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They used to be called 'pick up artists.' The guys who could approach a woman, spin a good line and - well - the next thing you know - it had evolved into a relationship or, possibly, a one-night stand. But how did those men develop those skills? And are those skills just cheap tricks meant to manipulate women, or are they genuine ways for shy guys to get to meet women?

Reporter Jennifer Moreau takes a closer look at one man who has made a business out of training men in the art and science of meeting women.

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The casual approach: Ronald Lee peruses a magazine while pondering how he will approach a woman. photo submitted/BURNABY NOW

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On a bustling Sunday afternoon, three guys are huddled around a table in the food court of Metropolis at Metrotown. One man - we'll call him "Fred" - has a good job, a nice car and dresses well but is unsuccessful with women. In fact, he's terrified of approaching them, but that's exactly what he's about to do. Fred walks up to a nearby table where a young woman sits eating her lunch and reading a Stephen King novel.

"The first one is really scary, but he's doing really good," says Ronald Lee, back at the table. He's got good body language and doesn't lean in too much, Lee notes. The woman is responding well and laughing. Eventually Fred returns to the table for a debriefing with Lee, sole founder of a Vancouver-based company called Man Meets Woman.

He's a self-styled "attraction coach" - someone who helps men meet and seduce women. This is a scene from a course called the Art of Attraction, and the men are in what Lee calls "field training," essentially live practice on women.

Now it's "Rick's" turn. Lee spots a pair of Asian women seated in the food court, and Rick heads into the crowd as we watch from the sidelines. His plan is to use an "opener" along the lines of, "Are you from Japan?" - but something goes awry. Rick approaches what looks like a family with teenage girls and returns confused, saying they were too young. Lee tells him he went to the wrong table. Once redirected, Rick approaches the right pair, and Lee comments.

"He's a little more scared," he says, adding Rick is "engaged" but his voice is a little quiet. The women exchange confused sidelong glances and seem to shy away from Rick's advance.

Now it's Lee's turn to show them how it's done. Thirty-two year-old Lee is Asian, with a short stocky build, a round face, glasses and a background in business and communications. He wears a dark dress shirt with black pants, and his hair is gelled in that messy-but-stylish mode popular among Londoners.

He stops a passing young woman, and in less than a minute both are smiling and talking enough that they seem like good friends. Lee stands with his head tilted to one side and weight balanced on one hip. He's gesturing closer to her, almost touching - then he takes her hand in both of his and moves in even closer. She's still smiling and remains motionless for what seems an eternity.

Enter stage right: a young man with arms crossed - it's her boyfriend. Rick and Fred watch attentively and, within seconds, Lee charms the boyfriend, who is now nodding his head. The couple leaves, and Lee returns to his students for a debriefing.