Society has become much more aware of just how important human connection can be, for well being. Authentic connection - the gift of being able to express, share, listen and interact, in a genuine way, can be powerful.
Authentic connection could very well be recognised as a precious commodity. The ability to find it- a wonderful gift. Especially, in a world where people have become so absorbed by the virtual plain.
Human engagement is one of the Tri-Tier training courses, I deliver for companies, CEOs, professionals and individuals who just want to improve their networking, forge connections or meet interesting people, without having to rely on apps, swiping and other tech.
In other words, bridge building in a more spontaneous, personal way. It falls under the banner of soft skills.
My services are also sought after to help companies with strategic introductions, whether small start ups looking for investors or established companies, needing to make specific contacts, in a certain field.
It’s a skill that’s proven incredibly useful in the investigations sector. From my experience in the martial arts, I thought it might be fun to discuss how it might have been used in older times, in a certain Eastern setting…
For the shinobi of Feudal Japan, the ability to engage with others was an essential tactical tool; in some cases, a matter of survival. The shinobi have been popularised especially in recent decades as the black clad, armed to the teeth ninja.
The shinobi were intelligence gatherers working for the samurai lords. I fear they were somewhat more understated and subtle than Hollywood films and books might suggest.
Yet from what we know from some survivng records, is that they certainly developed and honed interesting skills based on survival, social skills and perception. The ability to engage others was one of them…
For us, it opens up many interesting doors and experiences. Also, it may be that we can offer something to others. Perhaps, a small or potent contribution to someone's life, can be made simply through the way we interact.
Now, as we consider the shinobis'engagement skills; we must also not fall into the trap of romanticising their reasons for doing this. When on assignment, they weren't seeking authentic connection; they were creating links, fostering allies, recruiting agents and gathering information.
Requires a connection to the moment...
That being said, I can think of many masters across of disciplines and cultures, whose sense of presence and calm, together with a heart forged through dedicated training, allows them to connect openly with the people who come their way.
There’s a sense of natural ease and spontaneity about them. They've learnt to face and embrace vulnerability. They've learnt to find a contentment in the moment, that sometimes spreads, to those around them.
For the shinobi, the engagement had various purposes, depending on their objectives. They had to make people feel at ease or at least, not suspicious about them. This required them to understand something about the customs, traditions and traits of people. They had to show an interest in local affairs, or find some common ground. They had to see things with clarity and notice hidden details.
It would take courage to engage with someone. After all, should things not go to plan, that individual could be the very person who could cause their capture or worse...
Requires courage and careful focus
Courage was forged through the hard training, yet there were very specific energetic practises that also gave the shinobi and samurai a relentless sense of focus, an inner calm and an ability to see others, with more clarity.
Some of these practises that some of these individuals used, were quite esoteric. They used mudras (hand positioning to connect with energetic states and currents.)
Mudras are a part of a knowledge that go far back into Vedic knowledge, but may have travelled into the hands of the Japan’s older warriors (literally), courtesy of various travelling monks and mystics, from various traditions, including Buddhism, Shintoism and Taoism.
Then, there were the kamae , which whilst visible as physical stances, were as much about connecting with mental states. They too could be used to bolster courage and help the wielder to project into the outer world and express them self with gravitas, grace and confidence.
There were many other practises as well; some...are still used today, in training. Of course, the engagement, whilst requiring courage, was seldom about physical strength.
Requires the yin and the yang
Sometimes, the best engagement strategies require sensitivity and softness. Crude brash remarks or over pronounced confidence, could deter others away. Engagement skills require the ability to engage but also step back and listen.
It's rather like the flow one sees in the sensitivity drills of softer Chinese martial arts.
There needs to be the yin and the yang. These Taoist concepts represent dualisitic parts of a whole. Yin can also symbolise the feminine to the masculine Yang.
This, therefore, is a good moment to acknowledge that many of the key roles relating to gathering info, were carried out by the kunoichi- female shinobi. (Though I don’t know how far back that exact term really goes.)
Women have always played a major role in the clandestine world. In feudal Japan, that was very much the case. The shinobi made sure that female members, got equally thorough training to carry out dangerous roles, where sometimes, they would have to remain closer and for longer, with the target.
They might be deeply embedded into the enemy's environment, appearing to live a normal life, yet still spend time observing, listening and passing on acquired information.
The women in some of these warrior organisations would also be trained with various weapons and in hand to hand skills (Taijutsu), so that they had ways of protecting themselves and evading hostile parties.
Yet, thoroughly schooled in the craft of engagement, the kunoichi had to use the skill sets that allowed them to blend in, to the normal social environment. This took patience, perception and perseverance.
