This blog started has a facebook post but I’ve got carried on and decided to create a Blog post instead.
Back in 2012 I’ve received a very particular phone call from someone that wanted to be a bodyguard.
This guy changed jobs and moved from Cambridge to Southampton so he could train with me and pursue his dream. Within 6 months he was training 3 times a week and never missed a training session. This guy had a big problem, EGO, there was no way he could go anywhere or reach his dreams with the attitude.
Nobody is perfect. Sometimes people judge others without knowing the reasons or circumstances that make us act in certain way. After serious thought I’ve decided to have a long conversation with him which lead to give him a reality check.
After our long conversation I thought that perhaps I had been to harsh to him and he would never come back again.
in April 2013 I’ve received this letter.
“I’ve always understood what respect is, but I have never really understood why I would need to earn it.
I’ve always treated it like something that people should just give to me as a standard, as if I were an amazing god like human being. I never thought myself to be a god, but my attitude defiantly would have presented that frame of mind to any who knew me. I was clearly deluded.
I have been run down financially, physically and spiritually. Test after test have come my way and I have failed over and over again.
I have been made low, more importantly I have realised how low I am. In layman’s terms, I’ve had a reality check.
Along this way to my current revelation you have been one of two individuals who have had the courage and love to stand up and say the truth. There were people who would give me a false sense of security, who were afraid of hurting my feelings, you are not one of those people, so thank you for hurting my feelings, for tearing out my pride, it was and is of no use to me for it was built on delusions and lies.
All be it not much of a token, José you have earned my respect.”
This guy was Paul Harding, he came back for training totally changed, I’ve became his mentor and Paul my helper in No Fear-Academy, from demonstrations to help kids classes.
We sat down and draw a plan for Paul, from basic security training as a Door Supervisor, homework and books to read, intensive one to one sessions in security drills, physical training and even putting Paul trough a K1 inter-club fight so he could understand how difficult his to carry on, when someone is determined to put us down.
Only in 2015 Paul got ready for his Close Protection course.
Paul has now finished his course and works full time for SQR Security Solutions one of the most prestigious Close protection companies in UK.
Now its my turn.
Paul Harding ,You Sir, have earned my respect.
Regards,
