🇺🇸 My path to Karuna Combat – A journey full of passion and dedication

In the former GDR, there were only boxing and judo associations, but classic kung fu films had captivated me even as a child. I didn't just want to watch—I wanted to fight! I still remember the summer vacations at my grandparents' house, where I spent hours shadow boxing, defeating imaginary opponents, and feeling like the heroes I admired.

In 1987, a moment came that would change my life forever: my father arranged for relatives from Aschaffenburg to give me the four-part textbook series by Bruce Lee. I can hardly put into words what these books meant to me – they became my bible, my teacher, my inspiration. I trained every day, made my own training equipment, and developed a discipline that has stayed with me to this day. I was a loner and didn't have a loving childhood, but in training I found something that no one could take away from me: control, strength, and a goal.

The path to reality – First hard lessons

In 1989/90, I heard from a friend that a Vietnamese master named Nam had opened a kung fu school. This was my opportunity! I traveled to Chemnitz several times a week on my MZ 150 and trained there. The student-teacher relationship quickly developed into a deep friendship. I spent every free minute with my master and his family, learning, breathing, and living martial arts.

But in 1993, I was brutally brought back to reality from my martial arts world. A group of attackers confronted me out of nowhere—and I realized that traditional systems did not help me in this situation. I came out unscathed, but this experience stayed with me. My master and I had a long conversation and, with great respect, we went our separate ways. His last words to me were: “One day you will be a great fighter and master yourself.”

These words stay with me to this day.

I began to question everything. I wanted a system that really worked—not just in training, but in real life. I discovered BJJ and ju-jitsu, took part in competitions, and began to develop my own techniques. Eventually, friends asked me to teach them. That's how I went from student to teacher.

Experience in street fighting and the search for effectiveness

My time as a bouncer and my experiences in the rocker scene quickly showed me that many techniques simply didn't work in a real fight. I learned what counts when it comes to life and death – no show, no choreography, just pure effectiveness. Until 2004, I trained with colleagues from the security industry, exchanged experiences, and continued to develop my skills.

Then came the next big turning point: in 2004, a friend introduced me to Keysi Fighting Method (KFM). There, my mentors immediately recognized my potential and advised me to do the instructor training. I accepted the challenge and started in 2006. By 2023, I had successfully completed several instructor training courses. But for me, it was never about certificates – it was always about getting the best out of myself. I continued to learn, leaving out everything unnecessary and keeping only what worked.

In addition to unarmed combat, I was also fascinated by combat with weapons. My passion for reenactment combat led me to explore ancient combat ring techniques and improvised weapons. This is how I came up with the idea for the hammer ring—my first self-defense tool. Later, I developed additional rings and tools.

I invested countless hours, thousands of kilometers, and tons of money in my training. While others complained about having to travel 15 km to training, I drove 400 km for three training sessions per week. When I opened my first academy in Zwickau in 2007, I traveled an additional 2,000 km per month for my training. I didn't just want to get better—I wanted to be the best.

The path via Defence Lab – A new challenge

When KFM fell apart, it was a hard blow for me. I had invested so much, learned so much—and yet I realized that all large organizations had the same problem: ego, envy, resentment, and politics. “Don't do this, don't do that, follow our rules”—all of that stood in the way of my development.

But my desire to develop further led me to Andy Norman and Defence Lab (DL). I was impressed by the philosophy behind DL and its approach to self-defense. Here, I was able to take my knowledge to a new level and learned how modern movement patterns and situational adaptations can be used in real conflicts. I once again invested a lot of time and energy in my further training, flying regularly to my mentors and instructor camps – countless hours, nights on planes, countless stays at airports in foreign countries. I flew across Europe, from Germany to Spain, England, and many other places, always in search of new insights. At the same time, I traveled thousands of kilometers by car to attend seminars, exams, and training camps.

But over time, I realized that the same structural problems I had already experienced at KFM existed here as well. I became increasingly aware that I didn't want to be forced into a straitjacket permanently – I needed my own freedom to implement what I really believed in.

Fig. 1 Andreas Wagner during children's training (D. Harder, 2025).

The birth of Karuna Combat – My life's work

So I decided to go my own way. I remembered what I had already started in 1994: developing my own style. In 2020, I founded Karuna Combat—a system that is different from all others. It is not a rigid system with traditions that no longer make sense. It is flexible, adaptable, and reduced to the essentials: effective self-defense for real dangerous situations.

Thanks to two strong partners, I was able to realize my dream. My goal is not to build a large martial arts organization with ranking systems and titles. My goal is to pass on to as many people as possible the knowledge that 36 years of training and experience have taught me.

What makes a good teacher

Over the years, I have learned one thing: it's not about how many certificates you have or how many black belts you wear. It's about who you are as a person, how you treat your students, and what your true motivation is.

A good teacher does not teach according to a rigid system. Every person is different, every dangerous situation is different – so training must also be flexible. My goal is not only to teach people combat techniques, but also to give them self-confidence and inner strength.

Karuna Combat is my life's work, and I am proud to share my experience with all those who are willing to develop themselves further—not only as fighters, but as human beings.

Fig. 2 Andreas Wagner at the Karuna Combat seminar in Braunschweig (D. Harder, 2022).