Breaking the myth of the “Gorilla” Bodyguard

A bodyguard profession is 90% pre-intelligence (mental awareness) and 10 % physical combat abilities.  When an attack or fight occurs, it is the responsibility of the bodyguard to spurn the attack and get the client safely out of harm’s way.  It is never a bodyguard’s job to fight. Another important point: bodyguards need to blend with their environment.  In many photos taken with celebrities it is easy to point out the bodyguard. With diplomats and prime ministers or presidents, this should not ever be the case. Why? Because depending on the importance of the detail and threat level, it is known well the requirement to set when hiring a close protection agent.  These requirements will always include: good physical condition, acceptable weight and those who can react and move fast.

Knowing what being a bodyguard entails, I wonder why 99% of the descriptive involving bodyguards revolve around the “huge” or “big guy” phrases.  Simply put, the media is used to showing the celebrity bodyguards who have come from the doorman or club scenes and sometimes people have close connections in the music scene.  What is most alarming is the large number of them having no relevant close protection-operatives training. In some cases those who do attend a training school are unable to meet the physical or mental demands due to the intensive training level. Therefore eliminating themselves from the program.

If you happen to be a “huge” or “big guy”, you will do good if you want to keep the paparazzi at bay and block photos of your clients, however it is not ok when you have to do an actual close-protection detail.  Some may say that being that “big guy” will keep attackers from reaching the client or detail.  This is not fact.  Keep in mind those who have experienced boxing training or a street fight will say that they felt exhausted after 2-3 minutes of the fight.  No matter your athletic ability or physical condition, you will find yourself exhausted after minutes. With this said, it is not my intention to offend, but to inform.  Could you be so sure to rely that a “huge” bodyguard will be able to react as well as the physically conditioned and fit protection operative?

Gone are the days of the hired “thug” or “goon” as protection specialists…..today’s bodyguards are highly trained in their skill set and training and are of all shapes and sizes…..male AND female

Denida Zinxhiria

Founder and World-Wide Director of Athena Academy of Female Bodyguards, LLC

Jason Collins

C.P.S. Security Consultant

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