E-mail me with your comments on this section.handtohand22@hotmail.com

Door Supervising: The Physical Skills

Part 5 - Situational Drills

By Ronnie Gamble (c) 2001 2002

Return to Home Page

 

 

Dealing With Incidents

Introduction   Your primary duty as a DS is to prevent trouble, not to deal with it. The more proactive and preemptive you behaviour is, the more remote the chance is of trouble starting. Responsible venue owners have a duty of  care for their patrons and staff.  When you do come into physical contact with a patron,  the venue owner should demand a full explanation for your actions. Responsible owners will not take lightly to a DS who is either incapable of preventing trouble or always jumps in, feet first, to sort out a simple altercation. Only resort to physical contact when you honestly believe there is no viable alternative. 

There is another good reason for not making a habit of fighting with the patrons. It  is the fact that you stand a good chance of getting the crap beaten out of yourself. At any one time, most bars will have a handful of resentful patrons you have 'spoken to' or sorted out on previous occasions. They are usually waiting for trouble to start so that they can leap in and even the score. 

Outlined below are the drills and 'Actions On' for dealing with venue incidents. The common denominators for each drill include:

• Cover each others back at all times.
• Whenever possible, approach any incidents from behind the antagonists.
• Know your drill before you deal with incidents.
• Know where all friends and foes are located.
• Move in fast and take them out fast.
• Resolve the conflict as quickly as possible.

Drills

A drill is an operational procedure for dealing with a specific situation. Once you have been trained in coping with all the problem scenarios, your general demeanor will be one of confidence. You will take on the persona of  a guy (or gal) who has the edge. That is, you will always be in control and dictate the terms in any situation.  

Throughout this manual, detailed descriptions of specific scenarios have been presented and should be rehearsed.  This procedure will  help you to cope with the  fears and anxieties produced by this dangerous job of door supervising.  With practice and experience, you will also become more competent at modifying the basic drill to cope with the chaos of real life situations. Without this revision in real life scenarios, your survival will be limited.  

In order to promote speed, self confidence, and fighting skill, the revision sessions must contain as many variables as possible, for example;

1. The attack can be structured as a rush attack, rear attack, side attack, group attack, ground attack or combination attack.

2. The defence can incorporate withdrawal, ground fighting or mutual support.

3.  The opponent can be; tall, short, fat, thin, drunk, crazed, sitting, standing, prone or armed. You will be amazed at how impractical some techniques are when you try them on an opponent who does not resemble your training partner in; shape, size or demeanor. It can prove lethal for you to experience one of those "Oh Fcuk!"  moments in a real situation when a revision session would have eliminated this blind spot in your fighting response.

4. The conditions must also be varied and represent your working environment. Train within a crowd of people, in a cramped room, in darkness, your hands may be restrained by others or you may be stunned.

Dealing With Rush Attacks

Consider this scenario.... Mr. Angry is thundering towards you with the brakes definitely off. He will either Bulldoze through you or else start shouting or finger stabbing at your chest. It does not matter if he is the bar manager or a street thug, they have to be stopped. After all, no one employs a crocodile in order to abuse it.

To stand firm and shout, "Stop"!! might work, perhaps...if it does not, you are totally stuffed.

Try this procedure; it is designed to be your first tenth of a second line of defence in the face of an unannounced rush attack/verbal assault.

Brain Once you have detected the threat, you must instantly energize the body by adapting the following well practiced drill to meet the threat.

Feet Step off to the left on the left foot and then swivel on the ball of the left foot to bring the right side of your body away from the attacker. Instead of the head on collision you are now turned from directly facing Mr. Angry to a side facing position as he rushes past, hopefully.

Mouth While your feet are performing this simple get away, your mouth is operating as well. Do not shout Stop, this is too passive. Try barking out "Back Off.. Now!!!" This sounds like a swear word and is more aggressive. On some occasions you may not get the first word out, it can happen that fast. When you do get the words out, everybody hears, including witnesses to the attack on your person.

Hands OK.. While your brain, feet and mouth are working, your hands have something to do that sends a clear message of intent. Your leading left finger is pointing at the face of Mr. Angry, it is also telling him to back off. The forearm can be used to parry off any hand attack.

The right hand is held back, slightly limp, ready to palm heel Mr. Angry on the shoulder of their non-pointing hand.

This movement can be coordinated and executed within a fraction of a second. If it was only a verbal attack, you are coping with it. If it was a physical attack, your response has also been positive. 

In a street fighting situation, it would prove more effective to double palm heel the chest area of Mr. Angry. This procedure would propel the antagonist  many yards backwards, but, in a crowded bar you want to torque the antagonists body into weak position. You do not want him to act like a reversing bulldozer, clearing other patrons and tables of drink on his merry way. 

If the rush attack catches you unawares, always try to get the point of your elbow up. That will be the first object Mr. Angry tries to attack with his rib cage. This procedure, to all those witnessing it, is a defensive move. You have lifted your hands up to protect your face. With your elbow raised to this position, you can cope with big swinging punches to your head without trying to stick your head up your ass. This position leaves your right hand and sight line free to win the fire fight.

If you really are caught out, as a last resort, try the gentle back hand flick to the eye area or a groin tap. After all no-one should be that invasive as to be hit in this manner.

Dealing With a Low Waist Hold - Method 1

In the early stages of a low rush attack, you can try any of the following,  

• Side step the attack
• Push down on the back of the attackers head to force them down
• Apply a face bar
• Apply a chancery on the head and then bull dog the head. This is a dangerous move for the attacker therefore it's use will have to be justified
• Attack the side of  the opponents neck
• Use your forearms to attack the collar bones. This is a dangerous move for the attacker therefore it's use will have to be justified 

Once you have weakened the waist hold, turn by stepping back on your left foot and trap their right arm below yours.

