For few months and for the past year, Shamuel B. Kohen did his teaching of the night club security workers
on the job. Is there any better way to teach than on the job? That’s where the questions about a situation or
issue arise and they can be dealt with immediately. The techniques and tactics can be molded into that
specific working environment.
With most night club security persons under trained and having bad temperament for the job situations can
lead to law suits and the “bouncer” being sued. Many night clubs and hotels employ security staff that is not
fit for that position. We read in the news of “bouncers” going to jail for extreme violent fights as well as being
sued for racism and sexual harassment. Haganah Security Internationals instructor is working to change the
face of “bouncers” to professional night club security staff. Mr. Kohen is taking his vast experience in the
nightclub industry and is helping Finland’s night club security professionals compete in the professionalism of
the international night club industry.
With more and more night clubs being international, a night club manager as well as hotel manager would be
criminally negligent in his/her responsibility if not providing a well trained staff.
I asked a few questions from Mr. Kohen to find out what was the out come of this teaching and what went into
this training.
Maria: How long does it take to train a professionally fit night club security person?
Kohen: Well that depends on the night club, but let’s go with the night club that I taught at.
To prepare the staff, is an ongoing training that goes on throughout the employment time of that security
person. Normally the basic course is 24 hours. That’s 24 hours in addition to their licensing.
Maria: Can you give me a brief idea of what a professional would go though.
Kohen: In this case with this company, I started out with realistic verbal and physical techniques, techniques
that work in real life, not just theory in the class room. Verbal judo, and physical restraint techniques.
Next, I put them through a 4 hour bomb threat awareness course, followed by a body language seminar 2
hours.
Report writing and writing skills class, about 2 hours.
Hand cuffing methods. Same methods employed by police and more techniques that apply to the job. These
are the basics. To be followed up by training in physical and verbal techniques once a week. Also on the job
and in the class room they learned fire evacuation procedures. By the way, a day after a class room teaching
on evacuation. We had an electrical fire and my men preformed their jobs like pros. I was so proud of them.
And so were the hotel management.
Maria: Sounds great, I would feel safer knowing that if I had to go to a nigh club to have fun, I am in good
hands.
Kohen: (laughs) I hope you go to the clubs that my students work in.
Maria: I heard you teach all the classes in English.
Kohen: Yes I do. If these folks want to compete in the international market and make customers from other
countries feel safe, they better know English.
Can you imagine being a tourist and having an illness of sickness and the security staff just mumbles out a
few words? What would that look like? What would the nightclub or hotel feel like? Safe? I don’t think so.
Communication is very important.
Maria: I also heard that you have a unique way of teaching in the international nightclubs.
Kohen: Yes, I work with the security staff, this is part of the work practice. We cover body language, as well
as speaking in English to customers and pre crime recognition.
One night I was working in a night club and saw a young woman being sexually harassed and abused, the
nightclub staff just walked by 2 or 3 times never taking notice of the sex crime. They did not know how to
watch the people and follow body language. I talked to the young lady and the “boyfriend” and the boy was
harassing her. After talking with the young man in English, he was a little shocked and walked out the door.
English was a great way to do that for me, it threw the guy mentally off balance.
Maria: How did the workers relate and feel about this type of training?
Kohen: They seemed very receptive and confident, a few of the younger security staff felt at ease having an
extra backup when we got into a very close problem situation involving some racists that were out to have
“fun”. I went smoothly no harm to anyone, just egos.
Maria: Did it affect the atmosphere with the other workers (waiters etc.) also?
Kohen: Seemed so, they loved speaking English as well as having me translate and explain some of the
slang in the new songs (laughs).
Maria: What were the positive things you saw in this type of education?
Kohen: The growth of these young professionals, they grew into some pretty solid experts in security
awareness.
Maria: Did you experience any difficulties during this period?
Kohen: Not really.
Maria: Do you see a need for this type of training in this country?
Kohen: Oh yes, I at times visit nightclubs around the major cities and see potential dangers. Most people
working as “security” staff, I would not put in charge of walking my dog. Finland night club security staff on an
international level needs work. People skills are the one thing I see mainly lacking.
Maria: Did you get any feedback about this training from the workers, owners…?
Kohen: They seemed pleased to see that someone is teaching the security staff how to deal with
international visitors.
Maria. What words would you like to leave the reader of this article with?
Kohen: For one, I would like to say that there are great guys and gals out there and have great potential.
However, the training they are getting is low and as we see in the papers it affects the clubs and customer
health. To the managers out there, if you don’t care about a fully trained staff, then you truly don’t care about
your customers. I hope you get out of the business or get sacked before people get hurt due to your
negligence.