A blast of new air
28-year-old Chen used to be a special soldier and after leaving the army, he worked as a bodyguard. But he soon discovered that many bodyguards were just treated as hatchet men. This made him think about bringing some new air to the industry.
Encouraged by his friends, in 2008, he set up the Tianjiao Special Guard Company and began to train people to become qualified private bodyguards. Currently, the first batch of trainees has graduated and the second is on the way.
Bodyguards are not people who have a simple mind and strong muscles. To be a qualified bodyguard, you must be very smart and sensitive. You need to control the whole situation and notice every change of circumstances.
As the courses indicate, a bodyguard is someone with comprehensive qualities. "We now train people with business etiquette, and in the future, they are going to learn more foreign languages to aid their job," said Chen.
Traditionally, people think that being a bodyguard is a job designed for men, but now in many cases, female bodyguards are also required. "That's why in our camp, we have some female trainees," said Chen.
In Chen's camp, over 70% of the trainees are retired army veterans and graduates from sports schools, but this does not mean that common people do not have the chance to be a bodyguard.
From a young girl to a bodyguard
22-year-old Xiao Ran was a medical school student before she started training to become a bodyguard at GSA. She accidentally saw Chen on a TV dating show and after checking Chen's company online, she decided to apply to the camp.
Though not all of her family members approved of her idea, she left home and started training at the camp after learning that she had been selected as a member of the first group. "If the physical condition of a common person is suited for the tough training and they can bear it, they can also be an excellent bodyguard," said Chen.
And now Xiao Ran is already a top-notch bodyguard who has finished several missions. Female bodyguards are preferred by many customers these years, for they are not as recognizable as a male bodyguard and can play many roles like secretary or nanny.