Break their balance forward by  hitting  the attacker the stomach with your behind or hip. 

Then kneel down to drop the attacker on their back. Your right leg is blocking their balance recovery.  You have three  main objectives in this technique. First, drop the attacker without damaging their head. Second, make the attacker open their hand for the application of a arm or thumb lock. Third, get on your feet as fast as possible  

If you can apply a restraint from the standing position,  such as the thumb lock or wrist lock, always go for it.

Dealing With a Low Waist Hold Method - 2

If the opponent grabs your waist in an attempt to run you down to the ground or against the wall, try this routine. 

Shoot your feet back so that you maintain your balance and loosen the hold.

Attack the neck and jaw pressure points with your thumbs to distract the attacker.

Grab the attackers wrist and then inter-twine your free arm to grab your own wrist.

Turn into the opponents body and face in the same direction as the opponent in order to apply a combined shoulder and hammer lock.

Dealing With Punch Attacks

Having a bad day at the office? You are caught by a sucker punch and in order to survive, you must neutralise the attack and then counterattack. This is done by grabbing at the elbows of the opponent and running into the wall. With his back to the wall, the punches will be less effective. You can lean on the bum until you get your game plan together.

 If you wait too long in the neutralising position, the bum will punch himself out and you will face an assault charge for counter-attacking after he stops. The bum might get more lucky  after his initial assault so you must not stay locked in the neutralising position. The dilemma facing you is how do you pull your head out of your ass and take the bum on before he gets  more lucky.  If your head comes up first, it will get hit. 

Get one of your hands up first in a palm heel uppercut attack to the opponents face (Grover). Also consider head butting your way up. The problem with these moves, despite their success, is that they may smash the bums head into the wall, causing serious injury. Also try getting your thumb into the long channel between the throat and the neck muscle as illustrated or else press your thumb on the eye lid. (T Law). Either of these techniques will allow you to pull your head out from the safety of your ass in order to finish the job.

The alternate to this cover up has been mentioned before.

Raise your elbow  to protect your head from the big swinging right hand punches .

Counter attack.

 

Dealing With Lost Mobile Phones

Provided a mobile phone has not been stolen and either switched off or the chip removed to disable it, try the following successful drill. 

• Find out what the dialing tone sounds like.
• Position the friends of the person who lost the phone in the places visited by the person who lost the phone. 
• Position the floor staff in areas not covered.
• Ask one of the friends with a mobile phone to call the lost number.
• Wait, walk and listen for the dialing.

Dealing With Groups

When a group of people arrive at your door it is imperative that you do not allow them to intimidate or rush you before you check out:

• Age
• Group identity
• Appropriate dress
• Barred persons
• Disabilities
• General demeanor
• Level of sobriety

By identifying the group you will be able to direct late arrivals to their tables. After they have passed this initial hurdle and you have established your control, you must identify the group leader. You may have to speak directly to the leader of the group at a later stage concerning the behaviour of the group. Some studies have stressed the point that you must never address individuals within a group. Always address the whole group. Wrong!!!! By addressing individuals within a group or whacking individuals within a group, you are breaking down the group mentality. Isolate the trouble makers every time and address the trouble makers every time. Destroy the anonymity created by the group and you decrease you problems with the group.

If it is a last night of freedom type of party, the best man may also want the function to go well. This factor will make your job much easier. At this early stage you must inform the group about the house rules, conduct, singing and strippers etc. It is much easier to inform them while they are sober. Trying to enforce the rules after a few rounds will only lead to grief for you.

You are not trying to put the 'mockers' on the function before it starts, a short, sharp and friendly exchange lets the group know that there are limits.

The most noisy group you will ever have to deal with is usually a hen party. High spirited girls have a high pitched voice that will penetrate the darkest recesses of the bar. Some bars will not allow hen parties to gain entry for this reason. If your bar does allow hen parties, warn them at the door to be on their best behaviour.

Dealing with Sitters

There will be rare occasions when the patrons refuse to acknowledge your count down and sit on five minutes after the 'drinking up time' has run out. This has an effect on other patrons who see your apparent  lack of assertiveness as a chance for them to sit on and enjoy themselves at your expense and the owners license.  Another fine example of monkey see monkey do. 

• Make sure that the bar staff are clear from the area and you have your back up in position. 
• Target one table that refuses to move. This table should be in full view of all the other tables or at least within ear shot of what is about to happen. 
• Half the floor staff act as cover while the other half clear the targeted table of drinks, using thumb pressure point techniques if necessary. The drinks are then poured down the sink. Long before this happens there will be loud wailing and gnashing of teeth from those parted from their electric soup.
• Control the chaos that follows, letting the other tables know that they are next on the hit list, if they haven't already left.

Dealing With Sleepers

Introduction   When somebody falls asleep at your venue, it's time for them to go home. Other than the most common reasons for nodding off, such as tiredness and alcohol, there may be more something more serious happening. This includes trauma, drug, drink or diabetic induced comas. 

The DS are responsible for resurrecting the sleeper and getting them bright eyed and bushy tailed enough to walk unaided out the door. There are three good reasons for this. First, an ignored sleeper is much more likely to  be robbed, assaulted,  injured or cause damage. Second, trailing a comatose patron to the front door will not enhance the reputation of the venue. Third, irrespective of the situation you are handling, as a DS you must always resolve that situation with all the  patrons involved before those patrons leave the venue.

The Routine   On approaching a sleeper, find out if they have any friends in the bar. Hopefully the friends will give you his name and can also be persuaded to care for the sleeper and ensure that they are transported home. Always ask these friends if the sleeper has a medical problem or is on a course of treatment. This procedure will help, not only to establish the facts but also indicate to all that you have a genuine concern for the individual. 

