Episode 648 - Hanshi Thomas LeBrun
Hanshi Thomas LeBrun is a Martial Arts practitioner, former close protection for celebrities, and an author.
I knew that I wanted to keep going with making the atmosphere safe for other people. So, I kind of veered somewhat from traditional martial arts to, say, what actually works on the street…
Hanshi Thomas LeBrun - Episode 648
Some of us may attribute training in Martial Arts as an accident or even a coincidence. However, Hanshi Thomas LeBrun literally has an accident that made him unable to do any physical activity for a year as a young boy. The physical rest made him turn to Martial Arts shows and movies where he got his interest in the Martial Arts. Aside from Martial Arts, he also got into lifting weights that would, later on, serve him well in his job protecting celebrities.
Presently, Hanshi Thomas LeBrun published his book entitled “Hiding in Plain Sight” where he tells his journey as executive security for celebrities.
Show Notes
In this episode, we mentioned Michel DePasquale.
Check out Hanshi Thomas Lebrun’s Book, Hiding in Plain Sight here.
Show Transcript
You can read the transcript below.
Jeremy Lesniak:
What's happening everybody? Welcome. You're listening to whistlekick Martial Arts Radio Episode 648, with my guest today Hanshi Thomas Lebrun. I'm Jeremy Lesniak, I'm your host for the show founder of whistlekick. And I love martial arts. So, I said, hey, let's start a company that does a whole bunch of cool martial arts stuff, like this show. Want to go deeper on this, or any episode we've ever done, check out whistlekickmartialartsradio.com, you're going to find links and videos and photos and transcripts. And you can sign up for the newsletter while you're over there. You want to check out the other stuff we do, because we do a whole bunch of stuff, you can go to whistlekick.com. And one of the things you'll find there, in addition to the references to everything we're involved in, is our store. It's one of the ways that we monetize what we do. And if you find something in store you want, use the code, PODCAST15 saves you 15% on anything over there.
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And I appreciated today's guest Thomas Lebrun has, man, done some really cool stuff. We just finished up an incredible episode little longer than our normal ones. Because he had so much to say. And I don't want to spoil anything. But let's just say there's some name dropping going on here that surpasses any name dropping than we've ever had. Super cool. And you're just going to dig it. So, I'm just getting out of the way. And we're going to start Thomas Lebrun. Welcome to whistlekick Martial Arts Radio.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Jeremy Lesniak:
It's a pleasure to have you here. Yes. Now, I know a little bit about what we're going to talk about. And you've got some stories queued up that let's just say, I don't think in the six years we've been doing this, the hundreds of guests we've had, I don't think anybody's had these sorts of stories, at least not at, let's call it a list level. So, I'm excited for that.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yeah, there certainly been, it's been quite a journey. And, again, it's a pathway that's chosen by many people. In the martial arts world, many people that have done. I just want to tell the listener that I got involved with close protection, which means in layman's terms on the bodyguard, yeah. And so how could, where did I come from? First of all, that qualified me to do that type of work. And I think that's where the whole story kind of begins. My thought process and there's some humor in there. And I think people will kind of sometimes do some self-reflection on “Wow, this man did this”, you know, he had a vision as a child and he grew up and accomplish many things. So that's where I want to go with this interview. For the listeners to say nothing's impossible, and I'm an upper valley guy. I grew up here in Lebanon. [00:04:41-00:04:42], most of my life. And so, it's not like I lived in New York City or LA and hobnob with the Hollywood elite. I had to do this on my own. And it was a lot of hard work. So, but here I am.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I mentioned in the pre-show that I was a couple hours ago, I'm only an hour north of you, then.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I'm in Montpelier?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Well, we're going to take that ride, we're going to get there. But of course, it's a martial art show and this is a martial arts subject that we're getting into you said the past path less traveled. So, what's the beginning of that path? You know, at some point you had your origin as a martial artist, what was the story about that?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
As a very young child, let's say at age five, and we'll build into this at age five and wanted to be Superman. Now, how often do you hear that from kids? They want to grew up to be a superhero, and save the world and all that? Yeah, well, you know, I had that Superman outfit on. And that actually, that actual picture is in my book. So, my dream to my dad is, you know, “one day, Dad, I'm going to fly around the world and protect people”. And he said, sure you are, I mean, how many parents would actually think their child would grow up, you know, the glasses and the cape, and so forth. So unfortunately, at age six, I get a bad car accident, car ran over me. And I was not allowed to do any physical exercise for about a year or so all I did was watch kung fu theater, on TV on Sundays, and big-time wrestling, and whatever other program was on there. And I really digested many of these things, how they moved with the martial arts, and so forth. And that's me at six years old, so seven, and I would see Jackie Lane on TV that goes way back. And I'd be doing the push-ups and all that stuff and getting myself, you know, in shape. And I didn't know what that word meant back then. But I felt pretty good about it. And as time went on, you know, my heroes were Superman and Hercules and Tarzan and all that stuff. But look at these guys. I mean, they got their big cuts their physiques and so forth. And I bought my share of comic books like every young child would, and like, how could I do my version of being Superman? And can I take care of myself?
So, at age 13, I saw a picture of Steve Reeves, who played Hercules many years ago. 1959/1960. How did that guy get so big? And they said, he lifts weights, show me these ways. They can certainly raise your standard lifting weights and so forth. And I also saw an ad in a comment that he was trans Atlas, know that somebody kickstand in your face, and that really resonated with me. And he had a course and he's all he was doing dynamic tension; I'm lifting weights and my dad told me to do isometrics it's better for me and I because I disagreed and I kept lifting and I had set up a burlap bag in the woods. And now we're probably age 14. And Joe Frazier was my hero. Joe Frazier won the Olympics in 1964. And his career and I put two burlap bags filled with dirt and sand in the woods hanging down from a tree unbeknownst to my parents. And I put my winter gloves on I grew up there every day and walk away and heavy bag and just keep it, just kept going and I said I better make myself be able to take care of things because I want to give it my version of Superman through my life. And I come home and my gloves are all shredded and I told him that the dog ate them. So, they bought me a new pair of gloves. And because they were winter, I just kept thinking about that and as I lifted weights, I was getting bigger and getting more confidence in myself. And it wasn't until 73. So, now I'm 18 years old, going on 19 and I was you know, fair amount of muscle on me and I followed Bruce Lee which was like 60 pounds lighter than I was and he's moving like to wind and I'm like, wow, this guy is really fast and I'd like to be like Bruce Lee but also want to be still want to be that Superman to whoever.
