo competition, Olympic Training Center experience, professional counseling credentials, crisis prevention training and decades of practical experience helping people navigate challenging situations.
His belief is simple: people don’t need more theory when the moment gets difficult. They need skills they can actually use.
Ron Mosley, FACHE
CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR GROWTH & OPERATIONS
Ron brings extensive leadership, organizational development and professional coaching experience to GentleWay.
As an experienced facilitator, Certified Design Thinking Practicioner and SOCIAL STYLES®/Versatility trainer, Ron helps organizations translate behavioral concepts into practical skills that improve communication, leadership and workplace effectiveness.
Dr. Angela P. Shannon, M.D., D.F.A.P.A.
Clinical Advisor and Healthcare Lead
Psychiatry, child and adolescent behavioral health, healthcare leadership and clinical practice.
Sheldon Marr
Security and Law Enforcement Lead
Law enforcement, defensive tactics, instructor development and physical safety.
Brittany Monet Brinson
Marketing Lead and Customer Service Instructor
Brand strategist, digital marketing consultant, sales and customer service trainer.
Gamel Dewese
Behavioral Health and Violence Prevention Counselor
Behavior modification, crisis stabilization, anger management and behavioral health.
Alex Masias
Education & Spanish-Language Instructor
Education, school leadership and Spanish-language delivery.
Rosa Marie Vergil-Garcia
Community Services & Spanish-Language Instructor
Family advocacy, crime victim services, community outreach and culturally responsive engagement.
The crew, together before a client engagement.
On site with partners in Denver Parks & Recreation.
Representing GentleWay at learning and education events.
The GentleWay team
Built to bring the right expertise to the work.
GentleWay brings together experienced trainers, facilitators and subject-matter professionals who understand that effective learning has to connect to the environment where people actually work.
- Training & Facilitation
- Experienced facilitators who bring practical, engaging learning to the room.
- Cultural & Community Expertise
- Professionals who help ensure learning reflects the people and communities being served.
- Industry & Subject-Matter Expertise
- Specialists who extend the solution when a client’s challenge calls for additional expertise.
Trusted to do the work
From schools and public agencies to healthcare, social services, parks and enterprise environments, GentleWay has helped organizations prepare their people for difficult moments.
The goal isn’t to make difficult situations disappear. It’s to help people navigate them better.
Better communication. Better decisions. Greater awareness. Safer responses. Stronger people.
That’s the GentleWay.
Let’s Talk