Start the wake up process by clearing the table of drink or anything that may spill or break as the sleeper wakes up. This includes lifting their face our of their dinner plate and cleaning it. Gently shake the sleeper by holding their elbow at the radial nerve, increasing thumb pressure until they are aroused. Always address the individual by name and shout into their ear as you shake the individual awake in order to increase your control.

If this fails to arouse the individual, go on to  "massaging the jaw". The target area  lies on the upper jaw line on each side of their neck close to the ear lobes. Here you spread your thumb and middle finger across the back of the neck to press the nerves against the  left and right upper jaw lines. Increase this  pressure until they wake up, finally resorting to short prods if the gentle approach fails. 

If this "Tactile Stimulation" fails to rouse the individual, you may have a serious medical problem to deal with.  Check out their neck and wrists for medical alert discs. Also check their pulse on both sides of the neck as advised in your medical training. 

Sequence

• Find out if the individual has friends in the bar
• Find out the individuals name 
• Is the individual on medication?
• Clear the table
• Check for breathing
• Shake at the radial and address by name
• Finger massage the upper jaw and address by name
• Check their pulse
• Medical assistance

Dealing With Trouble at The Door

Introduction     When an aggressive customer is standing free with plenty of space to move in, they have an indeterminate set of options to use against you. Because of this freedom, their behaviour will be too unpredictable. Should they attack, your defensive response will  be too slow and you will suffer. Control and dominate the aggressive patron, mentally and physically by standing properly, holding them and talking to them in a specific way that allows you to predict their reactions. 

You must always strive to dictate the pace of events and control the potentially violent situation. This can be achieved by:

1. Reducing the options
2. Controlling the space
3. Controlling the dialogue

Reducing the Options  

Your stance must at all times, present both a physical and mental barrier to the person you are confronting. Use a side on stance in order to present as small a target as possible. This stance will also reduce the options available to the potential attacker. Your hands must be used to cover your upper body. This in turn will present another obstacle course for the potential attacker. Keep your palms facing the person. This looks more non aggressive and may reduce the tension of the situation. The open palm position will allow you to immediately carry out palm heel attacks and parry their fist attacks. 

In order to further limit the aggressive patron's options, physically restrain them in a non-aggressive way that will elicit a response from them. For example, the simple act of holding the back of one of their elbows and pushing it across their body will close down their whole body and lead them to committing an act that you have already predicted. By reducing the aggressive patron's options, you have also reduced your options. This will help to make your response more positive and successful.

Controlling the Space   

Show them the threshold, the physical and mental barrier, that  they must not cross. The point where your personal space starts must be clearly delineated. At the same time you must physically cover the door so that anyone trying to gain entry will have to force their way past you.

Keep at least two meters clear behind yourself. When you have to instinctively duck, jump back or shoot back, you will do this without impacting against the wall. Always try to maneuver the other person so that they do not have a solid object, stairs or steps immediately behind them. It is difficult enough to cope with the after effects of 'dropping' someone with a couple of clear shots without having to cope with the blood and concussion from a busted skull.

If you have the time, always close the door on the problem. If you are at a double door, close one side. That way, the opponent  will be more vulnerable as they try to gain entrance to your venue. For example, if the door way is narrow they will be unable to use haymaker punches. The narrowing of their front also restricts their fighting to a couple of minor tactics, such as kicking out to force you back. You are less restricted on the other side of the door. You have more scope to react to the gate crasher. 

Controlling the Dialogue   

Fights on the door have a general three phase pattern. 

• Phase One. The individual will try to talk their way into the venue. You must explain why they are not allowed into the venue. Always try to stay as impersonal as possible.
• Phase Two.  The individual will start to pump up on adrenalin, getting ready to rumble. If you do not insult them, they will work on an excuse for attacking you. For example, 'You must think I'm some kind of asshole?? Don't you?!!' You must keep calm, do not argue but do keep talking. Always try to resolve the situation by using your de-escalation  skills. This is your last chance to defuse the situation. If you have back up, try to step back and allow the back up to replace you. This tactic will  force the individual to start all over again. It will stop the individual from focusing solely on you. Always let the opposition know that they are fighting more than one person. The situation must never deteriorate into a personal man to man fight.
• Phase Three.   The situation starts to go physical, you are being tested out and the individual is still pumping up on adrenalin. They will push forward and you push them back. They are no longer talking, just grunting and growling most of the time. They have mentally noted your stance and how you reacted to the initial pushes, you are now about to be attacked. They will go silent and wait for you to look away or become distracted. When you take your  attention off the Screamers, the Reptiles or the Fighters you will get hit hard.

Interdicting the Third Phase.   Door Supervisors are often  accused by naive witnesses of being heavy handed. This is particularly true when DS are observed initiating attacks on potentially violent patrons. If those witnesses understood the transformation an individual goes through on their way to becoming 'The Alligator Man',  they would soon empathise with the DS. In many cases, the most humane way of dealing with a potentially violent patron is to short circuit  their transformation  process with a preemptive strike. 

You can only control a violent situation if you initiate the violence that is about to take place. Always try to dictate the force, direction and volume  of your strikes in order to control and restrain the aggressor. When you allow an aggressive situation run on to the third phase, you loose control. It is impossible to use the minimum amount of force when you are attacked and operating from instinct in order to survive a street fight. At this stage you must 'win the firefight' by using bigger, better and more  guns than the opposition. If you keep any thread of reason at all, you will be thumping away, but waiting to hear the primal wailing of the wounded animal, the submissive squeal of the reptile in pain, the submissive covering up posture or the eyes closed repose of the stunned attacker. These four responses may not be displayed when the opponent is high on drugs. Not a pretty scenario, but these four responses are the universal behaviour patterns of the beaten man.  

