Jim Wagner Reality-Based Personal Protection

Reality-Based Is Here To Stay

Jim Wagner 

Black Belt magazine has released a new book titled The Ultimate Guide To Reality-Based Self-Defense, and I am one of six self-defense instructors featured in the book. 

A decade ago I coined the term "reality-based self-defense" to describe what I called the third branch of the martial arts: 1. Traditional-based martial arts  2. Sport-based martial arts  3. Reality-based martial arts. When the publication noticed that schools around the world were copying this term Black Belt magazine chief editor Robert Young asked me, "Do you want us to trademark this term?" I told him, "No, because I want people to have a term that best describes this type of self-defense. As long as they don’t use the four words Reality-Based Personal Protection together then I am good." Of course, RBPP is the name for my own personal system that has spread worldwide. 

I have met every instructor featured in the book except one, and that is Kelly McCann; although I have seen several of his training videos and have read a lot of his material. He is definitely someone I endorse as a true reality-based self-defense instructor. 

Beside me there is Michael Janich, my friend Tony Blauer, Mike Lee Kanarek, Richard Ryan and John Pellegrini. 

The back cover of the book reads: The Ultimate Guide to Reality-Based Self-Defense gives you the keys to unconditional survival. Featuring some of the best self-defense articles from Black Belt archives, the book explores a wide spectrum of violent situations and teaches you how to effectively assess them and how to act accordingly. Using detailed photo sequences and step-by-step instructions. The Ultimate Guide to Reality-Based Self-Defense teaches you battle-tested tactics and techniques from the world's most innovative fighting arts, including krav maga, combat hapkido and military combatives. 

Four months ago I joined Facebook. Yes, I know, I am a latecomer to social media. I had many of my students and certified instructors pressuring to join, and I wanted to, but I was just too busy. Then I forced myself to join Facebook and in four short months 1,800 martial artists, police officers, and military personnel wanted to be my friend, and everyday more are coming. What I found when I checked out their walls and websites is that many of them use the term "reality-based" in one way or another: reality-based self-defense, reality-based fighting, reality-based combat training, reality-based krav maga, and so on. It’s nice to see that I had an impact on the martial arts community. In 1999 I told Robert Young, "I’m going to change the martial arts world." 

Reality-Based self-defense in my mind means pre-conflict, conflict, and post-conflict training that parallels the type of modern conflicts that someone may face in their "reality" (the environment they find themself in at the time of conflict). I combined techniques and training methods from the police, corrections, protective services, military, and the martial arts. Since it came from professionals it also includes the techniques and training methods of the bad guys: criminals, terrorists, drunks, bar fights, and everything in between. 

I'm honored that Black Belt magazine considers me one of the top six reality-based self-defense instructors in the world. The other five are certainly top-notch instructors and are also pioneers in the reality-based movement.  

The man that I am choking on the front cover of the book is my good friend since high school, and Level 1 Reality-Based instructor, Frank Mayson. The photograph was taken by Rick Hustead at his studio for Black Belt magazine.  

The book retails for $21.95, is 127 pages, and full-color with a really great layout throughout. It is a good addition to your martial arts library. At the moment I am not carrying this book, although I expect my first shipment soon. If you want to purchase this book immediately I suggest going directly to Black Belt Books.

Radio Interview On Active Shooters & Terrorism

Jim Wagner 

On September 9, 2011 I gave a one-hour interview to Jeff Anderson of the International Society of Close Quarter Combatants. Years ago Jeff was the first person to air live webinars over the Internet, an over the years he has interviewed prominent people in the martial arts world. His website has grown over the years and is a great resource for martial artists. Every week Jeff has a live broadcast. 

The interview I gave at 3 pm Eastern Time was titled Terrorist/Active Shooter Response For Civilians. It took place just two days before the 10^th anniversary of 9/11, and so it was a topic on everyone’s mind. 

For one hour I gave practical advice to listeners on what to do in an office massacre, a school shooting, or a full-blow terrorist attack. Of course the advice given was based on whether a person was in the "hot zone" or the "warm zone."

If you would like to listen to the interview that I gave then the only way to do so is to go to the website and join the ISCQC. For a one dollar "test drive" you will also get some FREE martial arts material. Once you click there you will see a quality website, and I've seen Jeff's stuff in the past and it is always top quality. 

Jeff has promised me a copy of the interview and a copy of the transcripts, however, that will not be for a few months yet. It is best to sign-up now and get all of the benefits of the website. 

On a regular basis I teach people how to survive criminal shootings and terrorist attacks.  Just a few weeks before in England and France I taught this subject, and you can read all about it on the past few news briefs. I also had a video placed on YouTube that specifically goes into what to do if you find yourself in or near an office shooting: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEck-CGq4w0 

Within 72 hours of this video going online to the public it had just over 400 views, which I was very happy to see because I believe that this video can actually save lives. I’ve also received many positive comments about it, and how easy it is to learn. One martial arts instructor said, "Now this is what real self-defense is all about."

Martial Artist Making It Big In Music

Jim Wagner 

A few years ago when I was teaching my Level 1 courses in New York city I had the privilege of having well-known Ling Gar Kung-fu instructor and actor Vincent Lyn take some of my courses. I knew about Vincent long before he stepped foot into my class because he had been featured in Budo Magazine several times, and even once on the cover. I had also recognized him as the lead villain in the film Operation Condor where he fights Jackie Chan on the big screen, not to mention being a male model for Levi's Gucci, Adidas, Yves Saint Laurent, and other big names. 

On September 12 Vincent called me just to chitchat. In the course of the conversation I found out that he just released a new music CD titled Heaven Bound. Vincent's mother was a musical prodigy in England and as such he studied music at the Marion Mack at the Royal College of Music and then the London College of Music to study piano and trombone. When his family moved to the United States he continued his studies with the Irma Ladone at Yale University Music School and then later was accepted at the prestigious Boston Conservatory of Music. At the Manhattan School of Music he explored jazz piano, and on the first song of the CD album, titled Stolen Moments, is a great piano jazz piece. The rest of the album includes bossa nova, and samba to Afro-Cuban and contemporary ballads. 

Then Vincent told me that he is also going to be playing at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on October 14, 2011 at 8:00 pm. If you happen to be in the area at the time I highly recommend it. It will make for a very classy night. I had the privilege of hearing Vincent play. He had invited me and another RBPP instructors up to his penthouse that overlooks the southern tip of Manhattan Island and gave us a private concert. His playing was magnificent. 

In my courses Vincent really took to my Reality-Based system, and even recommended it to many of his students; a rare thing for a traditional-based instructor to do. Yet, although Vincent is both tough, successful, and good looking all rolled up into one, he is very humble and just a great guy to be around. He's one of those types that leave a very positive lasting impression on you. 

A few days later Vincent's CD album showed up in my mailbox. He had obviously sent it right after talking to me on the phone. What a pleasant surprise. In return I sent him the Wagner Urban knife; thin enough that he can wear in his suit while giving a concert. After all, I trained him how to use it.