Requires energy
In order to maintain cover, in order to make the first step even, the shinobi needed to be energised. Even today, if one expects to gain mutually beneficial meaningful connections, be it in the work place or socially, it helps if one has a good flow of energy, exuding from them and within.
Think about a time, when you've been approached by someone who seems stagnant energetically. Does it inspire you to stay and chat, or do you want to create distance and skedaddle?
Energy also has a positive effect on confidence and morale. It doesn't have to be about putting lots of effort into talking; it's not about how much one says. Dialogue has to fit with the temperament of the individual.
When someone has a pleasant energetic disposition, others will often want to talk to them and be friendly.
That's why the internal arts, with their focus on energy cultivation, have much to offer the modern day practitioner or person interested in energetic harmony.
In Tri Tier, when I share the soft skills element, a part that's been so integral to many other areas of my life, I will often convey what we refer to as- the three E's. Energy fosters enthusiasm which leads to engagement.
When we are enthusiastic about others, showing an interest in the things they value and their opinions, their journey... it's a good way to build rapport. Energy and enthusiasm provide the fuel to make engaging others, much easier.
Engagement, which is the third E, also requires qualities and attention to detail: from body language, to listening skills to voice projection. Humour, empathy and an understanding of one's space, also come into play. This is why- what mystics refer to as the training of the heart centre, is so useful.
Requires an entry point
In Japanese Shinto temples, there are usually constructed, at the entrance, a shinto gate known as a torii. It symbolises the entrance between the human and spiritual realm.
Interestingly enough, they have also been found in the grounds of Hindu and Buddhist temples. Again showing the connection, Japanese spirituality has with other Asian cultures.
Whenever I look at images of the finely crafted Torii gate, I also see the three T's of Tri Tier Training, when gazing with more attention...More significantly, the torii convey a sense of stillness and zen like peace. They are thus an entrance point to a state of being.
Engagement also requires an entry point and this can be studied on many deep levels. The entry point could be a place of calm neutrality. It could be the starting of a conversation. It could be the timely moment...
Requires an exit plan
The shinobi understood that if others engaged them, they sometimes needed to be guarded. In their world, opposition forces could wield their own clandestine agents, skilled in: observation, weeding out infiltrators, and counter intelligence. They had to read if someone's approach was with misaligned intent.
The same is equally important in the modern realm of personal safety, where third parties might conceal a deceptive or heinous agenda. It's good to be aware of the tactics, deceptive parties may use, such as the promise of a favour or the invitation that sounds loaded.
This is something I will address on travel safety courses or when working with the families of high-profile individuals. (Please see my article Grey for other insights on blending in.)
The shinobi knew that if an engagement they initiated, went wrong, they would need an exit plan- a way to slip away, to avoid arousing suspicion, or to establish distance and escape. Maybe the engagement would be effective, as long as the encounter did not drag on too long.
On the investigation side of work, I can certainly think of a few cases where, after the engagement with the other (sometimes hostile) party, it was necessary to disperse promptly!
Requires the letting go of technique
If we just step away from the hard nature of the shinobi's theatre of operations; if we just think about the type of authentic connections, mentioned at the start, then there may be times, where it's far better to let go of standard engagement techniques and methodical steps. Connect with the moment and flow. This can take inner work.
I'm reminded of some notes I wrote for my clients, called Caer Tri Tier, where we looked at an old Gaelic poem, called Preiddeu Annwfn.
In this coded piece of writing, it describes King Arthur raiding Annwfn - the other world, to gain a special cauldron. It's conveyed that at one of the caers (forts), the warriors must access an entrance not easy to find... because it’s revolving.
Sometimes, a good entrance, a fluid engagement if you like, requires one to be in synchronicity with the moment. It's about timing and seamless decisiveness...This has been useful when conducting pen tests on a site.
Sometimes, we have to learn techniques first so that we can then practise this notion of letting go of technique. Then, perhaps the fortuitous moment occurs.
It requires, the removal of armour, shields; it requires a detachment from one's past, one's ego and one's fears. Only then, can one truly be oneself.
Not always easy, in a world where people are always striving for something; or strongly influenced by the perceived state of affairs.
Still, should it be that one's profession does require: good bridge building skills and the ability to generate a rapport ; then, there is much practical wisdom to be savoured from the old ways.
Meet you on the path,
Aran
About the author
Based in London, Aran Dharmeratnam is the founder of the Tri Tier training system. He specialises in personal safety and resilience. With experience in various areas of the security sector, Aran also works with global security companies involved in private investigations and strategic intelligence. He has been deployed on the ground, in numerous cases. Aran’s insights have featured in The Financial Times, The Spectator, Aviation Security International, and Security Management Today.
For consultations or training contact: office@tri-tier.com