To summarise, if you strike preemptively, you will  know when, where and how to strike. This will conclude the situation as humanely as possible. If you are attacked, and honestly believe that you are in serious danger of  being hurt, you fight from instinct to survive. There is no humanity involved when you are fighting for your life. 

Dealing With The Door

Here is a small incident that was reconstructed from eye witness accounts. These individuals stood back and watched me take a kicking one night. They came back to the bar the next night to see how well I survived the incident. When I asked them if  they ever hear the story about Kitty Genovese, they thought I was going to tell them a joke.

After a serious fight the two main instigators, both high on drugs,  were thrown out. My back up pushed one out and I had to drag the other one over the threshold. Then I heard something that should not have happened, especially to me. Somebody shouted, "Shut the fcuking door!" and it slammed shut. I was now standing in my own little Jurassic Park with two reptiles. The reptile I was holding was fighting mad so I whacked him in the solar plexus a couple of times until he screamed submissively. At this stage I grabbed him by the throat and pinned him to the pillar and said, "Stop fighting, cool down now." Before I was finished, the other reptile decided to attack and bumped into me. I banged my head on the pillar and as I collapsed, the screaming reptile kicked me in the head and then used me as a  Bouncy Castle.

My body started to close down, it happens when you are stunned, the fighting spirit departs and you take what comes with rare aplomb. At this juncture my back up had one of his rare flashes of insight and said, "Where the fcuk is Ronnie? O shit, he must be outside!"  The cavalry arrived just in time for me to stagger inside. My query, "Which dumb fcuk closed the door on me?" still remains unanswered. The videos of the incident were taken away by the police that night and not returned. Went home.... headache tablets... steeped the blood stained shirt... went to bed.... feeling lumpy round the head and nauseous.

I was greeted in the morning by my wife who said, "I see you have been fighting again?" "No", I replied, quite honestly, after all I was playing at  being a Bouncy Castle. Then she asked, "Why is your shirt in the wash and why are there heel prints all over the back of your jacket?" Eat your heart out Jessica Fletcher. Four days later the headaches and nausea  stopped.

As a DS you have sole responsibility for controlling the door. ...When it stays open.. When it stays shut... Who gets in...Who stays out...Who closes the door.

When there is a fight and it becomes necessary to close the door, you must ensure that only one group of fighters are ejected. If you accidentally eject both conflicting groups, you are responsible for the injury or death of anyone attacked outside the door.

Epilogue   Two years after this incident, I was swapping war stories on the door with a guy who was also on duty that bad night.  He admitted that he was the one responsible for closing the door on me in the confusion.  He also told me that when he opened the door, I was sitting on one of the reptiles, punching the crap out of his face. This helped to explain some of the flash backs I was having about this incident. I remember looking at a guy's knee as I lay on the ground, somebody shouting "Bastard!" and somebody shouting "Stop hitting him!". 

The whole incident started to fit together for me. When I went down after hitting my head on the column, all I saw was someone's knee in my face. My automatic reaction to that would have been a take down involving an ankle grab to the outside and an elbow to a point just above the inside of the knee. Anyone falling in this situation usually curses their bad luck as they fall, "Bastard!" in this case. Sitting on someone's chest and punching their face in is not normal for me. I still do not recall doing this. But, it explains hearing the other reptile shouting "Stop hitting him!"  While I was punching the person out, I actually thought he was still beating me up.   

Dealing With Errant Regulars

You can be sure that regulars to your venue will want to remain regulars. At times these regulars may contravene the house rules. Perhaps one night they all sit on, well after the last call. If their behaviour is bad enough, you can caution them on the spot. But, the best time to caution regulars about their errant behaviour is the next time they arrive at your venue. Before they gain admittance, they will be sober and in a rational frame of mind, ready to enjoy themselves. At this stage let them know how unhappy you were about their recent behaviour. Provided they display the correct attitude and response you can allow them into the venue.

Dealing With Customers Who Must Leave Early

Customers who must leave early include those who are physically and verbally abusing the staff and other customers. If you honestly believe that they are:

• Presenting a physical threat to others 
• Creating a physical threat for themselves from other irate customers
• Damaging property

 Start to move the subject with the minimum amount of force, that is:

• Ask them to leave the venue by following you out.
• Ask them to leave the venue by following you out, again.
• Tell them to leave the venue by following you out.
• Start to go hands on. The first stage is to attempt the escort position and hold. This is to let them know you are serious. It will also give you a chance to see their reactions to the escort position.
• If they still refuse to leave the venue, use the escort position again and this time go for a restraint based on their earlier response.
• From this stage your behaviour is dictated by their behaviour. Always go one step harder when they resist.

This long-winded procedure is not just for the benefit of the witnesses to the event, it gives you a guideline to follow without losing sight of the objective, to remove a subject from the venue with the minimum amount of force and allowing them to leave with some dignity.

Dealing With Arguments

A heated, intense argument can lead to physical assault, even when you physically intervene. Your aim in dealing with arguments is to:

• Physically and Verbally Intervene
• Act as a  neutral mediator 
• Suggest a compromise to resolve the argument

First Warning   The best plan for deescalating a heated argument is for the DS to get close to those arguing. Close enough for them to be aware of the DS presence. This phase must last no longer than five seconds.

Second Warning   If the initial intervention fails to cool the situation you must verbally intercede. Just a short simple sentence that tells the potential combatants they have an active outsider in their face. "Is everything OK at this table, folks?" Your aim at this stage is to mediate,  you may have to listen to both points of view and then suggest a compromise to these points of view.

Final Warning  If this procedure fails to resolve the problem, warn them for the last time that their conduct unacceptable. Because they are only verbal your intervention is only verbal. If the argument continues, you must tell them to leave the venue. 

