CircuitThe

The Magazine for Security Professionals

£4.50/$8

AUTUMN2 0 1 0Circuit

A Quarterly publication from the British and North American Bodyguard Association

CircuitThe

A Quarterly publication from the British and North American Bodyguard Association A Quarterly publication from the British and North American Bodyguard Association

The Magazine for Security Professionals

AUTUMN & FALL

2 0 1 0£4.50/$8 Circuit

Cover:AFGHANISTAN

and the Surge

THE ADVANCE one of the most important roles to be carried out within a Close

Protection Team

HARLAN AUSTIN ON THE SOFA WITH TONY SCOTTI

in our latest Q&A session

THE INDUSTRY 5 Random Thoughts,

our first feature from Harlan (Hucky) Austin

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BODY ARMOUR FOR UK SECURITY OPERATIONS

MEDICAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

WHAT’S IN YOUR GO BAG?

plus BooKlub, Working Girl and all our usual features including the

final instalment of SO YOU WANT TO BE A

PENETRATION TESTER?

6 : : Circuit

Rule #1 in gun fighting is it is more important to not get shot, than it is to shoot, shoot-

ing is extra credit. A gun fight is nothing more than a fight; that involves a gun. In a hand to hand encounter (fist fight), whether you have combat skills or not, moving to not get hit, is typically instinctive. Then you look to hit your adversary as hard as you can as often as you can until you neutralise the threat.

The strategy in a gun fight is the same, whether moving to 1,3,5,7,9,11 o’clock to avoid getting hit. These encounters are dynamic and rarely predictable, effective fighters learn to go with the flow, and let the situation dictate their response. Very rarely, if at all do you stand in place, you move to get off the line of attack as you simultaneously or nearly simultaneously launch your counter-attack. Remember many of these encounters happen inside of 10 feet and most at bad breath distance.

“When a crisis occurs, we very rarely rise to meet the occasion in truth; we merely default to our training!” In a prior life, I often heard many amateur athletes say, I am a better game day player, than I am a practice player. Truth is if you don’t practice explod-ing in practice, you can’t explode in a game as your quick twitch muscles are not conditioned to respond that way. Shooting while moving is a learned skill, and if you don’t practice it, you won’t be able to call upon it in a tactical encounter. Therefore it is impera-tive we incorporate dynamic training into our practice.

Definitional Clarity1. Static – adjective2. Pertaining To Or Characterized By A Fixed Position3. Showing Little Or No Change4. Lacking Movement, Development Or Vitality

Static training is typically helpful in assisting you to build funda-mental firearm skills. This is the type of training most people do at most indoor and outdoor ranges. While this helps build basic skills it rarely simulates the environment most people face in personal protection situations (moving, getting off line, working from cover, working from concealment, presentation/the draw etc.), as most ranges restrict or severely limit that type of training for safety reasons.

Dynamic – adjective1. Pertaining To Or Characterized By Energy, Or Effective Action;

Vigorously Active Or Forceful; Energetic2. Physics

a. of or pertaining to force or powerb. of or pertaining to force related to motion

Dynamic training is designed to help you advance your firearm skills and better simulate the type of environment you might actually experience in a firearm encounter. Ask yourself when a gun is pointed at you or you point a weapon at someone else one of four things typically occurs:

We or they comply (either actual or faux compliance) with the com-mands of the person holding the gun or the one who got their gun in the fight first.

• We or they attempt to move (trying to move to cover or ex-ecute a tactical escape).

• We or they attempt to return fire while moving or drawing from concealment.

• Someone or both gets seriously injured or dies (I don’t like the idea of trading rounds).

So unlike the static training we do at most ranges, the target will probably be moving, we will probably be moving or some combina-tion of the above. So limiting your training to static range training will typically give you a false sense of your abilities. As an EP Agent, in addition to learning to shoot on the move, it is equally important to learn to draw from concealment as that is how most of us work every day. Going to the range and practicing from exposed carry is not how you go to work. Remember amateurs practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong. Professional criminals practice drawing from concealment every day, don’t let them out work you. Stay aware, stay focused and stay safe!

