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About Us
My Instructors
Master Joe Smith
9th Dan Isshin-Ryu Karate
(Jo-Jo's Dojo)
1st Generation Black Belt Under Grandmaster Shimabuku

Joseph Lewis Smith was born in 1944 in the small town of Wesson,
Mississippi. He was the son of a Baptist Minister and one of 11
children. By the time he was in high school Joe and his family
had moved to the friendly community of Gibson City, Illinois.
Joe was very athletic and played basketball, baseball, track and
was the captain of the 1963 championship football team. After
graduating in 1963, Joe enlisted in the military. He was assigned
to the 3rd Marine Division stationed at Camp Schwab, Okinawa.
From 1963 to 1965 Joe studied Isshin-Ryu under Grandmaster Shimabuku
at the Agena Dojo. He was promoted to Sho-Dan by the Grandmaster.
After re-enlisting, Joe was assigned to the HMM265th Division in
Viet Nam. While there he studied under Master Don Bohan. Joe was
promoted to Ni-Dan by Master Bohan before leaving Viet Nam.
Joe was honorably discharged in 1967 and returned to Champaign,
Illinois. He continued to practice Isshin-Ryu and in 1978 founded
the first Isshin-Ryu Karate class in Central Illinois.
Master Smith was a retired twenty year veteran of the Champaign
Police force, the Training Manager and head of the Control Tactics
Division of the Police Training Institute, University of Illinois.
He also served on the original Board of the Okinawan Karate Do Union.
Master Smith was promoted to 9th degree Black Belt by the Okinawan
Karate-Do Union on June 16, 2001. Master Smith passed away from a
rare heart condition on June 19, 2001.
In memory of
Master Joseph L. Smith
March 21, 1944 - June 19, 2001
- He Was Truly A Sensei - 1 in 10,000 -
-- My Teacher, Friend and Mentor --
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