And then watch David Carradine. On the kung fu series, and, you know, I didn't want to beat the grasshopper and an animal system and the kung fu and all that. So, I'm locked into this dojo, they were doing judo. And I walked in. I was all that and thought that, you know, I was a big man. When I was, you know, bigger than most there, and the instructor came over and he said, “Okay, so do you want to learn the stuff swing? Swing at me”. So, I swung and he flipped me over his head and I landed on the math and I'm like, “oh, wait a minute, wait a minute, you know, I wasn't ready”. You know? I think we've gone through that. And he said, “No, this time, I really want you to mean it. I really want you to swing”. I go, “Okay. All right”. So, I swung really hard, and I missed the map that time. I stood up and brush myself off and the only thing that was hurt was, I guess, my pride. And I said, “Okay, sign me up”. So, I lost a few pounds, became much more athletic. And I got myself into the world of judo, and was doing quite random, the instructor informed me that he was moving out of town. But I got some Judo under my belt. And this was good. So, the next instructor was in White River Junction, Vermont. He was built like Bruce Lee. So, I really resonated with him and told them, you know, God, you look just like Bruce Lee, and build and all this stuff. And he did Taekwondo, and his kicks are really high. And here I am a 210-pound, big guy that was not nearly as flexible as he was. And he did some things that just why we made some of the movements, he did the speed, and I'm like, “Wow, this is great”.
So, here I am in the world of Taekwondo and a giant among other students. And we get out every once in a while, and he does say, is it okay, if I hang out with you? This was this guy, Master Kevin. And I go, listen, we can hang out, we go to some of the bars and so forth. And he will tell people, he goes, I feel so safe with my big buddy Tom here. Look at him like yeah, right, you know, because he was the master, right? And so, we kept we kept training, we kept giving it that management training, and I'd start lifting weights. And people say, well, Tommy can't do both. You can't lift weights, and do all the martial arts to and I'm like, really watch me. I'll do it. It's fine. I'm boxing. I'm doing judo. I'm doing Taekwondo. And I kept going over these moves. I've always had these, these burlap bags filled with dirt and stuff. And I flip them and I anything I could do to make myself different. But using the same techniques, I mean, I was training like old school. And people started recognizing that as my years went on. I'm getting better and more adapted to these martial arts were only to hear my Taekwondo instructor say that he's moving out of town. Must be something they said.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Something in the water.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
So, I met you another instructor and steady tempo, tempo and I ended up winning like, a karate guy in the month. And I was kind of going through the belt system and so forth, and very pleased with my progress and also lifting weights and they're still hurt. But he can't lift weights and do this stuff, too. And I'm like, “Well, I'm still going to so you know, that's just the way I am”. I enjoyed working out wherever that workout might be. My dad had brought me up working hard building some walls, and all sorts of stuff. So, lifting weights is just for me, it's just a very natural thing to stay in shape, and running and stretching and all that stuff. So long story short, I entered the strongest man in New England in 1984, and was the smallest guy there and place second place by one point. And there were some big boys there. Again, there's no weight classes whatsoever. And then six months later, I achieved my shirt on in the camp system. So indeed, I could do both at the same time. My self-defense skills, as it was written in the paper were really good. So, I felt a sense of pride. Building up. I'm going to go back a couple of years, but building up to that as a training and what was it that I trained, what was the environment while I worked the doors over in White River at a couple of the establishments. And I did that for six years, six nights a week. And there were times where people wanted to pick fights with me and kind of take the head guy off the hill, and that happened to be me. And they would come at me with all sorts of implements and bottles and ashtrays and all that stuff. And I did what I had to do to make the environment save for other people, the patrons that wanted to go there to enjoy themselves.
So, in my book, it says strong man days, Roadhouse nights, I can the Patrick Swayze movie. I like a lot of a lot of basic training as to attack modes and bleeding and posturing and all that stuff. The escalation of violence came into play, and got my show done, but I knew that I wanted to keep going with making atmosphere saved for people. So, I kind of veered somewhat from traditional martial arts to say, what actually works on the streets. And, you know, these people were coming at me with all sorts of stuff. And I'm still here and said that many a report and in my book is, you know, people talking about my job there and White River Junction and, and how it made an impact on the patrons and so forth. So, I was very honored that they wrote me letters way back then. And so just said, I was on the right path. But what more did I have to do so varying through the template system for, I would say, eight or nine years. And then I shifted over to a grandmaster here at White River, Grandmaster Brett Mayfield showed me a lot of really good things. And I think in the beginning, I found myself on the floor more often than not, and different pressure point applications and another instructor came in, we worked on Aikido sanction. Now my art, my whole system that I'm now in my head, trying to create, has taken on a different feel a different way of moving, because I still wait to 10, but I am moving much differently as more of an athlete or I would call it martial ballet. If you will, in working with within the world of self-defense, because that's what I'm doing.
I'm defending other people's lives or third party, San Francisco, I started getting this is where it starts getting very, very interesting is that I was a part time officer for Lebanon. And there was something missing. I enjoyed doing the work, but there was something missing. And in 1988, I handed in my gear and said tomorrow, I'm going into the security business. So, this was September 1988. So, 33 years ago, and the captain said, you know, you don't have any government experience, you have no police experience, you have no military background. Where are you going to go with this work, I said, I'm going to travel all over the world, protecting people, and using my discipline in order to do it, right. And it's not about the physical, so much that it is about academics and self-awareness and self-worth, situational awareness, and whatnot. So that was 1988. And I was married at the time until the same thing. So, you know, I got down at my job at the police station, and I'm going to go into security work tomorrow. And I'll be going to every capital city in the world to protect people and she said, sure and I'm like, “Okay”, so in my head and this is where the vision kind of comes in that people say that things are impossible to do. I kind of turn it around and say, well, then how am I going to do it? What's the road that I need to take to make this all happen? Martial arts wise? I found from Brett Mayfield, I found a gentleman down in New Jersey, Michael Depasquale, junior and senior who I met. So that about that time it would have been a couple of years later. But I started developing my business, you know, 1989-1990 and then 91, I was asked to go on tour with Madonna. And she needed three people. I was number four. So, I'm like well, I'm getting closer. And how did that actually happen is I bumped into a friend of mine in West Lebanon who worked for Michael Jackson. And I said I'd really like to get into the entertainment industry. How'd I do that in the security world, he was a sound technician. He said, well, if he would ever come out to Hollywood, he said, I would give you some numbers. And then it's up to you to stay in touch with these people and promote yourself and so forth. And I'm like, okay, so two weeks later, I booked a flight to Hollywood and early 1989. And he said, natural, secure coming. He said, I'd never give you some phone numbers. And I said, we're staying in touch with everybody.
Now, prior to all of this, we all remember back in 1980-ish when John Lennon was shot. And it had to do with the soccer mentality. Now for whatever reason, I sewed those papers, I still have them today. That whole story about Mark David Chapman, shocking, John Lennon, and then the shots rang out. And so, for that to Dakota, and I'm like, “Well, I got to study this a little bit more”. So, I kind of got into that. At the same time as I went out to Hollywood, and really digested all I needed to know and bought the books and talked to the police department, they gave me some of their laws on stalking and victims and suffering. And so, I really got interested, you know, I might be using this to my advantage, because how many people out there track down these people to make the client safer. So, I put that in my back pocket, if you will. So, back to Madonna, she needed three people. I was number four, so I didn't get the job. And so, I'm doing small security type jobs and small establishment. And then I went to, I was called to Washington to do a big investigative job, the summer of 91. And I got down there for 10 weeks, and we ended up winning the case. Meanwhile, everywhere I went, I'm practicing. I'm constantly practicing my skills and heart and so forth. And in the book, there's a lot of description of people watching me. In the middle of the night at the gas station. I used to work out just practicing the techniques. And they said they didn't really want to stop by they just watched me back from Washington. And I got a phone call to say would you like to be the head of security for a big concert at Maple Valley down by Brattleboro. And it was Steppenwolf concert they were there was nine bands. Steppenwolf was a ninth band and said, well, who do you know, what do you expect for an audience and they said, you know, a bunch of motorcyclists and Hells Angels will be there and so forth. I'm like, okay, so I enlisted the services of two Chiefs of Police and two guys are German Shepherds. And that's what our team was. And the end of the day, well, during the actual concert of somebody tried to get violent with me, and I told my team, I said, I have it. And it didn't work out well for the other person. But I'm never mad at anybody. The State Police said that day that was the easiest concert they've ever had to work.
