Home › About Jeff › Grand Master Jeff Smith: Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the thirty most common questions about Grand Master Jeff Smith: his rank and lineage, championship record, the Jhoon Rhee Institute, his schools, his work with Stephen Oliver and how to work with him. Each answer links to its source.

Questions and answers

Who is Grand Master Jeff Smith?

Grand Master Jeff Smith, “The DC Bomber,” is an American martial artist who became the first PKA World Light Heavyweight Champion in 1974. A 10th Degree Black Belt in the Jhoon Rhee lineage, he spent fifteen years as an executive of the Jhoon Rhee Institute, founded World Champion Jeff Smith Karate in 1981, coached U.S. teams at the WAKO World Championships, and is Chief of Instruction at Mile High Karate and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery.1,2,3 Full history.

How long has Jeff Smith been in martial arts?

Since 1965, when he joined the Texas A&I University karate club in Kingsville, Texas, at about fourteen.3,4

What is Jeff Smith’s rank?

10th Degree Black Belt, with the title of Grand Master, awarded by the Professional Karate Commission at the Battle of Atlanta in June 2016. He received every earlier rank through 9th Degree from Jhoon Rhee.1,5,6

Who was Jeff Smith’s instructor?

Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, the “Father of American Taekwondo.” Smith trained in Rhee’s Texas college-club network from 1965 and taught for him in Washington from 1970.1,3 More.

Why is Jeff Smith called “The DC Bomber”?

Smith fought out of Washington, D.C., through the 1970s as the Jhoon Rhee Institute’s champion, and fight chronologies of his career record him as Jeff “DC Bomber” Smith.7

When did Jeff Smith become world champion?

On September 14, 1974, at the World Professional Karate Championships at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, when he knocked out Budimir Vejnovic and beat Wally Slocki in the final.2 More.

What weight class did Jeff Smith fight in?

Light heavyweight. He was the first PKA World Light Heavyweight Champion. In 1975 he also won a heavyweight title sanctioned by Don King’s organization; in point fighting and tours he often competed at middleweight.2,8,9

What was Jeff Smith’s professional record?

32 wins and 1 loss, with 16 knockouts and seven world title defenses.1,10 Full record.

Did Jeff Smith ever lose a professional fight?

Once. Dan Macaruso beat him by a 12-round split decision in 1979. Smith came back in 1980 to win the U.S. light-heavyweight title.7

How many times did Jeff Smith defend his world title?

Seven times, against opponents including Jim Butin, Wally Slocki, Arno Koschnik, Jim Horsley and Dominique Valera.1,7,11

Who was Karriem Allah?

A Don King–backed heavyweight whom Smith beat by an 11-round split decision on October 1, 1975, at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, on the Thrilla in Manila closed-circuit card.9,7 More.

How many people saw the Karriem Allah fight?

It was part of the closed-circuit broadcast of Ali–Frazier III, an event seen by an estimated one billion viewers worldwide.12,9

Did Jeff Smith win the Bruce Lee Award?

Yes. He was the first recipient of the Bruce Lee Award, selected by Linda Lee and Professional Karate magazine.13,14

Did Jeff Smith fight Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis?

He beat Bill Wallace 5–1 at the 1973 U.S. Pro-Am, and toured Europe with both Wallace and Joe Lewis in 1974. All three won world titles on the same night in Los Angeles.7,15,2 More.

Was Jeff Smith in the Black Belt Hall of Fame?

Yes, as Fighter of the Year. Black Belt also lists him among the greatest kickboxers of all time.16,10

What did Jeff Smith do at the Jhoon Rhee Institute?

From 1970 to 1985 he rose from instructor to vice president, trained the organization’s instructors and managers, and ran its retention and management systems. The Washington Post called him “vice president of the Jhoon Rhee Institute” in 1982.3,17 More.

When did Jeff Smith found his own school?

In 1981, as World Champion Jeff Smith Karate, in Northern Virginia.18

Is Jeff Smith a multi-school owner?

Yes. In 2013 USAdojo reported that he operated three schools in Virginia with more than 1,500 students, and he is known in the industry as a “Multi-School Millionaire.”13

Did Jeff Smith coach the U.S. team?

Yes. He coached the U.S. team at the WAKO World Championships for about a decade. At Munich in 1987 the Americans swept all three World Team Cups, and the Semi-Contact World Team Cup “was given to coach Jeff Smith.”19,6

What is Jeff Smith’s role at Mile High Karate?

Chief of Instruction. He helped Stephen Oliver launch Mile High Karate in Denver in 1983 and joined its corporate team when the franchise system launched in 2006.16,20

What is Jeff Smith’s role at Martial Arts Wealth Mastery?

