June 8, 2007
Working With Weapons
Adding
weapons to the equation considerably changes the character of the
conflict. No lethal weapons-such as pepper spray, tasers and non lethal
shotguns-can easily thwart attackers, but most wealthy individuals who
have started armed training prefer to work with lethal ones. "The most
common weapon used by our wealthy clientele is the knife," says Chaber.
"A regulation-size flip-knife in capable hands can prove effective and
deadly. Although, upon request, we have also trained some
nonprofessionals on more exotic weapons like a Japanese war fan called
the tessen."
Other wealthy individuals prefer to work with firearms. "Anyone that wants to use a firearm for protection must purchase the right weapon for their needs and undergo extensive user education," declares Scott Moss, CEO of Forest & Field Outdoor Specialty Inc. and Shooting Sports Ltd. in Connecticut. "A lot of our wealthy clients are referred to us by their security specialists because they have the wrong weapon or insufficient training, or both."
One of the keys to successful training is repetition. Consistent use and handling of a firearm will increase an amateur's level of comfort and confidence, which will translate to smoother handling and abbreviated response times. Furthermore, repeated immersion in stressful situations helps familiarize a nonprofessional with typical conditions so they can ignore harmless distractions and, instead, focus on eliminating risk. "Most people underestimate the stress of a situation that would require the use of a firearm," says Moss, one of the nation's top authorities on firearms education and training. "We create extreme conditions and run clients through high-intensity scenarios as part of our firearm training for nonprofessionals."
Selecting A Trainer
For
the affluent to get the greatest benefit from self- protection
training, they should carefully select their trainers and instructors
using the following guidelines. "There are a lot of people in this
business who shouldn't be," says Konohia, who recommends working only
with licensed professionals. "Basic due diligence can help a potential
client confirm that the school or company they are considering is
properly licensed at the national, state and local levels." The degree
of skill an instructor has with a specific discipline is another
important consideration. "Yes, I'm ranked in a number of the martial
arts," says Chaber. "But the real value I bring my clients is the
experience I have with my craft and helping people like them achieve
their self-defense goals." To be effective with wealthy individuals and
families, instructors need more than technical proficiency. They must
understand the mindset and the motivations of their students and be
able to adjust their teaching style accordingly.
Finally, for a program of study to be effective for nonprofessionals, it must fit their everyday lifestyle or it won't be embraced over the long-term. "Our training courses for nonprofessionals are designed with pragmatism in mind," says Giangreco, "These individuals don't need to become self-defense experts, but they do need to leave a seminar or a one-on-one training session with a few powerful techniques that will work for them in the real world."
Why Help Clients With Self Defense? The greater a client's wealth, the more likely he or she is to have concerns about physical safety and security. Taking the time to understand the basics of self-defense and other protective disciplines is a worth while effort that can improve your interactions with affluent clients and prospects. Helping a wealthy client address security concerns can demonstrate your understanding of their most pressing issues, while building your reputation as a provider and strengthening the relationship with your client. Providing a client with guidelines for selecting a self-defense instructor - licensing, experience and practicality - is an unexpected value-add from a wealth manager. |