So, I took that with a lot of self-pride and very say, well, I'm heading in the right direction, you know, with all the security stuff, and I'm doing the right thing, working with the right people. And I wanted to make a name for myself. So, I kept I kept working. So, the concert gets over with. I think I had to go away for another couple of weeks, working some labor disputes, so I was always protecting the corporate ends. And people are on strike. And I'm on the corporate and making sure that the corporate officers were safe and so forth. They could go to and from the plant or make sure their families are okay. So, I did that. I did that a number of times. But coming off that one for the backdrop for the last couple of weeks, I got home and my wife said somebody by the name of Mark has called from Boston, and he said something about the new kids on the block. I'm like, “Okay, give me his number”. So, I can't go on the last World Tour, but the new kids on the block. So, he said, “Well meet me at Fenway Park on Thursday”, and we'll talk about it. So, I drove down to Boston and because the other guy didn't show up, that was I guess in contention with me, he didn't show up. So automatically got the job by default. And we worked out some details. And he said, “Well, you'll be in London next Thursday”. My passport ready. So, the following week, I'm off on a plane to London. And we did a world tour in Europe for eight weeks.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Wow. I want to press pause, again, because we've been going in and I want to rewind the tape. And there's some stuff that I want to I want out of this, if I may. Because when somebody comes on the show, when they say, you know, I was inspired to protect people by, you know, and you named off, some very powerful figures, from sports and media, role models that plenty of people have had in common. And, of course, you know, you talked about how it seemed like everybody around you, including your wife was dismissive of these aspirations that you had. And of course, you know, now that we're getting into some of the chapters of your life, we're seeing that these things are unfolding. But I want to go back, and I want to try to understand where the desire to protect people came from. Now, if I may dig a little bit. In my experience, when someone makes it a priority to protect others, it's because someone else did not make it a priority to protect them. Is there a story like that for you? And if so, are you willing to share it?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
I don't know, I have that I could take care of myself. Even as a child... People were picking on me and so forth. And I wouldn't like I guess I wouldn't take any crap or whatever you want to call it from these kids, even as a young boy. And it just kept bouncing off me that I wanted to protect people I wanted to protect, I guess, and screw, you see the nerds in school, and I was one of those people. But I was also athletics. So, the ones that are very studious, but not athletic, but they're extremely smart. And they were being picked on and their abilities. And it wasn't until early high school that I saw that, that these guys were being picked on. And I would they would come up to me and say, can you tell someone's picking on me? And I said, sure. So, I'd walk up to the person and say, can you quit picking on this gentleman, they go, what are you going to do? Beat us up there, they're probably so just quick. So, I never had a fight in school. But yet I do turn the fight from happening or somebody from being picked up. So even before that, I have that vision of a being my version of Superman, it always, you know, truth, you know, that the whole Superman thing.
I just was part of who I am, I guess. And then as I got to high school, I'm getting older and bigger, and so forth. I just didn't like seeing other people being picked on. And then I just have gone through life that way that somebody got picked on the can't protect themselves. So now we get into this chapters or chapters about people. Let's say back in the bar years, and people just want to have a good time, you want to go to a bar and you want to dance, you want to have a couple of drinks, but you're wanting things to get out of hand. You don't want people to be pushing you around, and all that stuff. And it was my job to make sure that it was a wonderful, safe atmosphere. And for those people that had a difference of opinion. They were no longer allowed there. And I would work with the police in making sure they were removed. So, I've always had that spirit in me about doing that type of work. I just didn't know how to get there. You know, I didn't have a roadmap. And that everybody like you said everybody kept trying to dissuade me or just discouraged me from pursuing it or didn't think it was possible, which made me even more determined to make it possible.
Jeremy Lesniak:
And I would imagine, you know, as you know, you described yourself as a nerd and fell into martial arts. I was also a nerd martial art. And one of the things that I can say about nerds is they tend to go pretty deep on subjects they're interested in. So, I'm going to guess. And this is probably a good time I've done the extreme Junior version of security, I worked some events in college, mostly concerts. And, you know, we got briefings and it was, you know, if we did our jobs, right. Nothing happened. It was about observation. It was about hitting things off, you know, things that we talked about within martial arts. So, what I'm finding really interesting is, it sounds like you in this industry, started to progress very quickly. And I'm going to guess that it's on the back of your nerdy martial arts tendencies.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yeah, somehow, even today, I mean, here we are. I'm in my late 60s. Here, I'm writing a book, say, “Well, here comes the nerdy myths about writing”. Yeah, so there's that very studious, but I also have always been an athlete, and very focused, very disciplined, and I read voraciously, even in my younger years, like, how did someone get from point A to point B? Right? And then I would find the answer, wow, he took this road. Okay, he came from nothing, and became a millionaire. As I get older, I'm going to say 1986, I started listening to Tony Robbins in power talk, and I still have the cassette tapes downstairs.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I love Tony Robbins.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
So, you love the stories coming up about it. But I started listening to him. And what Tony did was take my visions in listening to these tapes, and reframe it. So, I'm like, Okay, now that makes sense. So, if I applied that, to my vision, I'm going to be able to do things that people would think are impossible, and make it impossible, that I have to take action, to this passion to this vision that I had. And people you know, with wood, as you know, if you don't think about understand, having a really deep vision about something that you really want to do follow through in that a lot of times people go, I have this vision, I can do this. But that's not possible. And they don't pursue it. I have never been afraid of taking the chance. Now, have I been successful in everything I've done? It may the answer's no. But I've been pretty close. For instance, when I was doing a lot of Taekwondo and Kempo, and so forth, I would jump up and kick somebody holding a belt or a hatch over their head, I jump up and kick the hatch, then I would say, stand on a chair. So, they stand on the chair, they would hold the head and shoulders height, standing on a chair that jump up and kick the hat. I said after that, jump up and kick. So, in the book, there's a letter of me jumping up and kicking the neck, just below the rim. Wow. People would say, can you do that now? I said I was humbled by gravity.
