The Father of Modern Bodyguarding Major Lucien Victor Ott (1931-1990)
The International Bodyguard Association was founded in December 1957 by Major
Lucien Victor Ott, a highly decorated Para-Commando (Airborne Commando) veteran.
Lucien Ott was born and raised within the Foreign Legion in Algeria. His grandfather
served in the elite Chasseurs D'Afrique (African Raiders) and was killed in action in
the Dardenelles Campaign. Lucian's father Victor served as a Conscript in the Spahi
(Calvary) before joining the Foreign Legion. Victor Ott became a Senior
Noncommissioned Officer (Sr NCO) in the 1st Foreign Legion Calvary Regiment,
Victor was wounded in action during the Riff Wars and honorably left the service on a
Disability Pension.
Lucien enlisted in the newly formed Para-Commandos (Airborne Commandos)
serving in the 2nd Demi (Small)-Brigade Special Air Service (SAS) (Special
Operations Forces) in Indochina, Then with the 8 Brigade Coloniale de Commandos
Parachutistes (BCCP) (Colonial Brigade of Airborne Commandos) under Col. Bigerd.
Lucien volunteered to parachute into Dien Bien Phu where he was wounded and
taken prisoner by the Viet Minh. Lucien heroically escaped and later joined the
Groupment de Commandos Mixtes Aeroportes (GCMA) a military Intelligence
Operation organizing Montagnard resistance groups. After the war Lucien transferred
to the Deuxieme Bureau (Military Intelligence Branch). In Marseillaise he was
introduced to Karate and Aiki Ju Jutsu by his friend Jim Alcheik (of the FSS) at the
Yoseikan School under Tetsuji Murikami.
In 1956 Lucien was tasked with reviewing the Operational Protection methods for
military very important persons (VIPs). Lucien found that the methods used
internationally in bodyguarding were ineffective and outdated. From this, The Lucien
Ott Protection Method was born, He called his method 'Defense & Security' Lucien
coined the phrase "Protection Rapprochee" or "Close Protection"
The Birth of the International Bodyguard Association (IBA)
Lucien V. Ott founded the International Bodyguard Association as a "Think-Tank" for
Bodyguards. Lucien was fighting against terrorism in Algeria when he was selected
by M. Tinet to perform as a personal Bodyguard for President Charles de Gaulle at
the height of the Organization Armee Secrete (OAS) (Secret Army Organization) crisis.
Under authority of General de Monssabert a group of ex-special operations forces
veterans were formed as "Le Gorilles" (The Guerrillas). When Pompidou succeeded
President De Gaulle "Le Gorilles" were given the option of being absorbed by the
Gendarmerie (military police) or leaving.
Lucien moved to Munich, Germany where he tried his hand as a 'cascador' or stunt
man, Lucien established a stunt man school. Soon Lucien returned to bodyguarding
celebrities from the world of the cinema. Lucien was the celebrities choice in the 70s.
Lucien was in demand from both the military and law enforcement as a bodyguard
instructor. In the mid-1970s Lucien moved to Brussels,Belgium and established the
first International Bodyguard Association (IBA) Academy "Defence & Security" in Rue
de I'Etoile in Uccle.
In December 1989 Lucien was Diagnosed with terminal cancer
and admitted to the Eramus Institute in Anderlecht where he succumbed in February
1990. At Lucien's request he was succeeded after his death by his deputy who is the
current Director General tasked with ensuring that the IBA fulfills it's mission of
training bodyguards in a modern and effective trade craft.
Go to IBA History Part II
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