Mark “Six” James Executive Director /Founder Panther Protection Services www.pantherprotectionservices.com For firearms training contact info@pantherprotectionservices.com

THE IMPORTANCE OF

DYNAMIC FIREARMS TRAINING

by MARK “SIX” JAMES

Circuit :: OnTheJob

12 : : Circuit

This time around we’re going to take a look at few targets on the legs. There are some great, easy to get at targets on the legs that don’t require any high level combat skills. As usual I’ll give you some basic identification and anatomical info without getting all scientific, but to help those of you that want to perhaps look a little deeper into the subject. I try to cater for all with this subject; I have many different people visit me (or get me to visit them) to learn this stuff. Some want to know the science from either (or both) an Oriental or Western medical perspective. While others just want to get down to the business of where the target points are and how to strike or manipulate them!The first point we’ll look at is on the lower leg, located on the inner part of the leg. The point is located around three inches above the inner ankle, on the back edge of the bone (posterior aspect of the tibia). In Oriental medicine the point is referred to as Spleen 6 (SP-6). Anatomy of the area includes the tibial nerve and the medial crural cutaneous nerve along with the posterior tibial vein and artery.

Striking the SP-6 target can cause the ankle to release (give way). A good way to safely see this in action is to press straight into the target area with both thumbs on your training partner. The target can be used in various scenarios from face off’s to clinch, the clinch being my own personal favourite. The important thing to remember is the angle to attack the target which is simply in and slightly upwards if you can do it, if not straight in can be effective. You can do this with a good old fashioned toe punt! Or with the inside of the foot, it doesn’t matter so long as the attack angle is correct. A good strike here can cause incredible local pain. It can also bring on nausea, which without going down the war stories route I can vouch for, what a mess! As usual

work it into your own scenarios, and tie it in with the other target points we’ve already covered to apply in combinations. These points are only as good as the practice you put into them.

Further up on the inside of the upper leg we have a target lying half way between the groin and the knee, it’s pretty much in the middle of the inner thigh. This point is referred to in Oriental Medicine as Spleen 11 (SP-11). Local anatomy includes the femoral artery and femoral vein, as well as the anterior femoral nerve and a little deeper the saphenous nerve.

The best angle to attack this SP-11 target is straight on. My personal favourite method is to use it when in the clinch and strike it with a knee. But like all the other targets play around with it and find your own personal methods, and of course work them along with the other targets we’ve covered so far.

The final target we’ll look at today is located on the outside of the thigh. It’s a great target to attack should you have to break up a scuffle, just get in and hit it with your knee. The point is referred to as Gall Bladder 31, GB-31. It’s located in the middle of the outer thigh, if you stand your training partner up straight with hands by the side, the point can be found under the tip of the middle finger. The best attack angle is straight in, just give it a bit of a tap and you’ll know if you have it right.

GB-31 can of course be hit in other scenarios to the one mentioned above, for instance using a low kick as in Kick boxing etc.

Local anatomy includes lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and a branch of the femoral nerve, branches of the femoral artery and vein.

As we continue to work our way around the body I’m going to include some articles on how all the points we’ve covered, and more besides, can be put to good use with drills & combinations for boxing, kick boxing and grappling. Encouraging you to use them in a more alive manner and giving you some great fun training sessions.

Thanks for taking the time to read my articles, and as usual anyone that has questions is very welcome to contact me.

About the author: Jason Dorn has been involved in various aspects of security. He currently focuses his time on teaching personal security and protection skills and physical intervention, drawn from real experience and 25+ years in martial arts. He is available to teach these skills nationally and internationally. Check out www.paragonprotect.co.uk

As well as this he is owner and chief instructor at www.paragonacademy.co.uk

PRESSURE POINTS IN CLOSE QUARTER COMBATLeg Targets

by JASON DORN

Circuit :: OnTheJob

Circuit : : 19

This idea of creating a safe and secure environment for someone by relying on instinct, intuition, strength and

integrity also applies in the US, and led me to choose the close protection profession. After months of researching which training school would provide me with the necessary skills and knowledge, I finally came across an interview with Denida Zinxhiria, Athena Academy founder, and realized Athena Academy stood out among the rest; tailoring its program to women. After attending Athena Academy’s training this past June held in Atlanta, GA, I decided to write an impartial review. I elected to approach this review like a post-mortem, analyzing it into three parts: 1- What went right, 2- What went wrong and 3- What did I learn. This process would reveal the true benefits of the program disclosing whether I’d gained the necessary skills to protect my client and myself.

