Joe Swift was born in Van Etten, NY, and began training in Okinawan karate and kobudo at the age of 12.
In 1994, he had an opportunity to study
at Kansai Gaidai
University of Foreign Studies in Osaka, Japan. At that time, he became
fascinated with the "old ways" of Okinawan karate and began a more serious study
of the history and classical kata of the Ryukyu Martial Arts.
In 1995, he
entered the Mushinkan HQ Dojo in Kanazawa, and began studying Okinawa Shoreiryu
Karatedo (Naha-te) under Uematsu Yoshiyuki, who also taught Swift the ancient
Japanese arts of Iaijutsu and Jujutsu as well. In 1997, Swift became an
assistant instructor (Shidoin), in 1999 he was appointed as the chief assistant
instructor (Shihan-dai), and in 2003, he was awarded his full teaching license
(Shihan Menjo) from Uematsu.
Swift moved to Tokyo in 2001, and opened the Tokyo Branch of the Mushinkan.
In order to undergo a deeper study of the ancient weaponry of Okinawa,
he joined the Sogo Ryukyu Kobujutsu of Yamaguchi Seishu, where he studies
Yamaneryu Bojutsu and other forms of Ryukyuan weapons.
Other instructors Swift has received technical instruction or advice from
include Uezu Angi (Isshinryu), Hokama Tetsuhiro (Gojuryu), Murakami Katsumi (Shorinryu & Kobudo), Kanzaki Shigekazu (Tou'onryu), Patrick McCarthy (Koryu Uchinadi), Yogi Kiyoshi & Kanna Yasunori (Uechiryu and Ryukyu Kobudo), Hayashi Shingo (Kojoryu), Matsuo Kanenori Sakon (Ryukyu Oke Hiden Bujutsu), Ikemiyagi Masaaki (Gojuryu), Kinjo Hiroshi (Shuri-ti) and many others.
In addition to his study of the technical
theories of karate and kobudo, Swift also researches the history and evolution
of the Okinawan martial arts, and also translates old and rare texts to
English.
Publications translated by Joe Swift:
* "100 Masters of Okinawa Karate" by Hokama Tetsuhiro
* "Timeline of Karate History" by Hokama Tetsuhiro
* "The Secret Royal Martial Arts of Ryukyu" by Matsuo Kanenori Sakon
As a karate historian and researcher, Swift has published articles in some leading martial arts journals and on a variety of martial arts websites around the world.