Seems like that had a vision of doing a target. People would say that's kind of nine feet near I got. I was upside down, then I had to come down and land on my feet. So that's part of the martial arts discipline that I have is doing things. And it's not just martial arts discipline, it's just my inner workings that when people tell me I don't think you can do that, then I have this vision, then I go out and try it and go out and do it make take action. And generally, I can get pretty close. My dream was to be on major tours with major recording artists more known. And that's exactly what I did. And the more you do it, the more successful you are. And like you said, if you do the job, right, it's a boring story. But there's always an X Factor. There's always a human factor that you couldn't have possibly trained for, or SAT it coming, because I might be the only one there. And which in in further in our story today. There are many times that I'm the only guy protected and I've had some wonderful clients, and I do my job. And I haven't stopped yet. So, I continue to train. Everybody's hard I probably training harder now than when I was in my 40s.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Why?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
I think that's a good question.
Jeremy Lesniak:
That's why I asked it.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
It was a very good question.
Jeremy Lesniak:
It doesn't sound like you were the type of person who wouldn't have been training hard in their 40s is more logistical constraints.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
I think a few years ago, both my parents passed away. And for 10 years, I looked out for them, and we shared a house. And I did the right thing with them. And they both passed almost at the same time. So, we became not only family, Father, mother and son, and I have siblings, but we became friends and support for each other. And I was there for each of their last breath on Earth. Mom died in August, and that died a couple months later with a broken heart. Once I centered the estate and all that stuff that took me into the end of 2019. And then 2020, I started writing my book. So, without writing the book, I had a renewed energy, and a second wind. So right now, I'm in that peak, again, of training very hard, emotionally, and physically. And there's a job to go with that will get you there. But that answers your question, I just have this innate desire to train as hard as I can, and I never do anything halfway. And you will find out as we keep talking, I've never done anything without a global theme in mind. Without a top-notch effort, if you will, I give it my best effort. If I give this, whatever this is for you or me, I give this my best effort in the best version of myself to that particular discipline or that particular job that I can clearly come back and say I gave it my best effort. And here is my reward for doing that. And I've always been that way to not compete with myself, if you will, if I work for new kids, and I need to work with someone higher up than that. And so that I think presented to your question.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Yeah, it does. It does. You know it, to say it another way. And I'm curious if you agree with what I heard, you're going to throw whatever you have at whatever's in front of you. And at this point in your life, there are fewer, and I don't use the word insensitively, let's call them distractions, right. And as you were able to focus more on your training.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Right? Now, the training now is just I mean, I'm reading a new book, and I'm actually trying to get characters in the book. So, you know, that's funny when people start laughing. That's great shape and sort of courses. Because I'm training six days a week, and sometimes twice a day. So, it's gone, it's going pretty well. So here I am, will go back to New Kids, if you don't mind. The North, the European pair of the tour is eight weeks. I've never been on a full tour with any major act. And they said, Tom, the new kids on the block on this world tour is very similar to what the Beatles were like, the screaming and the obsessive behavior of fans. And it's just not little kids, it's grown women and their boyfriends and their parents, which are hard to deal with. Do that every single day they come up on your floor and you're awake, and sometimes you're not sleeping for a while. And you're doing the job. And I went in as a professional security guy, not a big buddy. And I would analyze certain things and this world tour took us everywhere. And then I started raising my hand to say I can do advance work, which means I'm getting us a rival and departures from the airport, everything else, I have a team working with me. And some of the airports getting out of like Mexico City, and Rio and all that stuff, I got to know how to do the advanced work very well by studying and taking courses.
And my academic level was probably every bit as important, if not more so than my physical, which means I didn't stop physically training, I just added the academics on the other end. So, we get over to Asia. And we had a few problems over there. Not that we, we couldn't handle. But I took the role of the advanced guy, and like, we had to negotiate a way out of the Philippines and departures from the airport, everything else, I have a team working with me. And some of the airports getting out of like Mexico City, and Rio and all that stuff, I got to know how to do the advanced work very well by studying and taking courses. And my academic level was probably every bit as important, if not more so than my physical, which means I didn't, didn't stop physically trading, I just added the academics on the other end. So, we get over to Asia. And we had a few problems over there. Not that we, we couldn't handle. But I took the role of the advanced guy, and like, we had to negotiate our way out of the Philippines.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Negotiate, meaning bribe?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Kind of Yes. A little bit, lower the number. And then I got to the airport and told them that, you know, it's been a whirlwind tour. And to minimize the hysteria in the airport, this is the Philippines, in Manila, Manila, in the Philippines. And I said, to minimize the hysteria in your airport, I would suggest that you make me a custom agent. And I was saying that in jest, and the guy said, “Well, you know, I really can't do that”. I said, “Well, I could ask for them to the VIP room and put them in there. And that I need all access”. So, if you made me a custom agent, that would that would really work well. And the guy said, you know, that's not a bad idea. So, it was a custom agent. You know. So, we got down that trailer very well. And I learned a watch. And so now this was March of 92 years. So, I got over that. And I was really working out. The whole group that I was with, there was five other guys, we always find a gym and workout and it was the use of Mark Wahlberg was Marky Mark and the funky bunch, so he would be with us as well opening up for the new kids on the block, Donnie Wahlberg in the game. And so, we always go to the gym together, and we'd have some great workouts. So, they thought I was in better shape than the rest of the guys. But I said that's because, you know, work out all the time and I don't drink, I don't smoke, nothing. I just have a very disciplined life.
So meanwhile, I'm still training and so forth. And I being recognized for some martial arts, things that I'm pulling out like a Humanitarian Award because of my work in Starkers. And then I get home and I take a deep breath. 1992 I think I did a couple of smaller jobs. And then I got a phone call. This gentleman called me up and said, Elton John wants to see you. And I said,” Okay”, we need to see your Sunday night. So, I'm going to be in New York, teaching defensive tactics, and I won't be back till Sunday night. He said, “Well, this is Elton John”. I said, “Well, that's fine”. I said, this is this is Tom. I mean, I'm sorry, I can't help you Sunday night, but I can certainly fly to wherever you want. On Monday morning, and I'll deal with the issue. And it had to do with the stockers that Elton had.
So, this whole thing comes in full circle about my study with stalkers, and so forth, that I'm calling for one of the most iconic male recording artists of all time, to make sure that he's safe on the stage. And say, certainly did my homework and I still have all the folders and all that stuff with me. But it's the it's the physical training that keeps my mind sharp, my body sharp, the confidence that I've always had from training hard. And then the academic I'm able to study in such a way that it makes sense to me, other people appreciate the effort that I put into that. Saturday, Elton's still singing and I'm in the background. And he didn't really work for him for three months. It wasn't important to me that I got to meet him while he was singing and I was on contract. Three months later, his assistant said, “Would you like to meet Elton?” And I said “sure”. So, I met him and he said, this is the guy that's been keeping you on the stage. He shook my hand and said, “Well, you've been doing a good job”.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Okay, were you a fan of his?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yes, I still am. I love, like his songs. And yeah, everybody has treated me so well through the years. And we'll get to some of the other people that I work with. But Helton treated me very well his staff treated me well. But then I wanted to shift over get out of the entertainment for a little while. Because that's a very grueling work. Even though I was able to work out and so forth. It's very grueling, being on a tour bus and going to the concert and your ears take a beating. And then, so after I got a job, when I took a job that I really wasn't supposed to have in New York City, it was a corporate gentleman that was being threatened. And I didn't know any, but I didn't have strong contacts in New York at the time. So, I decided to do the job myself and tell the guys that I'll be flying down myself from New Hampshire. And he had brought another security guy with him. And as soon as I showed up, that their driver was sleeping behind the wheel. So, I fired him and got another closer. And they are, I just took charge. And I ended up having that corporate gentleman for 16 years. And nobody ever threatened him. After that. I made contact with NYPD. And they were they were brought on board when needed. And I treated them very well. And to this day, I've been very well respected through that organization. And the client is still with us, he lives out in Beverly Hills and I was very happy to have met him and worked for him for so long. But during that whole time of 16 years, everyone's allowed to be called away to do security for other people, because of my skill sets, and so forth.