What Went Right?The first day served as an orientation, introducing students to the profession, outlining the week’s schedule and reviewing the course demands. In particular, on this day the group was introduced to the qualities and characteristics of a bodyguard, specifically a female bodyguard. This immediately built a camaraderie among the trainees as we realized we were making history, we were part of the first full service woman’s security organization, Athena Academy and this attitude carried on throughout the remaining 8 days.This gender segregated course removed the discrimination that woman aren’t as strong as men and therefore can’t provide excellence in protection. Furthermore, it eliminated competition among the sexes, allowing us to thrive beyond a male tailored

program. Athena stressed that as women our intuition is our greatest strength, sensing danger before men can. Tapping into this genetic difference between men and women sets us apart as a close protection operative. Regarding our coursework, Athena covered a variety of material. We were trained in the profession’s physical demands such as armed and unarmed combat, Krav Maga, protective escort (foot drills and formations), basic pistol training and firearm safety and First Aid/CPR. Moreover, we were taught the psychological tools to analyze all settings and personalities. For instance, we received training in surveillance and counter surveillance, protective intelligence, anti-terrorism, behaviour intelligence, attack recognition and so on. However, what made the above content incredibly valuable were the instructors who taught it. Athena brought in two of the industries finest; Samuel Bashan, former Israeli bodyguard, explosive device and anti-terrorism expert and Wilfred Coopperberg, expert in protective intelligence and advance operations. Their expertise provided each lesson with personal accounts and in depth training. We received further instruction from Rainey Shane, CEO of Athena Academy, on firearm and safety, and from Denida on close protection operations. It was through these instructors and extensive coursework that our certifications were recognized by the Israeli Military of Defense.

What Went Wrong?This intense training covered various topics over a 9 day period; most of these were 12 hour days. These long days were challenging as it was important to stay

focused through all sessions. However, it was Athena’s commitment to ensure that their students obtained as much information as possible. They did follow through on covering all material promised; however, I would recommend future training courses extend over more days; lessening the number of hours in the classroom which would allow trainees to absorb and reflect on that day’s content.

What I LearnedWhat it means to be a bodyguard and that it’s not just muscle but the intelligence behind sensing and avoiding the risk of danger. I learned that my passion and ability outranked the dangers of selecting this profession. I’ve realized it is also the mental and psychological aptitude that counts to be a great close protective operative. I’ve been taught the skills and tools to operate efficiently in this field. My sense of reading human body language and recognizing its delivery is heightened. My skills have been sharpened and trained that I now see the world in a more in-depth view, on the job or off the job my sense of security follows. Most importantly, I’ve learned that a woman is just as valuable, if not more as a man in this profession as we possess the most necessary tool, intuition. Now through us, other woman will be inspired to follow their passion even if it is in a male dominated industry. Overall, I’ve learned that I made the right decision by selecting Athena Academy to mould me into a strong, intelligent, and confident Bodyguard. ATHENA Academy is a full service women’s security organization. The Academy is dedi-cated to offering a new way for women to be successful in defense of themselves, family and others. They offer ongoing courses in Close Protection. For more information visit: http://athenaacademy.com

According to the SIA (UK Regulatory Authority) a bodyguard is defined as someone whose role is, “to establish and maintain a safe working environment in which a Principal can live and work whilst continuously minimizing risk.”

by HEIDI SOMMER

Circuit :: HardTalk

Circuit : : 1

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The Circuit is compiled, edited and published in the UK and US quarterly

by: The British Bodyguard Association.

www.The-BBA.org.uk Info@The-BBA.org.uk

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