Our Lineage: Jhoon Rhee, NAPMA & Martial Arts Wealth

The Martial Arts Wealth Mastery community traces a direct lineage to Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the “Father of American Taekwondo.” This page collects the history, media, and authority references connecting Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the Jhoon Rhee Institute, Grandmaster Jeff Smith, Stephen Oliver, and the organizations that grew from that heritage — the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), Martial Arts Professional, and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery.

Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee — Father of American Taekwondo

A Korean immigrant who introduced Taekwondo to the United States, Jhoon Rhee opened his first Washington, D.C. studio in 1962. He befriended Bruce Lee, trained Muhammad Ali (teaching him the famous “accupunch”), opened a martial arts club for members of Congress, invented the safety sparring gear that reduced injuries in the sport, and created “martial arts ballet” — forms set to classical music. His “Nobody bothers me” television commercials made him a household name in the D.C. area. He was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Man of the Year in 1983 and passed away in 2018 at age 86.

The Jhoon Rhee Institute & Grandmaster Jeff Smith

The Jhoon Rhee Institute became one of the most influential martial arts organizations in American history. Grandmaster Jeff Smith earned his black belt under Jhoon Rhee in 1969 and served as Senior Vice President of the Institute from 1970–1985, training and managing instructors across its Washington, D.C.-area locations — all while becoming the first PKA World Light-Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion.

Stephen Oliver’s Jhoon Rhee Lineage

Stephen Oliver began training in 1969 under black belts teaching for the Jhoon Rhee Institute, completed his black belt in 1978 with one of the highest scores ever recorded on the Jhoon Rhee Black Belt Exam, and went on to instruct and manage for the Institute in Washington, D.C. He was promoted to 6th Degree by Jhoon Rhee himself in 1994 and to 7th Degree by Grandmaster Jeff Smith in 2001 — carrying the lineage forward through Mile High Karate, NAPMA, and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery.

The Organizations: NAPMA, Martial Arts Professional & Martial Arts Wealth

From this lineage grew the institutions that serve martial arts school owners today. Stephen Oliver became CEO and Chairman of the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), founded in 1994, and lead developer of its flagship training programs. Martial Arts Professional magazine became the industry’s authority publication, and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery continues the mission of helping school owners build profitable, professional schools.