This procedure is designed to stop the antagonists from going  physical. You should have helped to disrupt their intense focus on each other by presenting an outside threat. Force the antagonists to acknowledge your presence and respond to your questions. Answering questions demands a rational response which, in turn, draws the antagonists back from the brink of physical aggression. 

Dealing With Mad Bitch Attacks

This  is a principle for dealing with any straight arm attack, irrespective of the sex, gender orientation or mental state of the attacker. This is the same tactic as the First Base approach. You are closing down their body and unbalancing the individual by pushing their arm inwards.

Step 1. Detect the incoming mad bitch.

Step 2. Side step and parry the attack with your outside arm.

Step 3. Push the attacker away with the inside arm or counter attack if necessary.

Dealing With Biters

When someone is being bitten on the hand, fingers or thumb, there is a high probability that the bite will cause infection, anything from Aids to Hepatitis. The bite may also sever the nerves and sinews so that there may be permanent  loss of feeling or use of the attacked digit. The bite has to be stopped immediately. At the same time the biters head has to be controlled so that is impossible for them to repeat the attack. There are three methods of release set out here in order of severity.

1. Induce a gagging response by using a thumb press into the hollows behind the ear lobes, next to the upper jaw.
2. Whack the biter with the palm heel on the side of the neck, below the ears.
3. Induce the gagging response by pressing your thumb slowly in and down into the throat hollow, the jugular notch.

Dealing With Fighters

Tactic 1   When a fight is about to take place or has started, separate the fighters by using this modified Special Forces tactic. The purpose of this tactic is to silence the individual as well as unbalance them physically. With this hold on, you can drag the individual out the door backwards or at least away from the trouble spot. 

To apply the hold, make sure your shoulder is directly behind their head. From this position, bring both your hands to the front of the individual's face. Make sure one of your hands connects below the nose with the reverse knife hand  (thumb side) to drive their head back, off balance. After the strike, clamp your hands over their mouth and pull their chin down to their chest. At the same time use one of your knees to strike the back of one of their thighs to further unbalance them. Do not use the inside of your foot on the back of the knee joint. Your foot may get caught in the back of the knee joint if the individual collapses too rapidly. In a bar environment, a slip hazard is presented through spillages. Using your knee as opposed to your foot to collapse the leg will allow you to maintain your balance more effectively.

 

Tactic 2  The following  Squeal and Jump tactic can be used to dissuade fighters from their anti-social behaviour. It involves attacking the tibial nerve where it runs from the center of each buttock, down the center of each leg to the calf. A toe kick to the back of the leg will pinch the nerve against the leg bone and cause a physical collapse.

 

Dealing with a 1-on-1 Fight

Introduction   The following incident describes how DS intervention, on occasion, can go slightly wrong. After all, the scenarios in this section are based on real life where Murphy's Law  is waiting to leap up and screw up your best  intentions. 

The majority of one on one fights start and then finish with the intervention of three DS acting as a team. The DS objectives in this type of situation is to end the incident as swiftly as possible and reconcile the protagonists before they leave the venue. These objectives are usually confounded by the terrain, tables and  also, friends who honestly believe that they are helping to calm the situation but on many occasions, only add to the chaos. If you are prepared for this type of scenario, always initiate the drill by getting the friends on your side.

The 15 Second Incident    The time was 1:30AM and I was in the process of emptying the bar of all patrons. I noticed one of the DS walking a bit faster than normal. He had zeroed in on a pair of individuals who were about to go ballistic. Yes, it was the final stages of the mad and bad hour, where most of your problems are in your face before you see them coming. For the sake of clarity I'll call the instigator of this incident, 'The Wanker' and the person who lost their cool, 'The Reptile'. Unbeknown to the DS, The Wanker had been 'winding up'  The Reptile for 10 minutes and the individual DS had closed in when he saw their postures changing from sitting, slow and relaxed to standing, fast and tense.

Working as a three man team, we closed in on the pair. My job was to shove my way in between the pair, shouting out "OK, folks, the party is over. Make your way to the door now!" "Move it, now!".  This is designed to give everybody the chance to climb down without losing face or going physical. Now everybody is on their feet ready to move. The other DS have positioned themselves behind each of their respective targets. The Reptile says, "We will finish this outside".  Then,  from The Wanker I also hear the immortal words, "Fcuk off, dickhead". 

At this final wind up, The Reptile 'loses it' totally and flies forward to engage The Wanker. The DS managed to restrain their respective targets but, The Reptile was going berserk and had thrown off the 250 pound  DS like a rag doll. As a fight is about to ensue, I start shouting "Stop fighting now!" This procedure is designed to let everybody know what the DS agenda is. We are letting the witnesses know that we are stopping a fight initially, through verbal intervention. As well as that important factor, we are also telling all the friends that as DS, we are talking the fight down as opposed to kicking ass. While I am shouting out to all those present, the other two DS should also be talking to their respective targets in order to calm them down. It is their job to move the protagonists off the premises and resolve the problem. It is my job to cover them both from outside interference or assist them in difficulties.

But, in this incident, The Wanker was the only person under control. The other DS had not recovered from his flying lesson so I jumped in and tried to control The Reptile. My arms were flailing like the twin rotors on a Chinook, trying to trap The Reptile's  arms in a restraint.  Because The Reptile was also flailing about but not hitting anyone, striking techniques were not used. At this stage, some of The Reptile's friends intervened and tried to control him by holding on to him. Because of their grip, it became impossible to apply head restraints or take downs without  ripping  The Reptiles head off.  Eventually, I managed to push the whole ensemble against the nearest wall and here I began to stab away at the only available targets, the throat pressure points.

