Ruislip Combat Club instructors were invited
to attend a one-day basic bodyguard foundation course; always eager
to further our self-defence skills the offer was accepted. The course
was held in Teddington, London, and was run by Kevin John Cowling, and
Phil Giles. Both guys have twenty-nine years military and combat experience
between them; Kevin served in the Airborne Forces and was in charge
of the residential security for the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl's
visit to Hameln in mid 80s. Phil served in Belize and that's where Kevin
met and trained with Phil in armed and unarmed combat.
Back Row: Albie Dalmedo, Kevin Cowling,
and John Denness
Front Row: Darren Porter, Adrian Bridle, and Andrew Lindsay
The day started with intros by Kevin with
the other guys on the course.
First, there was a question and answer section on what we thought providing
security to a potential principal would be. We then went on to discuss
risk assessment i.e.: low medium or high risk. To give our overworked
brains a rest Phil then took us on to counter pistol strategies, a very
common weapon on the streets nowadays. It also gave us a chance to get
physical, a relief from the brainstorming, which Kevin had subjected
us too.
John Denness executing a functional counter
pistol strategy
Then back to the classroom to be taught
how to introduce ourselves to the potential principle, how to walk with
them and to shield them. As there were five of us, we were also taught
how to walk in brick formation two in front, bodyguard and principle
in the middle and two behind.
Now for the fun part, role-play.
We were asked to take a female principal on a shopping trip to the busy
Bentals shopping centre in Kingston, and to park in the shopping centre's
busy multi-storey car park.
Firstly, we were sent out to recci the route, to look for landmarks
and to split the route in to three sections. Also to find the nearest
hospital with a full A&E facility, and to check the car park.
Now it was time to do it for real. We knew it was only role-play but
at the time to us, it seemed real, and everybody was taking his part
seriously. In hindsight too seriously. We couldn't have been more obvious
even if we had blue flashing lights on our heads. After a while our
instructors (Kevin and Phil) could take no more and reeled us in for
a de-brief. We, the back up team were told not to stay so close, keep
our distance and try to mingle with the other shoppers. Our job was
to back the bodyguard up, not to sit in his back pocket. If only you
could have seen us!
So back to work. The shopping trip went very well, we only managed to
lose one of our back up team who mingled with the shoppers very well.
As we made our way, back to the car park we were very aware that this
was the place where we might be pressure tested and true to Phil Giles
form, it happened.
As we entered the floor where our cars were parked, a maniac jumped
from behind a car and ran straight towards our principle. The bodyguard
knocked the assailant to the floor; the back up team subdued the maniac
ripping his shirt off his back in the struggle. The bodyguard and other
members of the back up team got the principal safely to the car and
away.
Back at HQ, we were de-briefed, and another Q&A session finished
what was for Ruislip Combat Club instructors another great day. Kevin
Costner watch out!
Just a note, there were many shoppers in
the car park as the attack happened, but they all pretended nothing
was happening and just carried on with what they were doing. No one
offered to call the police or asked what was happening. So beware, don't
rely on Joe Public!
Adrian Bridle, MsscA
RCC Instructor
