Jim Wagner Reality-Based Personal Protection

Reality-Based expands into South Africa
Jim Wagner

For the past several months Morne (pronounced more-nay) Swanepoel of South Africa and I have been talking about introducing the Reality-Based Personal Protection system to South Africa. When Morne arrived in New York City for personal training from me in June it was obvious to me that he had the skills, business background, and the motivation necessary to spread my system in that part of the world.

On June 22nd the two of us went out to a Thai restaurant near the Fashion Institute and discussed our marketing strategy for this new market. Our plan is to have me flight out to South Africa and teach for a couple of days in Johannesburg and possibly in Durban. I won’t be giving my full Level 1 seminar, but will be giving introduction courses instead. These courses will be a mixture of my 15 courses.

At the age of 4, Morne Swanepoel was introduced to amateur wrestling, karate and boxing. After 5 years Morne achieved local championships, Transvaal colors and became a national champion in Amateur Wrestling. While training in wrestling, he was also participating in competitive karate, where he competed up to provincial and national level. Kickboxing and boxing also became part of his artillery. Morne joined up with various other Martial Arts competitive associations and in a short space of time he once again achieved national colors and became a provincial team manager, as well as serving as a referee and arbitrator at the national level – all this by 18 years old. After leaving the competitive scene he then joined up with the traditional martial arts of Kobudo-karate where he achieved multiple Dan grades and international recognition. Today Morne holds a 5th Dan status and has been awarded the prestigious Shihan title (Master).

Morne started exploring the more realistic arts and training methods. He was involved in training the National Police and security forces, and has been working as a professional doorman for the past 8 years. His training also includes personal protection services and tactical firearms.

Morne was elected in 2004 as the International Coach of the month by one of the World’s Largest Mixed Martial Arts Internet resources (www.martialinfo.com).

In August 2005 Morne was invited to Brazil to attend a training camp in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (ground fighting) with seven of the world’s best BJJ black-belt champions; an intense 10 day training camp and selected only 15 attendees. Morne was the only South African who attended this camp www.brazilianblackbelt.com.

Morne was the only South African invited by the French government to represent South Africa and train with the world’s best kick boxers helping to build ties between South Africa and France in the French art of Savate. He was also invited by one of his personal instructors and mentor, Burton Richardson of the Jeet Kune Do system www.jkdunlimited.com to assist him at the international seminar held in San Damiano D’asti, Italy. Morne was introduced as a special guest at the European Ultimate Fighting Challenge (EUFC) and had the responsibility of crowning the new world Thai Boxing champion. As a result, Morne was personally thanked and presented with souvenirs by the Italian Mayor.

At our dinner Morne told me that the Jim Wagner Reality-Based Personal Protection system was the “true reality-based system,” and is exactly what South Africa needs due to the alarming increase of crime lately.

If you are in Africa and are interested in Reality-Based Personal Protection courses in 2007 keep your eye on this website’s calendar or visit Morne’s website at www.jkd.co.za

I don’t expect many people to move onto Level 3 in the Reality-Based system. This level is for Reality-Based directors and those instructors who own and operate their own self-defense schools. It’s people serious about making money with the Reality-Based Personal Protection system.

Although I have given private lessons for Level 3, July 3 to 7 was my first official Level 3 course that I have ever offered. Mind you that the Jim Wagner Reality-Based Personal Protection system is only three and a half years old.

Although I only had five students in the course, they came from the far reaches of the earth. I had my director of Sweden come, Peter Falk, and also Anna Hallander (the first female Reality-Based instructor in Sweden). I had my director of France, Christophe Besse, attend as well as Joanna Husson (the first female Reality-Based instructor in France). I also had Elizabeth Greenman, of New York City, attend this course (my first female Reality-Based instructor in the United States). However, due to the intensity of the course, and the amount of equipment involved, this course is only designed to accommodate six people anyway. I had another instructor from Georgia, USA who wanted to attend, but he had to cancel due to work, which he warned me could happen.

The Level 3 course was a success in many ways. Throughout the week I video taped many training aspects that will be in my future DVDs. For those in the DVDs it will also help spread their names worldwide when they are released next year.

The first day started off with teaching the instructors how to properly teach police and military personnel. Since the Reality-Based Personal Protection system attracts professionals it is important that Reality-Based instructors understand the needs of this group and to be able to give them suggestions when they take this system back to their units and agencies. Many Reality-Based instructors are civilians and have never been in the military or police, and as such are not familiar with their training and mentality. Traditional and sport-based martial arts do not cross over to professionals well, but Reality-Based does. This course also prevents the instructor from embarrassing himself if they cannot answer a question or they are asked how a certain technique or tactic can be modified for professional work.

My Level 3 students then learned how to properly teach full-contact fighting using the proper safety equipment and safety rules. The fights were intense and each student could only handle three fights each. They learned how to do endurance drills, Will to Survive drills, and Reality-Based Conflict Rehearsal scenarios.

The training then went on to how to set up realistic scenarios. First they learned how to set up a Reality-Based environment with lighting and stage setting. The students had hands-on projects where they actually prepared a room. After that they learned how to make various props and then worked their way up to stage make-up (bruises, knife wounds, gunshot wounds, and disguises). Lessons also included scripts, basic acting, and costumes.

The next course was all about marketing and advertising. Few people know this, but after my tour in the U.S. Army I worked in the marketing, publishing and advertising business for a few years before becoming a cop. I started as a graphic artist, then became an Art Director for a few companies, then ended my career as the president of a small advertising agency. Since then I have had my hand in the marketing and advertising aspects of the Reality-Based Personal Protection system.

The Level 3 seminar ended with all of the business aspects of a Reality-Based school. We went over business licenses, merchant accounts, websites, and all of the other little details that help make for a successful business. I also went over the problems of teaching the martial arts and painted a realistic picture of this career. Although there are many rewards in this business, there are many pitfalls as well. Few people can make a living with the martial arts, and this is exactly why Level 3 is such an important phase of a serious Reality-Based instructor.

Of course, since I had a couple of my directors with me I took them around my home: Hollywood, the beach, and other tourist sights. My Swedish instructors went to Disneyland while the French went to Knott’s Berry Farm (a fast ride amusement park) during their day off.

Currently the Level 3 seminar is only taught in the United States, but there are plans for each of the directors in the various countries to offer it. This will most likely begin to happen in 2008. Until then top instructors will just have to “suffer” with a trip to sunny California.