At this point The Reptile started shouting at me, "Get to fcuk off my throat, you bastard!". I am now the happiest man in the bar. This is because the pain from the one second jabs into the throat PP's were successful in shifting The Reptile's focus from The Wanker onto me. As well as that, The Reptile had managed to string together a well constructed sentence, also directed at me, complaining about the pain.  He was now communicating verbally instead of physically. I reinforced this breakthrough in communications by letting go of his throat and stating. "Listen, it was either grab your throat or hit you with a bar stool. Cool it, you allowed yourself to be provoked by that Wanker, now cool it, relax". His friends also started talking him down. Here I had shifted the blame from The Reptile onto The Wanker. The Reptile found this to be a good get out clause for his drunken lapse and stated "Yes he did provoke me". 

We then move on to the reconciliation stage of the operation and within seconds the apologies are passed and accepted by all those involved.

If you go into a potential fight situation with a fighting frame of mind, you will end up in a whole heap of doggy do. Hitting out is the last option, just keep it on the back burner that little bit longer. That way, nobody goes to hospital and nobody goes to jail. It's a great feeling to wake up on a Sunday morning in your own bed, intact. 

Summary

Arguing Incident

Fighting Incident

·         The Back Ups must take up position, either to the sides or else behind their respective targets. Their immediate aim is to dominate the situation ·         The Front moves in  to physically and verbally intervene between the antagonists ·         The Front tries talking the antagonists down If a Fight Develops ·         The Back Ups apply restraints and move the antagonists out of the venue. The Front provides security for their activity ·         Resolve the situation

·         The Back Ups move straight in from the rear of the antagonists and apply restraints as necessary ·         The Front provides the security for their activity  ·         The antagonists are moved off the venue ·         The incident is resolved

Dealing With a Group Fight

There is absolutely no difference between jumping in to stop a group fight and jumping into a mob of sharks that are in a feeding frenzy.  If you don't have good protection and back up you will be eaten up very fast. That is the main reason  for trying to stop trouble before it gets started. It is more easy to step in and deescalate an argument in the early stages, rather than watching it  from a distance, hoping that the problem will  resolve itself, only to have it explode in your face. 

Fights usually start at a point you are not covering. Either that or some reptile waits until you move off before attacking an innocent patron.

Your actions on detecting a fight in progress must include the following:

• Radio for back up. Let them know where the fight is taking place.
• If you are the first person to reach the scene of the fight, wait for back up and then go in to stop the winners from doing any more damage. Use the waiting time to identify the different groups  involved in the fight and the weapons used. This is where your earlier close studies of the crowd behaviour and distribution pays off. Before you commit yourself, you must know how and in which direction  you are going to separate the fighting factions.
• If two individuals are fighting,  shout "Stop fighting!" and use thumb pressure point attacks  and other low profile attacks to draw their attention.
• If it is a group fight, shout out "Stop fighting!" and separate the fighting individuals by pushing their chests back, hip thrusts and controlling their elbows to negate their punches, using foot blocks to stop them kicking the downed opponent  and lifting them away from the fight by using a waist hold from the back.  If you go in fighting, the mob will usually turn on you.

There are two methods of pushing the opponent's chest. Both these moves are very powerful. They have the effect of propelling the opponent back at  a rapid pace. Because of this effect, there are potentially lethal consequences for the opponent. Someone who is moving rapidly back will impact the back of their skull on either a hard surface or on an  individual who may be standing in their rearward path.

Remember the information on Commotio Cordis? Only use contact tactics when absolutely necessary.

Palm Push   With your palms in contact with the opponent's chest at nipple level, do the following;

1. Start off from a crouched position
2. Thrust your arms forward, keeping the elbows low. If your elbows lift out to the side, you will loose the forward speed.
3. Lift your shoulders forward so that your deltoids touch your ears
4. Bend forward slightly at the waist
5. Shoot forward with your knees so that your knees go forward of your feet

Forearm Push    Clasp your hands together. With one of your elbows and forearm in contact with the opponent's chest, do the following, simultaneously: 

1. Thrust your forearm forward
2. Lift your shoulder forward so that your deltoid touches your ear
3. Bend forward slightly at the waist
4. Shoot forward with your knees so that your knees go forward of your feet

Hip Thrust   When your foot is in direct contact  with the opponents,  you can thrust your hip into his and throw the opponent sideways for over 4 meters. Be careful with this tactic as it is just as powerful as the other two described above.

Dealing With Club Drug Problems

Introduction  'Club Drugs' are illegal substances used by the patrons in order to achieve an altered state of consciousness. The mental state achieved can turn out to be unpleasant and the DS may have to deal with the problem.  These illegal substances are usually manufactured in conditions of limited hygiene. They may also contain bulking agents unfit for human consumption as well as an indeterminate mix of lethal chemicals. These 'Club Drugs' include Cannabis, MDMA (Ecstasy), Uppers,  LSD,  Heroin derivatives, Crack, etc. 

It is a criminal offence for people to allow their venue to be used for the smoking of cannabis, using illegal drugs and the illegal supply of drugs. This includes the occupier of a house or any person responsible for the security or management of a motel, hostel, bar, youth club or night club. As a DS you are responsible for taking proactive measures that prevent the sale or use of illegal drugs at your venue.

The Dangers   With the exception of cannabis,  'Club Drugs' are usually colourless, odorless and have no discernable taste. Other than long term mental and physical damage there are some immediate dangers associated with these illegal drugs. Some of the ill effects that occur include seizure, high blood pressure, kidney failure, loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, convulsions, high body temperature, shaking, confusion, coma, disinhibition, vomiting and sedation. For example, ecstasy will cause the body to overheat. When this happens and there is no access to water, the body will be under-hydrated. In this state the individual is more prone to blood clots and embolisms which lead to death. When the person has access to water, there is a danger from drinking too much and over-hydrating the body. This will lead to a swelling of the brain and death. As another example, the use of LSD will lead to serious mental disorders. These include paranoia, sensory distortion, hallucinations and aggressive behaviour.