Chief of Instruction. He leads the weekly school-owner call and coaches teaching, retention, renewals, leadership and staff.21 More.

What is Jeff Smith’s role at PKA Worldwide?

President of Sports Operations, announced in November 2022 under CEO Joe Corley.22,23

How do Jeff Smith and Stephen Oliver know each other?

They share the Jhoon Rhee lineage and trained together at the Jhoon Rhee Institute in 1976 and 1978. Smith helped launch Mile High Karate, co-wrote Extraordinary Teaching with Oliver, and promoted him to 10th Degree in April 2026.24,25,26 More.

Did Jeff Smith promote Stephen Oliver to 10th Degree?

Yes, in April 2026. Smith also recognized Oliver’s 7th Degree in 2001, promoted him to 8th in 2006 with Joe Corley, and sat on his 9th Degree board in 2015.26,25 Lineage.

What books has Jeff Smith written?

Extraordinary Teaching (2026) and its workbook, co-written with Stephen Oliver, and Six Simple Steps to Add 100 New Students to Your School, with Stephen Oliver, Bob Dunne and Greg Moody. His books are on his Amazon author page.1,27

What does Jeff Smith teach school owners?

Teaching, student retention, renewals, leadership programs and instructor development: attendance-card retention, the first four months of a student’s training, weekly instructor training with observed teaching and feedback, and development after black belt.27,28,3

What retention systems did Jeff Smith use?

At the Jhoon Rhee Institute: attendance and retention cards, call lists and callbacks, with a student treated as a potential dropout after one week’s absence. The Institute reported a 90 percent retention ratio.3

Has Jeff Smith appeared on television?

Yes: ABC’s Wide World of Entertainment (1974), the syndicated series “The Champions,” and Showtime, ESPN and pay-per-view broadcasts, including as a color commentator.13,14

Has Jeff Smith done public service work?

He performed at the White House for the “Kick Drugs Out of Your Life” campaign and for the Great American Workout, and chaired the Karate Helps Kick Diabetes charity.13,16

How can I work with Jeff Smith?

Through Martial Arts Wealth Mastery’s free Growth Diagnostic: 30 minutes with Grand Master Jeff Smith and 30 minutes with Grand Master Stephen Oliver. Work with Jeff.

Related pages

Work with Grand Master Jeff Smith

School owners can book a free Growth Diagnostic: 30 minutes with Grand Master Jeff Smith and 30 minutes with Grand Master Stephen Oliver. See how it works.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, “Jeff Smith (martial arts)”
  2. “World Professional Karate Championships 1974,” contemporaneous magazine report reprinted at Backkicks
  3. Herb Borkland, “The Champion Who Conquered the Ring and the School Business,” MAIA Hub
  4. International Kickboxing Federation, “Jeff Smith” biography page
  5. Go2Karate, “Congratulations Grand Master Jeff Smith”
  6. Martial Arts Who’s Who Directory, “Jeff Smith” listing
  7. Karate in English (Lewis–Wallace history blog), “Jeff ‘DC Bomber’ Smith” fight chronology
  8. Wikipedia, “Professional Karate Association”
  9. Martial Arts Professional, “Jeff Smith Interview”
  10. Black Belt, “The Greatest Kickboxers of All Time”
  11. USAdojo, “The History of Karate in America”
  12. Wikipedia, “Thrilla in Manila”
  13. USAdojo, “Jeff Smith” profile
  14. Taekwondo Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame page
  15. Backkicks, “All-Style Karate 1974”
  16. Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, “Leadership Lessons from Grand Master Jeff Smith”
  17. Lynn Darling, “Fleet Feet Fantasies,” The Washington Post, May 13, 1982
  18. Jeff Smith’s Mile High Karate, “Who We Are”
  19. “Kickboxing World Championships (WAKO, 1987),” contemporaneous magazine report reprinted at Backkicks
  20. Mile High Franchise, “Team”
  21. Martial Arts Professional, “Zero Renewals? You Talked to Zero People”
  22. MixedMartialArts.com, “Kickboxing & Martial Arts Legend Jeff Smith President of Sports Operations, PKA Worldwide”
  23. Taekwondo Life Magazine, “BLEAV in PKA Worldwide”
  24. Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, “Who Is Stephen Oliver?”
  25. Martial Arts Professional, “Stephen Oliver’s Mile High Karate: Background Information”
  26. LinkedIn post by Stephen Oliver on his 10th-degree promotion
  27. Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, “Extraordinary Teaching” page
  28. Stephen Oliver on X, posting William Clark’s review of Extraordinary Teaching