After Jay-Z incident, UFC legend Ken Shamrock gives us his bodyguard do's and don'ts
Ken Shamrock is a bodyguard now and he takes his new career extremely seriously.
The UFC Hall of Famer has been working for a company called Pro-Tect Global for a little over a year and has trained with some of the top "executive protectors" in the industry. Shamrock, nicknamed "The World's Most Dangerous Man," has been on the security detail for the likes of 50 Cent and Vince Neil.
This week, the first UFC Superfight champion told TMZ that what transpired between Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce's sister Solange Knowles could have been prevented. The bodyguard's actions, Shamrock believes, were all wrong.
FOX Sports spoke with Shamrock this week and he outlined the most important do's and don'ts of being a good bodyguard.
-- Be on the look out for problems before they start
This, in Shamrock's mind, is the first thing Jay-Z's bodyguard failed at. He should have sensed there was significant tension between the rapper and Solange before they even got on the elevator.
"A good detection guy will notice things are not right before they happen," Shamrock said. "This was something I'm sure everybody saw coming."
Not only did the bodyguard not realize something terrible was about to occur, but he allowed Jay-Z, Beyonce and Solange to all enter an elevator -- an enclosed space -- together. A big-time no-no, per Shamrock.
-- Don't try to be your client's friend
We still wouldn't want to mess with this guy, even if he's 50 now.
Too many times, security gets all pally with the person or people they're trying to protect, Shamrock said. They’ll sit down, have a drink, engage in conversation and check out some beautiful women in the club. That's not what executive protection is all about, according to "The World's Most Dangerous Man."
"A lot of times when you hire bodyguards or executive protection agents, if they know the client or get friendly with the client -- hanging out with the client -- then they can't do the job properly," Shamrock said. … "When you're doing a job like that, a good one, you're someone people don’t see and no one really knows you're there."
Jay-Z's bodyguard was far too conspicuous in Shamrock's eyes. Getting buddy-buddy on the job is a conflict of interest, Shamrock said, and when you're busy doing shots with your client, that's when security breaches can happen. That's why Shamrock can't even tell you about the coolest person he's worked with or the biggest jerk. He interacts with them as little as possible.
"I would not be able to enjoy these people or get to know them," he said. "When you're asking me who would I like [to work with], it wouldn’t matter, because if I was doing my job, I wouldn't be getting to know them."
-- Quit trying to be a tough guy
The biggest misconception about bodyguards to Shamrock is that they have to be these big, chiseled meatheads. Now, Shamrock is as scary as they come, even at age 50, but he believes a sharp mind is the best attribute for a good executive protector.
"The truth of the matter is a good bodyguard, it's not about being tough," Shamrock said. "It's not about being able to beat the crap out of somebody. Your job is to prevent a fight, not win a fight."
How do you go about doing that? With words, not fists, he said. The most effective bodyguard is the one who squashes the problem before they ever get physical.
"It's guy that can smile, a guy that can talk," Shamrock said. "You have to make someone feel like they won without a fight ever happening."
-- Don't grab anyone from behind
Ken Shamrock (left) and Tito Ortiz had one of the best rivalries in UFC history.
Just watch the Jay-Z elevator video again. Yeah, we say again, because we know you've already seen it about 17 times. But click play one more time and check out Solange still landing punches and kicks on Jay-Z even after the bodyguard has her tied up. Why? Because the dude has her his arms around her torso, leaving her arms and legs free to do damage.
Not too bright, Shamrock said.
"You have to get between the attacker and the client," Shamrock said.
It seems like this guy just got lazy. And Jay-Z took a few extra blows to the body. Luckily, none of them landed to the liver.
-- Be sincere
In order to be a serviceable bodyguard, you actually have to want to be. You have to be interested in protecting someone, not just collecting a paycheck, said Shamrock.
"I was interested in it because I've always been one to come to people's aid, defend people that can't defend themselves or people that can but get in trouble for doing it," Shamrock said. "I just like to help people."
A kind soul. But he'd have no problem rearranging your face if you messed with one of his clients.