So, I would put NYPD on my client, and I would take the other jobs as well. So, my business that I created in 1988, Nighthawk security was now a common word amongst some of the security people. And they knew that I would train, you know, endlessly and running, lifting, working the bag, sparring with people, doing whatever situations, you know, studying the close protection field. And, again, the path that I chose was just, it's a unique path that I chose to go to the top. Versus I hear people say, well, yeah, I was a bodyguard to so and so. And when they were in Boston, or when they were in New York, and they go, actually with them, I said, I was with them all the time, regardless if we are in the United States, or Vietnam, or China or all these other places. So, you know, my whole business, I've been involved with people in 45 countries. So, it's just been a wonderful journey adventure, you know, but that doesn't mean I rest on my laurels, I think I use that word very strongly. And I don't rest on my laurels, I have to keep training harder. And I have to keep current with what's going on. That means technology. And that means terrorist activities and, and anniversary dates. And right now, you may not know this about me, but I am a certified master anti-terror specialist through a company called a tab. And that means a lot out there that I do that type of study. And I also study a lot of medical procedures that we call 10-minute medicine that if I were protecting you, that I would do enough to keep you alive before the paramedic showed up and know different things to do. So, there's much more to my program than standing around. Looking like, you know, the tough guy.
Jeremy Lesniak:
That's everyone's vision of security, you stand there physically in front of the person you're protecting, not just look intimidating, and that's enough, right? And if that was enough, it would be really easy to just, you know, the security details would look like the offensive line of a football team.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Exactly right. And some of these big guys, a lot of them very intelligent human beings are hired for their size, or they're hired for their intelligence and that they can answer that question. I'm not a big guy, you know, I'm big, but I'm not intimidatingly big in the name of my book is called Hiding in Plain Sight. So, you know, I've really study hard in all aspects of the job. And again, I'm very blessed and very fortunate. And I don't live off my laurels. I don't rest. And say I can do this; therefore, I can do that. I mean, you're only as good as your last jobs, I have to make every job very successful. And so, in training, I met Michael Depasquale, junior and senior in 1992 at karate college, down in Virginia, and hit it off with Michael senior really well. And I started doing the combat jiujitsu courses. And I was awarded with my show gone and combat jiujitsu, Michael’s system.
Then I will travel down to block the measurement school in New Jersey and train at this high school with all the guys and topicality is one of them. Michael, senior and junior, and then there was other people there. And then 1994, I was awarded my son Don through that organization. And I started getting more awards in the eastern USA international martial arts Association for leadership and success. So, it doesn't always have to be an award for fighting or, you know, the tough guy or tenant, or whatever. It's just they recognize a different, a different category, if you will, with what I've been doing. And I kept honing the things that I knew and absurd picking up the sticks and doing artists, because that allowed me to move really freely and pivoting and so forth, and you put the sticks down, you pick up the latest instruments and how deadly of those and if you put down those. Can you do trap?
So, I started studying as much as I could in many different parts. And in the meantime, I'm getting phone calls, because of my experience in the advanced work of the protective details. And I get a call one day would have been, again, just came off a big another big job. I got a phone call and said would you like to go to South Africa? 1994. And I said, who's the client? They said Whitney Houston? And I said, Sure. No, first I said, I'm not sure I know the country is very violent, and so forth. So, we had conversation with the State Department, they said, we would advise you not to go. Mandela had only been president for six months. And it's still kind of violent. And in Africa, South Africa. Right, I said, she's still going to go. So, I need to take, I need to get as much information as I can, because I'm going first. So, I fly out to South Africa by myself, and start working on building a team in South Africa.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Can you elaborate on what do you mean by building a team?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
People that are established security people in South Africa that know the lay of the land much better than I do? And our security train drivers? And they would keep me from taking the wrong charge? Got it. But I have I have taken pride in my diplomacy in foreign countries where I never say, well, in the US we do things this way. They always look at you and say, well, you're not in the US, right? I've never said that. But I've heard people say that and I go, I'm not going to do that I have to listen first, and then can what my program would entail, and see if we can't find a happy medium. And always have a plan B. So, I did the advanced to South Africa, they had been pre advanced down. So, I had some information to go on. But things change every five minutes over there and the violence is horrific. And so, I got down there and met with a group of people and we talked and I said let's go do the advanced. So, we're going from hotel to venue to two different sites, children's centers and all this everywhere that we think that Whitney may want to go to.
So, the devil came where they flew in from Cape Town so it's not an international flight. Rather it's an in-country flight and they were on a 747. And I talked to the head of security and I said I want to bring this person through the airport. And for some reason they didn't care for who I worked for. And I want to elaborate on that. And I said, well, I have Plan B. And I said, well tell you what is plan B, if I could bring all the vehicles underneath the wing of the jet. Can we work that out? To minimize any hysteria in your rear porch? And he goes, we can do that. Right? Silently pumped my fist. When the director of security came off the plane, he said, what do you have in place, and I said, see those 13 vehicles over there? I said, those are ours. When they blocked the Jets, the front wheels, I'm going to wave to them. And they're going to pull underneath the wings. And I want everybody to go down the jet way down the metal stairs, and get in a car, make sure you save one for me. There you go. You're like, okay, so David, came down, I walked in, David, time to get these people down and lead to behind the luggage.
And everybody got in the car, and they saved the card. For me, I call the hotel and I had some people there waiting. And we drove in, and the everything worked out great. So, about a year later, I get another phone call. And they said, how would you like to be our new head of security? For Whitney Houston? And I didn't say yes, right off. My mindset was, I'm not that type of guy just to jump into something. Because of the excitement of the moment, I would say to myself, what can I bring to the table that unique? And that that is different than what other people have brought to the table that makes my program work. And it has to do with tracking down stalkers? And so, I said to them, yes, I'll take the job. We went over the figures and so forth. So, I was Whitney's head of security for a few years. That was just a wonderful experience. Meanwhile, I still had a corporate client from Los Angeles going in and out of New York. I was busy. And so, it was NYPD in a hotel that I could work out. And most of the hotels had heavy bags. And I was working that and studying and looking at films and just researching the martial arts even more. So, I needed to be that. If I'm in self-defense, and it's a compilation of arts, and I needed to be that self-defense expert.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I'm curious. Did you at all appreciate and I can't be the first one to bring this up, but did you appreciate the irony of innocence being the bodyguard to a woman who became well known for starring in a movie or a bodyguard?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
They all get all the I get all the jokes that went along? I would even tell people? Oh, you're a body guard. I know we are right. In layman's terms. That's where they go. But it's not like you work for Whitney Houston or something like that. Is it? Good work?
