INTERNATIONAL BODYGUARD ASSOCIATION
(SINCE 1957)
Beyond protection excellence
We develop professionals who judge crises and take responsibility
by international standards proven by history
The essence of professional protection is not technique
It is the ability to judge threat, space, team, law, and responsibility
IBAKOREA EDU
International Bodyguard Association
IBAKOREA EDU is the official education institution in Korea of the International Bodyguard Association (IBA), the world’s first and largest international close protection organization.
The IBA was founded in 1957 in France by General Lucien-Victor Ott and is currently active across more than 110 branches on six continents worldwide.
IBAKOREA EDU delivers internationally recognized certifications through intensive 2–4 week programs that include live-fire training, close protection, tactical driving, counter-terrorism, profiling, defensive tactics, and emergency response.
Graduates of these programs are qualified to operate in private military and private security sectors, as well as in VIP protection, government security, and corporate security environments, in accordance with international standards.
IBA's global network
The International Bodyguard Association (IBA) is a globally recognized professional education institution specializing in protection and close protection.
Graduates who have completed IBA programs have already proven their capabilities by holding key positions within major institutions and corporations across numerous countries worldwide.
Supported by a strong global network and extensive international experience, the IBA is able to coordinate security strategies beyond national boundaries and respond effectively to the unique environments and challenges of each region.
Massimiliano Fiorentini, Cavalier IBA Director General (2023–Present)
Massimiliano Fiorentini
IBA President (2023–present)
Massimiliano Fiorentini, who assumed the role of Director-General of the International Bodyguard Association (IBA) in 2023, is widely known as “Professor Max.”
A former member of the Italian military, he received direct training from the previous Director-General and has built his professional experience within the IBA since 2003.
In 2013, he served as Regional Director for IBA Italy and Switzerland, further expanding his international reputation.
He is a seasoned expert with extensive experience in military training and security operations, and has trained bodyguards and security professionals worldwide.
His principal areas of instruction include:
- Sniper and counter-sniper training
- PSD (Personal Security Detail) operations in hostile environments
- Risk analysis and advanced threat management
- Close-quarters combat, tactical shooting, and weapons training
- Maritime and yacht security
- High-risk executive and VIP escort operations
- Surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques
- Diplomatic facility and international event security
- Advanced emergency and medical training for bodyguards
- VIP protection programs for hotels, aviation, maritime operations, and ski resorts
IBA Instructors – Shield & Sword
All IBA instructors, regardless of their previous background, service record, or level of expertise, are required to complete the Certified International Bodyguard (CIBG) course.
Only after obtaining this certification may candidates apply for the MONITEUR program, which represents the entry-level stage of the IBA instructor pathway.
After completing a minimum of two years of instructional activity, instructors may advance to the INSTRUCTEUR (full instructor) level.
Instructor certification must be renewed every two years in accordance with IBA standards.
The highest rank, PROFESSEUR, is reserved for instructors who have demonstrated more than ten years of continuous service and contribution as IBA instructors and is awarded only under strict qualification criteria.
In addition, the IBA collaborates with external invited specialists, including retired senior government officials, to deliver advanced training in highly specialized fields such as explosive detection, surveillance, and counter-surveillance.
IBA Instructor Structure
All IBA instructors must obtain the IBA Certified International Bodyguard (CIBG) qualification before they are authorized to instruct.
Through a defined progression process, instructors may advance step by step from Moniteur (Instructor) to Instructeur (Senior Instructor) and ultimately to Professeur (Professor-Level Instructor).
In particular, the highest rank, Professeur, is awarded only to instructors who have served with the IBA for more than ten years.
In addition, for highly specialized fields such as explosive detection, surveillance, and counter-surveillance, the IBA invites retired government specialists to deliver advanced and specialized training.
Legacy & Global Reach
IBAKOREA is the official Korean branch of the International Bodyguard Association (IBA), inheriting the legitimacy and standards of an organization founded in Paris, France, in 1957.
We are not merely an organization that shares a name or history.
IBAKOREA operates as a structure that implements the verified education, certification, and operational systems of the IBA Headquarters in Italy, faithfully applied to the Asian operational environment.
Through internationally standardized protection and security education and research, IBAKOREA functions as a hub connecting global standards with real-world operational realities, delivering not the past of close protection, but its present and future, grounded firmly in practical execution.
Diploma & Certification Highlight
The Diploma and Certification programs of IBAKOREA EDU are designed to select and develop elite-level protection professionals capable of performing high-risk executive and close protection duties.
Candidates selected for these programs must demonstrate exceptional mental and physical resilience, a high level of reliability, a professional and disciplined appearance, and the intellectual and analytical capacity to make immediate and accurate decisions under crisis conditions.
The fundamental mission of a protection professional is not merely the execution of protective tasks.
It lies in the unwavering responsibility and sense of duty to prioritize the absolute safety and survival of the principal above one’s own, particularly in moments of critical threat.
This principle constitutes a core value essential to professional close protection, and serves as the foundation upon which all education and training are built.
In consideration of international operational environments, candidates assigned to protect foreign principals are required to possess practical-level foreign language proficiency as a basic competency.
Accordingly, the curriculum incorporates continuous development of language capability and international operational awareness.
All Diploma and Certification programs at IBAKOREA EDU are designed with a clear and uncompromising focus on the survival and safety of the principal, and employ training systems and evaluation standards based on real-world crisis scenarios, ensuring the development of protection professionals who meet international operational standards.
Training Higilights
From live-fire shooting and tactical driving to VIP escort operations, all training programs integrate realism, discipline, and operational endurance.
Are you ready to begin your journey?
