Don't Let Your Bodyguard Be an Elephant in the Room

Security Global Ltd

Bodyguard Training 101: Essential Movement and Positioning Techniques

Have you ever watched how bodyguards walk? That's right, in most cases, they walk however they please. It is often completely unclear what they are even thinking about while on the move. Of course, they should be conducting surveillance, assessing the situation around them, and keeping an eye on the client - "watching the field," so to speak. But is this really the case?

Not at all! How else can we explain the bodyguard bumping into the client when they stop abruptly? Or those classic bodyguard blunders, like letting the client walk through a door or turn a corner first? Or when a random passerby simply walks between the guard and the client, cutting them off from each other?

These scenarios are painfully familiar. They highlight the main issue: the lack of awareness and professionalism in many bodyguards. You can see and learn a lot by simply observing how a bodyguard moves around their client. Most often, what's striking is how unnatural their behavior is. Even an untrained eye can instantly spot a bodyguard in a crowd.

Think of it this way: imagine an elephant being led through the streets. It's huge and draws attention to itself simply by its size. But then imagine this elephant constantly looking around, shying away from everything, and moving in a clumsy, nervous way. It becomes even more conspicuous, doesn't it?

This is how many bodyguards behave. They are overly cautious, constantly looking around with suspicion, and moving in a way that screams "bodyguard!" They bump into people, overreact to minor events, and generally make themselves stand out.

The notorious SS Gruppenführer, former Gestapo chief, Heinrich Müller, once said that such a guard is as invisible as "shit on a white sheet." While a harsh analogy, it perfectly illustrates the point. He was actually referring to American surveillance officers, but it applies to many bodyguards today. And yet, we still dream of achieving true invisibility, of blending into the background like "gray on gray."

When you are the only bodyguard protecting a client, invisibility becomes crucial. It provides a significant advantage, allowing you to react to threats unexpectedly. Demonstrative behavior, on the other hand, is better suited for large security teams. In those cases, having a few imposing figures can deter potential threats from hooligans or unprofessional attackers. Showing off can also be useful for even larger teams, where a few visible members distract from the actions of others working discreetly.

But as a lone wolf, your strategy needs to be different. You must avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. This requires dedicated training and practice. Every movement must be honed and perfected until it becomes second nature. You need to perform your duties with absolute naturalness, blending seamlessly into your surroundings.

So how do you achieve this?

Simply walking the streets with a partner pretending to be a client is not enough. While it's a good starting point, it takes a lot of time, a luxury we often don't have in this line of work.

Instead, we offer a series of specialized exercises designed to develop essential skills quickly and efficiently. These exercises focus on key aspects like:

• Sense of distance: Maintaining the optimal distance from your client in various situations.
• Peripheral vision: Developing a wider field of view to monitor the environment effectively.
• Positioning: Learning how to position yourself strategically to provide maximum protection.

These exercises are mostly complex, combining different skills to accelerate the learning process. However, don't consider them as a rigid set of rules. Feel free to adapt them, modify them, and create your own exercises based on your needs and preferences. In fact, this kind of personalized approach can be even more effective and engaging.

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