Jeremy Lesniak:
That's funny. That's funny. And that's why I said in a sense bodyguard because I understand the difference between the level of security that you were performing and...
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
A lot of time, charm was the inspiration for the movie. I said, no, I wasn't I came out two years before I started, but I'm okay. You know, I sometimes I really downplay it. But here's a female singer, that was [00:58:47-00:58:49]. One of the greatest singers of all time. And I wanted to know that I could do the program to the best of my ability and keep her safe. And I did. And we have a lot of fun moments together. And there was a time where we walked down. Times were together just for an eye. Somebody recognized her. I mean, that's not that hard. No, not. The prize had come out very quickly, and I touched it and I left right out of my mouth. I'm with her. And he goes, I didn't even see you there. I said, Coach, what would you like? Because I'd like to have an autograph. Like, okay, slow down. Let me have a piece of paper in your pan and I would he handed it to me. I handed it to her. She autographed it. I got it back and handed it to him. And I put my finger to my lips and I go, you know, and she goes, people don't even see you. I said no, they're so focused on you. I'm kind of hiding in plain sight.
Jeremy Lesniak:
You've talked about how your path as a martial artist has been a bit atypical There may be some folks listening who, you know, they're kind of nodding along and they're saying, you know, I could see myself doing this. This is interesting,
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Right? It's now when they get started. Okay, so now they have the discipline of being a martial artist, let's say they're at a fourth or fifth dawn level is Reptar learning applicable to the street? What are the street come? How does that come at you? How would you visualize being attacked on the street with other people in in the mix and a crab situation? And it's all close quarter combat? How do you visualize that based on the art that you're learning? Now if they're learning, if they're simply a boxer, which is our Western martial art? Would that be applicable? If they are doing Wing Chun? And they're trapping? With that being working within the industry? If they're a kicker, that no hands? How would that look to you because you need a distance. So, I would sit down and really interviewed them from a physical standpoint of view. Now, what else do you bring to the table? That's going to be important? Because I looked at myself, what did I bring to the table, that people found a value? And again, it's going to be more than just martial arts? The discipline has to go beyond the physical and into that academic world, you know, how much are you willing to study, in order to get into this world of close protection, which is the probably the reason why martial arts was created to begin with, is self-defense, and protecting dampers, and so forth.
Now I brought that into a full circle of being that modern day samurai, if you will, or protecting you from China. And then it just, it doesn't end you don't, again, don't rest on your laurels, just because your fourth- or fifth-degree black belt, that you say that's good enough. And I've heard a lot of people say that, well, I've got this level. Okay, are you still training really hard? Well, no, but I know the moves. You know, I would say, let's go down to the gym, let me to see these things, and let me tweak them. So, we're applicable in the street. Because if you're throwing a really high kick, then you're standing on one foot, and you could be unbalanced fairly quickly doing that. So, let's get your kicks down a little bit more, if that's what you think you'd be doing, you know, analyze a lot of different arts is how it's going to apply in the street atmosphere. What's your temperament? Like? You know, do you get rattled easily? And it's okay, it's a human nature, to have a certain sense of fear? And how can you let that? How can you make that work for you? Is it anxiety that you're worried about? If you do get nervous, easily? You know, what to do take medication do have to have a drink. And that's a no. A lot of different things that I ask, that makes the agents valuable to me. So, I don't have to worry so much. If this guy, if a person I hire has a short temper, that wouldn't work because there's many times that people get in your face and all that stuff. And you have to reframe their minds. But if you get played the game of getting involved with that negativity, negative attitude, it's not going to work for you.
You know, you've got to be the consummate professional, you've got to be if you're working in a corporate world, you got to look like the corporate person, or business man. If you're in the entertainment industry, like I was a number of times. I don't shine, I dress in a very casual way. And, like, in another story that I'll talk about, I'm kind of hiding in plain sight, right? Not that big guy that they're looking for in the entertainment field. I'm a guy that can handle the situation. But I'm there and then I, I'm not there, but then I'm there if need be. And there's a unique balance that that is that plays within the industry. I've been I've been protecting people now for close to 40 years. So, you know, it's a science It's a training discipline and the trading takes into account your academics. It doesn't stop, I mean, I just keep going, it's just I just have this insatiable appetite for learning more and training harder. And that's always been part of who I am. And I do find time to relax and have a wonderful girlfriend that just takes it all in. And she's all part of it now. So, I hope that answers that question. There's a lot to it, that people don't under fully understand. It's not a security guard. It's not a body guard. This is close protection. It's more of a science now. And it's not about firearms. I mean, I've been to so many countries, that if I had a firearm, I'd be in prison for the rest of my life. Sure. And sharing happen in such a manner that people wouldn't say anything until after I left. And they would probably say, who was that guy? Really? What did he what was here, here for you. And I snuck in and out of countries and it's gone quite well. And I have a way of being accepted within these countries and the officials I have to talk; they have no idea many times why I'm there. And you know, someone's executive assistant or something. But, you know, along the way, after working with Whitney and having a really interesting job with her, I went back to doing I went back to my la client that that would have been 1997. I had a serious car accident along the way in 97.
We all look to the something distraction of your look to your right or left and so forth, right? Look to my right. As I turned my head, I had a truck head on and block 15 robes and sons in the hospital few days. And sure, when I got out, I started walking and running and lifting. And it was about six months later. Maybe four months later, I'm still working on starting working the maxim more and so forth, who showed up as my buddy from Hollywood, all these years later, he goes, you've been doing any sparring? I'm like, yeah, sure, put the gloves on. So, he wants to kick me and I caught him with my elbow to his toes and broke through his toes. He got mad kicked me in the ribs. And I said, nice carry. I said you want to keep going? He said, “No, I'm out of here”. And I've been great. It's just kind of a bump in the road. So then just kept, you know, just working more jobs. With my corporate guy. He always treated me very, very well. And then 98 my daughter said, we're listening to quit playing games with my heart by the Backstreet Boys. She says wanting to work for those guys. And I said, “Well, you know, I just can't call them up and say, you know, I need a job, and can you hire me? So, two weeks later, I got a call from a gentleman friend of mine, his name is Randy Jones. And he said, “Hey, Tom, you want to go back on tour?” I said, “not really”. I said, “it's just, you know”, kind of hard. And I have a client in from LA. I said, “Who is the client?” And they said Backstreet Boys. So, I called my daughter. I said, Jamie, I have a chance of working with the Backstreet Boys. And I think I'm still here stream today. So, Sam said, Okay, I'll take the job.
