Hamburg's toughest bouncer reveals his shocking secrets!

Hamburg's toughest bouncer reveals his shocking secrets!

Anyone who thinks the Elbe remains calm hasn't met Axel Wagener yet. The neighborhood bouncer, who plays in a league of very special characters, is unmistakable, and not just because of his appearance. At 1.88 meters and 100 kilos, he is a name that commands respect on the Reeperbahn and in Eilbek. Wagener has earned a reputation as one of the toughest bouncers in Hamburg and is not only active at the entrances to the “Halo Club” and the “Voilà”, but also runs his own fight school, the Major-Gym UCC, in Hamburg-Hummelsbüttel.

His path to this point has been anything but ordinary. Born in Scotland, he came to Hamburg at the age of six. He became interested in martial arts when he was just seven years old. He trained in various disciplines such as judo, karate and kickboxing and over the years gained not only fighting experience, but also very personal challenges. “Fight to the Blood” is not only the title of his TV show on DMAX, but also describes his own experiences as a bouncer.

A life between security service and art

Wagner is not only a bouncer, but also a recognized martial artist and has developed his own self-defense technique, UCC (Ultimate Close Combat). This technique aims to quickly immobilize attackers and draws on millennia-old sword techniques that have been modified for unarmed use. There is no compulsion to wear clothes in his school, no exams, and the interaction is friendly - stress and showing off are not welcome here.

The founders of the UCC, including Heiko Lempio, bring their experiences from various areas - including as soldiers, bodyguards and martial artists - into the training. “Only those who know reality can successfully counteract the dangers,” emphasizes Wagener. The training at UCC takes place in a friendly atmosphere and the participants come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, from police officers to doctors.

A man with many faces

Although he was confronted with sometimes brutal confrontations in his job as a bouncer, Wagener has not only suffered injuries, but also gained a whole range of experience - some of whom have appeared in court several times, but without a criminal record. “Thank God no broken bones,” smiles the neighborhood veteran as he talks about his sometimes risky job. There were incidents with hooligans and even an attack by a pimp and European kickboxing champion, where Wagener was able to demonstrate his skills.

In his free time he is increasingly drawn from the neighborhood to TV. His show has sparked great interest in subcultures such as drug dealer and hooligan scenes. Five more episodes are already being planned. Wagener even plans to work less as a bouncer in the future and instead teach actors fighting techniques.

A look into the future

“I've been doing it for 21 years now and it's time for a change,” he says of his future plans. With his resume and his impressive skills, Axel Wagener has what it takes to cut a good figure behind the camera. But no matter where his path takes him, one thing is certain: the neighborhood will no longer be the same without him.

You can also find all information about Axel Wagener and his path as a bouncer and martial artist at Moin.de and UCC Hamburg.