Windows into Tri-Tier
Part one of Tri-Tier's ten year anniversary contributions, reflecting on Aran's work and on going journey...
2022 was our ten year anniversary since Tri-Tier was formally launched, though it really spans a life-time of work. Here are some moving observations from friends, clients and associates, who’ve been a valued part of this journey.
When the Hour Cometh...
Mark works in film production, with many interesting projects ahead. His gentle demeanour, wit, perception and endearing observations about people and life have gained him the warm respect of various friends of mine and made him a popular addition, to any gathering. He’s also candidly recommended us, to some of his own intriguing clients. Like the words touchingly shared by our other contributors, what he writes below, certainly gives inspiration to myself and, no doubt, fellow associates, to keep striving forth and be of service…
I first met Aran about a couple of years ago. One of the most fortuitous encounters of all my days. The night before meeting Aran, I and a group of friends (who happened also to be top clients, from overseas.) were attacked in a street, in fairly Central London, by a gang using long knives which they deployed with lethal intent. The mobsters got away with a significant sum in goodies. They left behind a huddle of traumatised survivors.
The following evening, my buddies having been patched up at a hospital, and having cut short their trip that would have been so valuable to far more than just myself, one of them wanted to meet up with me for a drink before flying home. I directed her taxi to a bar, for an hour of simple conviviality, a chance to measure our damaged souls.
“Of all the gin joints in all the world…”
At the bar sat next to us was this pleasant, open fellow with a cultured tone and an unspoken invitation to talk. Really to talk. As my friend and I unspooled our horrific ordeal - all either of us could think of, let alone talk about - our best new chum was nodding and mmm’ing in a way that felt more than just the balm of common humanity – as welcome as that alone was, in the moment. He seemed to know…
“Cometh the hour, cometh the man.”
Eventually he revealed himself, discreetly (his modus operandi), to be one whose profession led him to a familiarity with events of that nature. Though he had not yet heard about our attack, he slotted it into his broader body of knowledge about risk in public, how to deal with it, and above all how to reduce the risk for the future.
Right there and then, Aran, who was awaiting a meeting with associates, started to give sound and generous advice as to how to handle ourselves, through that immediate aftermath and beyond.
In our sessions together which naturally followed, Aran eventually showed specific knowledge about incidents of the kind we had endured, especially in these up-market areas. And introduced a range of contacts within the institutions that we all rely on for protection and enforcement. And when the culprits were nailed (by brilliant detective work), and charged, and tried, and convicted – Aran was a constant, by our side, keeping an expert eye out, checking for risk, ever helping to keep us safe.
I speak for all us victims, that the past difficult year would have been all the worse had we not had Aran in our corner. Yet it was not just the skill and professionalism with which Aran has continued to render services at once so esoteric yet so crucial when life’s randomness delivers you a life threatening blow. It is the caring, cheering warmth with which he goes about it.
Backed by his diverse yet interlocking Tri-Tier associates, particularly his close friend and private investigations partner, who reflect so well on him, and with whom it is also a pleasure to associate.
For me, the consummate professional is one who, whatever the chosen field, gives of their best to the struggling individual as much as to the mighty enterprise. There is no finer exemplar than Aran. I have happily referred my nearest and dearest to Aran – which, given the deeply personal nature of his professional scope and span, might say it all.
In addition to specific support, generously volunteered, sympathetically given, he has opened the eyes of ones whom I love to the significance of acquiring certain skills and developing practices useful to us all - in the private as well as the public space.
With Aran, there is always the sense that this greater awareness is gained not in order that we should go about life being more scared, worrying more, but to the contrary that it should help us actually relax more, feeling better prepared for life’s vicissitudes; and so to enjoy more, be more enriched, feel more fulfilled.
It is unsurprising, then, to have the further delight of getting to know the wide, eclectic group of friends who surround Aran... Our constellation shines all the brighter now for having the privilege of including the Aran Allstars… I am indeed fortunate, not only to know whom to call when the hour cometh, but to have gained a true friend in the process.
Mark
Two Way Perception
My friendship with Charles began over twenty years, when I would share, what back then, were my rather wild, unrefined martial skills and he would introduce me to far more civilised Taoist health practises that he teaches. Charles works in engineering. A highly scholarly individual, he also has a keen interest in history, politics and has worked in various parts of the world. During his childhood, Charles was also introduced to family friends who worked in less known roles, during the Second World War, who drew his attention to the fact that sometimes aggressive hostile forces operate on various levels, not always so apparent and so it was important to have heightened levels of perception.
A gentleman of the old school variety, Charles is a staunch believer in the importance of personal safety training and has been relentlessly supportive of my work…
I have known Aran for over two decades and have observed his exploration of the martial arts. His extensive training in arts such as: Kickboxing, Fencing, Japanese and Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Taijutsu, Silat, Systema and other Slavonic methods, Shaolin arts, the Taoist internal arts and also other fighting techniques, has enabled Aran to train people in methods directly applicable to their situation and level of fitness.
Aran has the knowledge to train people for the realities of street; not the hypothetical world of the dojo. The first step is perception.
Accurate and timely perception can enable one to avoid violence at best or at least, prepare oneself for an attack and avoid the first blow. Criminal's favourite weapon is surprise. Remove the element of surprise from the attacker increases one's chance of being unscathed.
If one is tense and thinking about issues other than what is happening around one, the state of unawareness makes one vulnerable. The ability to breathe deeply, relax the body and the mind, and perceive what is happening is the first stage of self-defence.
Tri–Tier by absorbing many styles of martial arts and fighting methods, including the health aspects, enables a person to use the technique relevant to the situation they find themselves in.
Most martial arts evolved for the local conditions, such as Ju Jitsu – unarmed Samurai protecting themselves from a double handed sword, Wing Chun in the crowded cities, whereas the kicking styles evolved to defend against Mongols, on the northern dry land of China.
W E Fairbairn went on his own journey of learning and took many fighting styles. He was likely to have been exposed to Western boxing and bayonet fighting, during his time in the Royal Marines.
After an encounter with the Triads in Shanghai, where he was nearly beaten to death, he went to Japan to study Ju Jitsu and on his return to Shanghai, he was introduced to Chinese fighting arts. He combined his experiences and training, when he went on to teach the Shanghai Police and later, the SOE's agents and commandos.
When in a competition , boxing or martial arts, one warms up, stretches and wears loose clothing. In a street attack, nothing of this is possible. Fear tends to induce tunnel vision which reduces peripheral vision. A street fight can last just seconds.
Consequently, one needs to be continually supple, relaxed, and balanced, which to achieve, one needs to breathe freely and therefore capable of fast responses. One needs to give one’s attention, not tension to a situation.
There are certain situations which puts one at greater risk and one needs to perceive this.
Major Anthony Brooks , DSO, MC of the wartime SOE put his survival to being careful and alert to danger, taking precautions without appearing unduly nervous. The fact that he survived two years in occupied France shows his precautions were worthwhile.
I wish all of you involved in Tri Tier a happy ten year anniversary and I look forward to seeing where Aran takes this training next.
Charles
Tri-Tier Ten Year Anniversary Contributions part 2
About Aran
Based in London, Aran Dharmeratnam is the founder of Tri-Tier. He specialises in personal safety and resilience training, often working with high profile figures and their families. With experience in various areas of the security sector, Aran also works with global security companies involved in private investigations and strategic intelligence. He’s been deployed on the ground, in numerous cases. Aran’s insights have appeared in The Financial Times, The Spectator, Aviation Security International, and Security Management Today.
For consultations or training contact: office@tri-tier.com