So, within three months, I was there a new head of security, and go into South America and all over the place and award shows and just different things with them. When we get to Europe, I got a phone call from someone at the Vatican and said, can we put together a meeting with the pope? I'm like, “Sure”. So here I'm traveling through Europe, talking with bishops and cardinals, and trying to get audience with the Pope. So, I have a nice letter that talks about that, you know, my job and a couple of the guys got to see the appropriate sit down with them and so forth. But that was a wonderful job to kind of a side job to work on with the Backstreet Boys. Just prior to that, however, I got a call in Birmingham, England. We have a Person of royalty that wants to go to the concert. Can you make sure that happens safely our blank shirt. So, he was Princess Beatrice Swords daughter, Sharon Ferguson's daughter, she came in with her security guys. And I told him where to stand. And during the show, when I tell you, we're ready to leave, we need to leave. And they said, "okay”, so it was just about time for them to do an encore and everybody's clapping and stamping their feet, and I walked around, let's go. So, we went out the back door and got him in the car. And her head of security said, her mother will be in touch with you. And so not long after that, I called my parents. And they had a letter with a red seal on it. And Sarah Ferguson had written a letter of “Thank you for taking care of her daughter”. So, a lot of good things like that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Let's talk more specifically about the book, you'd mentioned the book, you know, it sounds like there's a lot of stuff that would dovetail in with what we've talked about. And I would imagine that anybody who's enjoyed the stories, probably enjoyed the book. And you've got another one brewing. First off, we're going to get it.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Let’s say it's called Hiding in Plain Sight, my life and adventures, protecting celebrities. So, they can find it on Amazon using that title. Or they can simply punch in Thomas Lebrun, and it will come up and it'll show a blue background with a jet on it in the back of my head. And you can get it in Kindle and or print book. And it's been going very well received. Two years ago, I wasn't even writing a book. So, you know, I started writing in January 2020. I got done writing the story in December, and then two and a half months of editing. And then we put it out. And so, it hit the publisher's site. It's called BookBaby, hit the publisher site, March 15. But it didn't hit Amazon until May 5. So that wasn't all that long ago. And so right now I'm a read-it-five-star book. And I've already won two awards. So, a multi award winning author already, and very proud of the project as to how it came out. And the many letters of support that are in the book that validates each of the timelines that the book encompasses, for the 60 years that the book goes through my autobiography. And many of the stories we talked about today are in there, but in a little bit more depth. And it's a personal journey. This story about me working with my dad and building some walls and always, he would say something like, today we're working on a stone wall. And we do that for about two hours. And I go grab my gym bag, this is where you go. And so that was a warm up magical workout now, you know, so he's kind of shaking his head.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Cool. Yeah. And you said you're working on another book. What's that one about?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
What it's called? Right now, it's called Out of Time. So Out of Time is about two projectors, and a female character. And it's kind of action filled. There's some romance in there.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Oh, it's fiction.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yes, fiction.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Okay, cool. Cool. You want to do something completely different?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yes. So, years ago, back in the 90s, I was editor in chief of a magazine called Executive Ops. And people work to me from all over the world and so forth. I did some writing back then. So, I just kind of got the bug after settling. My parents are state and federal writing the first book and then the second book, I'm like, “Oh, am I right?” Something very creative. That's mostly based on my life, I guess. And it's called Out of Time. And just the adventures of these three people have their backstories. And there's martial arts involved in there. And there's some funny antidotes that I put in there, there's foreign language, and I'm hoping it comes up like next spring or so it should be. I'm having fun writing it. So, I'm on chapter seven right now. 10,000 words into it. So that's, again, I do that because either I read every night or I write. So, that's the nerd in me is coming back out again. But it gets me I don't want just found it's just a lot of fun writing and, and, and having a story that people can read and enjoy just hiding in plain sight. What we've gotten and I include my girlfriend on this is that we've gotten comments. This was a well written story. This was a story that I really enjoyed. I knew more about you than that, but I guess no, there's much more to you than just lifting weights or just doing your martial arts all these years. And you know, I said, well, there was you know, but one thing I want to talk about, just briefly about my martial arts, how did I get to the level that I am now and also in the book, [01:16:02-01:16:04], which is it's done.
And in 2009, I created a system called American Combative. And it was first recognized by Grandmaster [01:16:14-01:16:15] of Pittsburgh. And he said, “Well, you got something there that enables you to protect people. And it's realistic self-defense”. This is pretty neat. That it wasn't until 2017. I got a phone call. No should actually go up periodic Chicago, Illinois, not have a job. And I've never met Glenn and his name come up on my caller ID and I go yesterday. And he goes, your name has been put in the hatch concerning your system of American combative as a 21st century martial arts. Like, okay. I have to say, I do stomps about that phone call. And he goes, do you accept that said, “Well, yes, I do”. And he goes, where there's going to be a big ceremony for you. You pick the place, we'll put it together, and we'll have the certificates ready for you. And I'm like, “Okay, this is great”. It's super so that's another reason why I trained so hard because they put should actually Glenn Perry, who outside my section forget Grandmaster Ron Van Clief. And I certificate, what an honor. I've taught both of the gentlemen I said, since you put your name on my certificate, the standard of my training will be increased tenfold. And they're like, we wouldn't expect anything less from you. I'm like, thank you. So that gave me more incentive to train harder.
Jeremy Lesniak:
I absolutely get that you got to rise, I guess, the occasion.
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yes, within. So that was just a huge thing. And so now that I've studied pressure points on the meridians, and all that stuff, which opens up the door for a whole bunch of more things. And so, in the last couple of years, I've been, you know, [01:18:19-01:18:22] in 2019-2020. And then [01:18:27-01:18:28] has the karate kung fu award ceremony and I couldn't make it this year. But he has told me I was up for an award so they mailed me this trophy that I'm looking at right now. So, I've been really recognized all these years as to the efforts and the heart that I have put into the martial arts to make it something that is unique but I don't think it's all that unique when we look back on so Bruce Lee did fence and boxing and Wing Chun and all that stuff. You know he had that vision and not that I'm comparing myself with him but that's kind of what I did but for different reasons because I wanted to protect not only myself but a third party that for whatever reason cannot protect themselves and so I've made that work and I'm just the journeys not over by a longshot just having a good time.
Also, going back to my deck described what American Combative is in there, and it's making that bridge between realistic self-defense techniques and maybe prearranged. If you will, how would you get, how would you bridge the gap between that because that's what I'm doing with different martial arts. Here's what you know now. How can we tweak that would make sense in the street. So, I kind of blend, take what they have, let's work with that, instead of changing the whole thing around, it's just tweak it for protection of yourself or someone else in such a way that works for you. Because everything is unique, everybody's built differently. And what I would do would be different than what I teach. Andrew, you know, it's just a whole different ballgame. And I could have that foresight and looking at it that way. In my book, also, at the end is two pages of acknowledgments of people that have made me who I am today, two full pages of acknowledgments. Terry's in there, Michael Depasquale, Jr. The number one on the list is my parents. And the whole book is dedicated to my parents.
