Security guards are better off without martial arts training
Imagine going into a job interview and being asked to fight two other people in the office to prove that you’re good enough for the job. This is how security guards used to be employed to work in club security. The club manager needed to know that you could handle yourself and protect the bosses by kicking out the drunks.
I remember it well because the manager who interviewed me looked at me and then turned to two locals drinking at the nearby bar and said, I’ll pay you both $50 if you can stop this guy from kicking you out of the bar. Then he turned to me and said, throw them away.
I was shocked at first, but these two locals were eager to make more money by drinking and they stood up to fight.
It wasn’t my best ejection, but I managed to hold my own and get one of them out the door with some force. The manager said they hired me, not because he could get two people out, but he was willing to try and not be intimidated by them.
Wise advice
The manager told me that it was more important that security guards be able to challenge intoxicated people with authority and confidence, not necessarily the ability to fight. He said that no matter how good a fighter you are, there is always someone better than you, and even experienced security guards have trouble dealing with two or more intoxicated people. Anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot.
Are martial arts required?
I get asked all the time if you need martial arts to work as a security guard. It’s best if you don’t know anything about martial arts because the techniques are usually based on unreasonable levels of force or cannot be used in the environment.
For example, security guards should never hit anyone. My reasons for this are simple.
effective ejections
The purpose of a ban is to get the offender out of the club quickly and with minimal harm to them and to you. For this, it is necessary to brake and control their movements with momentum, always going towards the exit.
self defense techniques
Most self defense techniques involve a level of damage that quickly immobilizes the attacker. What security guards need are containment and control techniques that prevent the criminal from harming you, but also allow for quick movement towards an exit. You don’t want to roll around on the floor or expose yourself to his friends kicking you or smashing your head in with a bottle. Try to learn a style of martial art that uses biomechanical techniques instead of punches and kicks.
Fantastic footwork and spinning kicks
No security guard should have to kick anyone. This just indicates that they have no competency to drive out patrons of dispute resolution techniques.
I was working somewhere in Sydney when I needed to evict an intoxicated customer. He was pretty drunk but he was also a pretty big guy. When I got close to him, he started working out and doing some martial arts moves to let me know he was going to be in trouble. Then he also told me that he was a black belt in karate.
stupid move
I now know what range of style and technique he has and with his height he will probably favor a kick strike first. As I continued to get closer and got into his standing punching range, he launched a spin kick into the air to try and hit me on the head. Kicks are always slower, no matter how good you are, than moving or hand techniques. Also, this leaves only one leg with all your weight on it. I crouched down and applied pressure to his hip doing a quick takedown with his leg bent under the pressure. Then they held it down and the frog came out to the laughter and applause of the other customers.
Confidence to work without martial arts
Practice and learn a few simple but effective holding moves over and over again with a partner and you’ll be able to handle yourself better than most security guards with some martial arts training. Learning to spot potential problems before they occur is still the best way to prevent your need to fight. Study behavior patterns and body language so you can advise potential troublemakers before they become a problem.
© Copyright 2008 by Paul Baker