If there is a bad batch of club drug in circulation expect a major medical problem from affected young people. Do not confuse their condition with excessive alcohol abuse. Do expect overdosing to take place in many cases because  home made club drugs have no standard dosage.  When a club drug is taken along with an alcoholic drink, the effects are intensified and the mix becomes more lethal.

The Cues For Drug Dealing   When you have a resident drug dealer at your venue, their activity will intensify during the festive season, during holidays or when there is an event external to your location. Watch out for any of the following behaviour patterns:

• The dealer may be conducting their business by mobile phone. Expect a constant flow of  visitors who do not stay for a drink but walk out of your view.
• Watch out for frequent trips to the toilet, beer garden, car park, off camera, away from your vantage point or other quiet areas where the deal can go down or the drug can be ingested.
• The dealer may be 'on edge'. Watch for furtive behaviour patterns that will betray their illegal activity and their fear of being caught.
• The dealer may constantly go off the premises to supply an individual from an external cache.
• The dealing will intensify about two hours before the external venue kicks off. Under these circumstances you will have groups of young people taking drugs and drinking at your venue in preparation of reaching a 'high'  prior to the event. 

The Tools   Cannabis users will usually have a tobacco tin filled with papers, loose tobacco and a finger sized brown lump of cannabis. Ecstasy tablets are usually individually wrapped in silver foil or small wraps of paper. Heroin derivatives involve the use of small tobacco pipes, burnt silver foil,  tightly rolled bank notes and syringes. Never touch syringes, you must learn from your senior supervisor or a qualified medic on how to dispose of these items.

The Physical Cues   To determine if drugs have been ingested by an individual, you  would expect to find some of the following symptoms and indicators:

• Dilated pupils. This is where the iris has expanded from a small black dot in the center of the eye to a much larger black spot. Some locations have received bad reports because the door staff  spend too long staring the patrons in the eye and unnerving them. If the door staff have poor eyesight, make them wear glasses for this task. 
• Excessive thirst or excessive hunger. Cannabis will make you hungry and ecstasy will make you thirsty. 
• Hyperactive or dopey
• White powder (Cocaine) on the nose from sniffing lines of the powder. Cocaine is also smoked or injected.
• Cannabis leaves a sweet and musty smell.
• Frequent trips to the toilet. This condition is not to be confused by normal alcohol consumption. The more alcohol a person drinks, the more frequently they will visit the toilet. This is nothing to do with the amount of liquid in the bladder. It has more to do with the alcohol affecting the bladders ability to retain urine.
• Over friendly or talkative.
• Use of lollipops or baby pacifiers to disguise the involuntary teeth grinding caused by MDMA.
• Dancers may carry and use brightly coloured lights and glow sticks. These heighten the hallucinogenic effects of MDMA. 
• Menthol fumes may indicate the use of MDMA. Menthol is used to enhance the drug effects.

Incapacitating Drugs

Introduction   DS have an important role to play in protecting male and female patrons from drugged alcohol incidents. There are two situations where this can occur. First, the patron may be experimenting with a club drug and may not realise the dangers involved from overdosing or mixing drugs and alcohol. Second, someone may 'spike' a targeted persons drink with a potent incapacitating drug.  The same individual will then befriend the person they have drugged in order to move them out of the venue. Once the drugged person is in the 'spikers' domain, they may be subject to sexual assault, rape, physical assault, robbery or murder.

DS must formulate proactive drills and procedures that make their patrons hard targets for any 'spiker'.  It is always a good  feeling to go home at night knowing that you have cramped the style of some reptile or else saved someone from serious assault. This section will be further sub-divided into six sections.

• Incapacitating Drugs and Rape
• Drug Description
• The Effects of Drugs
• Patron Proactive Pointers
• DS Proactive Drills  Curbing Club Drugs and Incapacitating Drugs
• Summary

Incapacitating Drugs and Rape   The WRCC [2003. (Web Site)] have stated that twenty different substances have been used on alleged rape victims. These substances include, club drugs, veterinary  drugs, prescription drugs, valium, marijuana, 'downers', sleeping pills, Rohypnol (The Forget-me Pill),  GHB (Liquid X), Ketamine (Special K) and finally, the most frequently used drug of all, alcohol. When drugs and alcohol are used in combination, the mix can prove to be lethal. Even on their own, the ingesting of  incapacitating drugs can lead to tragic consequences. The effects include, seizures, cardiac and respiratory arrest, coma and death [BCRCP, 2001. (Web Site)].

Drug Description   There are many good web sites that deal exclusively with the dangers of incapacitating drugs. In order to pursue this subject in more detail, try using the key words, Drug, Rape and Date  in your search. The common denominator of these drugs is that they are colourless, odorless and usually have no discernable taste. The spiker will use these drugs in either powder or liquid form. It only takes two seconds to squeeze an eye dropper full of liquid drug into the neck of the target's bottle. 

Drug Effects   The effects of incapacitating drugs to look out for are:

• Drunkenness. The onset of drunkenness may be rapid.  Some of these drugs are 20 times more potent than valium. The onset can occur within 15 minutes of the drug being administered.
• Sleeping. The targeted person may fall into a deep sleep. Your best efforts at 'Tactile Stimulation' may fail to rouse the person. Medical assistance will be required.
• Disinhibition. The reasoning part of the forebrain is the first part of the brain to be anesthetized by any combination of incapacitating  drug and alcohol. The forebrain, when it is in working order, will act as a gatekeeper. It  stops the baser impulses from being expressed, either verbally or physically.   Incapacitating drugs and alcohol will destroy this control.  Because of this fact, the person may appear exuberant, happy and exhibit behaviour patterns that are abnormal for them. 
• Vomiting.  Vomiting and nausea are side effects from ingesting Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine and Alcohol.