Jeremy Lesniak:
What did they think of what you did?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Back in 2001, I got a phone call. It's always about this phone call. And I was number five on the list to work for major corporate person out west. then a week later, I want somebody dropped outside a 25% chance. And we can have later somebody else dropped out, I have a 33% chance of working for this major corporate person. About now we're going into the first week of September 2001. And another person dropped out. So now I have a 50% chance of working for this person. My dad said to me, what makes you think you're good enough to work for this individual. I said “well, that there's only two of us”. And now they're curious as to who I am. And I'm pretty good at what I do. Bein a former bricklayer that he was. I don't know if he could ever really wrap his head around me creating a business out of nothing. And then suddenly traveling around the world with top entertainers and corporate people. So, I flew out to West. On September 7, September 8, I got a phone call and said, “Do you want the job?” I said, “Yes, I do”. So, September 9, I flew back home here to Enfield, September 11 happened 9/11 happens. And they said, “When can you get out here?” So, I flew out on the 14th. So, who did I work for it was Bill Gates.
So, the top man on the corporate totem pole. I was very honored; I was very pleased that my computer skills needed a lot of work. So, they didn't know my mother would always say “Just be careful”. And my dad would try to figure it out from a business standpoint of you. How could his son be that good at protecting because he knows me as his son, as someone that works out as someone that used to run a gas station? How, where did this happen, that I'm that grid that I could work for? Whitney Houston, and they got to meet Whitney and all these other people along the way. They just I think he kept scratching his head. Like how did this happen? You know, I just didn't know. I don't know if he didn't get it, but he just hated it. That was you know, you know, another thing that that I think you would be kind of amazed that is we went back and we talked about Tony Robbins briefly. So, through the years, I kept listening to him listening and so forth. So, February 2001, I got a phone call. And they said we need you to do advance work to Rio de Janeiro.
We have a client that wants to go to the carnival and all that stuff. And I'm like, Okay, I'll do the advance and who's the client? They go Tony Robbins. Okay, so I got to meet Tony directly, and what's his personal guy. So, all of these things that everything that I studied for everything that I listen to, always in a full circle. And I'm just very, very pleased and I use the word blessed and fortunate that I found things that that I could do very well but it wasn't without hard work and sacrifices and a lot of a lot of different things that make me that person that I clearly am on the radio program with you. Kind of telling people you can do it, you put your mind to it. I'll even help you if they want to reach out to me by the book and ask questions from the book. I will help them get to wherever they need it to be, whether it's security, or martial arts or so forth and steer them in the right direction. I have no problem doing that.
Jeremy Lesniak:
That's really generous. Obviously, I would hope anyone who's going to ask for advice on getting into security would buy the book that you wrote your career on security. But if people want to, you know, are you a social media guy, you know, are there other websites, emails, anything that you want to share with the folks listening?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Facebook right now, because this week, I have a big book signing in White River Junction from the People's Bank, on the 10th, Friday 11-3. So, I'm all over up the valley, [01:25:52-01:25:57], my own Facebook page, “Who's heard Martial Arts”, legends, and so forth. Over that, LinkedIn, I'm on there, that's more of my business security guys. And gals. I don't have a website as of yet, because I've just been too busy with everything else going on. But people can find me. I’m not hard to find. There's just so much more that we've, we've covered a lot of stuff today. And there's even much more than what we covered. That it's just amazing. You know, just the training and all that stuff. It's going to extremely well, I'm very pleased and, you know, have not been without injuries every once in a while, a human being. I'm not affected by kryptonite, so I'm okay.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Even better, even better. Yeah. So as, as we wrap up here, you've shared a lot of different stuff, a lot of really powerful, insightful stuff. But how do you want to close it up? You know, what are your last thoughts for the people listening?
Hanshi Thomas Lebrun:
Yeah, I would say, you know, don't let anybody discourage you from your dreams, you know, live life to the fullest. Live life, the best version of who you are, and the rewards, you'll reap the rewards, I guarantee you, you really will. I mean, my whole journey has just been about living my dream, but living a world of I can versus I'm not sure if I can do many things. I mean, jumping up and kicking the net, working for the likes of Whitney Elton and Bill Gates. Recently, I had my picture taken with the governor of New Hampshire holding my book. You know, go on and just make those things happen. If you have those dreams, whatever that dream might be, make that happen for yourself, you know, have a sense of pride and how you've accomplished those things in your life. Don't let people discourage you create that momentum. If you can't create, I'll help you get plenty of momentum. And I want to have this book of mine, Hiding in Plain Sight, my life and adventures protecting celebrities to be an inspirational tool that you could use as actually as a workbook. Once you read it through, get a highlighter, go in there and start making, you know, highlighting passages in there that really resonate with you. Like, how do they get from point A to point B? Different people have different sayings and they're from Hawkins? I think it may be Stephen Hawking. Yeah, Stephen Hawking. He's got a powerful statement. And they're different people have contributed words of wisdom and words of encouragement.
I would say just use that book as a workbook. And then you can always refer to it. And it's not just a book you read and get all psyched up for five minutes and then put it up on a shelf. Keep it out there and put it on your coffee table, go back in there and start highlighting things. I'm here to motivate you. I'm here to inspire you. I've had a wonderful life and it's far from over. At the end of my book, you'll see an empty plate, and it says, empty plates to be filled again. So, I'm filling it again. And here I am in my 60s, it's never too late to start. It's never too early to start. Just go with your feelings. You know, don't let people discourage you. What you want to get out of life manage life as something worse? You know you have your nurture all these different things in your mind and your heart and say I wish I could do this and go out and do it go out and make that happen. Mine just happened to be protecting people martial arts working out. And I think motivating people, those are the big things that take away from my book and my messages. And I've had a great time. And very blessed to be on the show with you, Jeremy. And hopefully people can congrats my messages in such a way that they come back to you and say, I was blessed by this show. I was blessed by reading Tom's book. And if they show up in White River, then then I shake hands hug whatever they want just to make sure they get the message. So that's me.
Jeremy Lesniak:
Told you those were some good stories, some great names. And I can only imagine how many more stories when untold. I mean, I can't even imagine that any length book would fully encompass all the things that this man has done. And you know, I'm blown away that he's in my backyard. So super pumped at the opportunities that that creates. I hope you'll check out the show notes at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. I hope you'll consider the book. Consider following him to stand aware of what he's doing. This is somebody who took one of the, in my opinion core principles of martial arts, avoiding fights, the ultimate in self-defense is avoiding a fight. And Tom's job was to professionally avoid fights for some of the wealthiest most famous people on earth. Like how cool is that? And what a great way to implement what we learn. Wouldn't surprise me if some of you out there are strongly considering getting into this field now and I hope you do because somebody has to and I'd rather be a martial artist. So, Hanshi Tom, thanks for coming on the show. Really appreciate it. And look forward to our next chat whenever that is you listening. If you want to support us, remember you've got a pile of ways you can do it everything from reviews and sharing and buying podcast one five and the Patreon, patreon.com/whistlekick and don't forget we've got our training programs like the free flex program, but we've got handful of others go to whistlekickprograms.com. You can check those out there. If you have a guest suggestion or other feedback, I want to hear Jeremy at whistlekick.com. Our social media is at whistlekick. Everywhere you might think of. And that brings us to the end. So until next time, train hard, smile and have a great day.