By, Jerry Heying.
Atlanta One Day Introduction to Executive Protection Seminar
Once it was decided to hold the first EPI Protection Response Tactics (PRT) class in Atlanta, we thought why not hold a one day intro class to ep, so a class was scheduled for Friday Feb 18, the day before the PRT class. While several people signed up from the Atlanta area, numerous people came in from all over including Maryland and Virginia, and several coming up from Florida and Tennessee. The class was taught by John Musser and Jerry Heying, providing not only an overview of the EP industry but an overview of all te aspects of EP. The 19 students were tasked with a tabletop exercise to prepare for an interesting detail and they quickly got into it. Several students immediately signed up for the 7 day class. After the program, most of the students stayed to network and prepare for the PRT course the following day.
Protection Response Tactics (PRT) Course
EPI is very fortunate to have Alan Baker as our primary Protection Response Tactics Instructor. His in-depth knowledge of numerous disciplines of martial arts and being a graduate of both the 3 and 7 day programs allowed him to develop very specific tactics designed specifically for Personal Protection Specialists. The course started off with an introduction to the PRT program with the reality that many people are studying Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and PPS face a greater risk of encountering an adversary who has studied MMA, so it is essential to have PRT skills to defend against these possible encounters.
Alan, assisted by several of his instructors from his Atlanta Martial Arts Center (AMAC) started the students out with "soft controls", using gentle tactics designed to steer potential problem people away from the principal. Alan would demonstrate a technique and the students would partner up with another student to practice it. Some techniques were done one on one and some in groups of four. After spending some time on this, students progressed to "hidden force" techniques, using slight and subtle moves to produce significant power to move an adversary in a direction away from the principal.
Throughout the day, it was emphasized that the course was not specifically a "use of force" course, and that any use of physical force applied would need to be deemed the appropriate use of force for any given situation. A PPS should only use that degree of force that is allowed by law and that is necessary. Several scenarios were discussed that physical force was needed to be used to defend yourself and your principal from potential harm.
As the day went on, the degree of force directed to the PPS and principal escalated which required a more significant countermeasure. A new self defense method has been introduced to the US recently that Alan felt was very appropriate for PPS, and that is KFM, or the Keysi Fighting Method. This system of fighting (and defense from attack) was developed in Spain and has only been in the US for a short while. Alan is one of only a few authorized Instructors of the method and he teaches and trains other instructors.
While Alan is an accomplished instructor in various disciplines (14 Black belts), he chose KFM techniques for the PRT program (give credit due where it is due). KFM is very beneficial for PPS and can be learned quickly. With the popularity of Jujitsu, which is a ground fighting system, it is essential for PPS to know how to deal with a situation that may end up on the ground. As it is not the goal of a PPS to stay and fight, or submit an opponent especially on the ground, the PPS must understand some ground fighting basics and defenses.
The KFM system works very well for a PPS to defend against someone "jumping guard" and attempting or taking a PPS down to the ground. Alan teaches numerous SWAT teams and they have expressed serious concern that there has been a significant increase of encounters with bad guys who are using MMA tactics against police. If that is happening to police, it is sure to have the potential to be used against a PPS protecting a principal.
The course finished with Alan outlining the PRT intermediate course which involves assaults getting in and out of vehicles, narrow hallways, stairways, outside or buildings and more. Every PRT basic student expressed serious interest in attending the next level of PRT instruction. We will be scheduling several more basic PRT courses to be held in various US cities and on a regular basis.
The Atlanta Martial Art Center is located in Woodstock GA and offers programs in Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai Boxing, Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, No GI grappling, self-defense and more. for more information you can call the school at 770-926-3030 or check us out on line at atlantamartialartscenter.com.
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