Patron Proactive Behaviour   Statistics show that you are more likely to be murdered, assaulted or raped by someone you know. In order to avoid adding yourself to these statistics, try the following routines:

• Never loose sight of your drink. From the time of purchase until total consumption, guard it well.
• Going to the toilet? Finish your drink first, take your drink with you or discard the drink.
• Going for a dance? Allow a trusted friend to look after it, finish your drink first or discard it.
• At a social event or party. Bring your own drink, pick up unopened bottles, pour your own and avoid the punch bowl.
• Discard any unattended drinks.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers.
• On the rapid onset of intoxication, nausea or sleepiness, always call or phone a friend, fast.
• Constantly check your drink for additives.
• Use the buddy - buddy system. Look out for each other at all times. Try not to become separated.

DS Proactive Drills  The following pointers are designed to halt the use of and deal with the effects of Club Drugs and Incapacitating Drugs. These drills are not another set of boring  'Must Dos'.   These are the key drills that keep all your patrons safe.

• Ask the management to display notices that warn patrons not to use or supply drugs.
• Allow patrons to take their drink into the toilets. 
• Constantly check out the toilets in order to pick up the empty glasses and bottles.
• Constantly check the toilets for discarded syringes. If an innocent patron becomes injured, you or the venue owners may be liable for passive negligence.
• Constantly check the levels of sobriety of all the patrons.
• Watch out for unwelcome individuals parking themselves at occupied tables. Either go up to the table and ask if everything is OK or else wait until someone leaves the table for whatever reason and you ask  them "Is everything OK at your table?". Patrons usually appreciate your proactive interest in their safety and enjoyment.
• Never allow sleepers or drunks to stay at your venue. Make sure it is a friend, you have identified, that takes them off the venue.
• Always confirm the identity of any person who escorts an 'intoxicated' patron off your venue. Enter this information into the Occurrence Book.
• Watch any table vacated by patrons who have left their drinks unattended. If you have the opportunity, inform them about their security lapse.
• Deny access to all known drug dealers or use random searches on the door or keep visual contact with them  in order  to inhibit their activity. There are also other legal ways that must be used in order to get them out. If you allow drug dealers to operate by remaining passive, the venue will loose it's license to operate or the victims will sue you.
• Use vantage points to scan the whole venue constantly. This will either deny or inhibit illegal activity. You may be addressed at times by patrons who say, 'Do you enjoy staring at people, you have an easy job, nothing better to do'? You are keeping them all alive and safe. There is nothing better than that.

Summary   You must reduce your in-house problems by  staying  proactive and also preemptive where necessary. Always try to make the patrons hard targets for the reptiles, drug dealers and rapists. But, the problems created by mixing drugs and alcohol are not just the result of a predator in action but may also be  self  inflicted. When a suspected club drug situation arises, you must be prepared to treat the situation as a medical emergency and call for medical assistance. If medical assistance is required, place the unconscious person in the recovery position. Always maintain their Airways, Breathing, and Circulation until medical help arrives.

 

Using the Good Guy - Bad Guy Routine to Deal With Drunks

You spot a solitary drunk who is making a pest of themselves at the bar area. If they remain in the bar their behaviour will become unpredictable  in the anti-social  direction.  They will;

• Want to sleep
• Fall over and hurt themselves or others
• Cause physical damage
• Start exaggerated/uninhibited emotional displays and rapid mood swings from happy to raging
• Verbally abuse or fight with anyone who approaches them

The drunk appears to have no friends that you can appeal to in the first instance. Clear the immediate area of bottles, glasses, ash trays or anything else that the drunk will possibly knock over on their way out. Your first task is to try and establish the individuals name from any source. After that, be prepared to constantly repeat a simple command that will get the drunk off the premises. The conversation and routine will go something like this.....

The Front. First approach the drunk and start to draw their attention. Try talking at first and then use a light touch to their forearm. 'Hello sir, it's time to go, come on, let's go home.'

Drunk, ' Who the fcuk are you? Piss off.'

The Front. 'Come on sir, time to go home, come on with me now.'

Drunk. 'Fcuk off'

Note At this stage, The Cover is now standing close to and slightly behind the drunk. As close as necessary to draw the drunk's attention to the numerical strength of the opposition about to separate him from his supply of electric soup.

The Front. 'Come along sir, time to go...No let him be. Don't touch him, he's OK. You're OK sir, come on now.'

Note The Front is drawing the drunk's attention to the bad guy who is breathing down his neck. The front is offering the drunk the chance to go home in one piece. This routine may have to be repeated several times with accompanying hand gestures from the front to emphasize the presence of others.

An impasse will finally be reached when the drunk fails to respond to the requests.

The Front throws up his hands in despair. 'I've tried everything, he will not come out, I've tried everything'

The Cover. 'OK, get an arm each and walk him out'

At this stage, the drunk is walked out with a DS on each arm, ready to respond to any physical resistance.

This routine has three clear aims.

1. It focuses you on getting a drunk off the premises with the minimum amount of force.
2. All the patrons see you using the minimum amount of force. They are potential witnesses.
3. The bar maintains it's 'Feel Good Factor'.

 

Return to Home Page

 

Ronnie Gamble, the author of this article, is a Control and Restraint Instructor. He also has a BSc.(Hons) in Social Psychology and Sociology. At present he is researching into group behavior at social events and also, planning a training programme for Door Supervisors and Stewards.

E-mail me with your comments on this section, along with your permission to publish them.handtohand22@hotmail.com