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To prepare for his much anticipate “Search for Osama bin Laden”, Super Size Me star Morgan Spurlock turned to Black Belt Hall of Fame member Sgt. Jim Wagner for a crash course in terrorism survival.
“I was expecting him to have the typical celebrity mentality,” Wagner says, “but he was really down-to-earth. He placed himself in my hands and was a dedicated student.”
Wagner and his assistants ran Spurlock through a series of training scenarios that recreate the harsh realities of the Middle East. Over the course of the eight-hour session, Wagner taught him how to survive explosions, kidnapping attempts, sniper attacks and hostage situations.
Wagner says, “He quickly learned the truth of what I’ve taught for years: Any valid self-defense technique can be mastered in five minutes.”
Spurlock’s crew was there to capture the action at Wagner’s Los Angeles training facility, and the two appeared in a CNN segment about Spurlock’s documentary on the War on Terrorism, Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
In the final training scenario, Spurlock agreed to let Wagner pepper spray him so he could experience firsthand what a chemical attack felt like. After he recovered, Wagner awarded him with a certificate for completing his Terrorism Survival course.
“He thanked me for the lessons, and I wished him a safe mission,” Wagner says. “I look forward to seeing the movie that documents his journey into the lion’s den.”
For more on Spurlock’s training, check out Wagner’s column in the May 2008 issue of Black Belt.