SOJOBO

In 1980, Joseph Barnes began the martial arts at the Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Virginia, under the instruction of his sensei, and second father, Col. Tom Hart. The Miller School was a boarding military academy, and training in martial arts, sniper style marksmanship, endurance training, drill, and military science and tactics, was a six days a week life style. In 1983, Joe earned his black belt before leaving Miller school and moving to California with his parents. Joe spent his high school years at St. John Bosco High School. Joe formed the martial arts club at St. John Bosco in 1987. Joe was attacked by three knife wielding attackers. Two of them were knocked unconscious with one of them having his elbow dislocated. The third ran from the scene unharmed. Joe was unharmed with only a cut in his coat. One of the injured attackers was the brother of Joe's girlfriend. This relationship ended quickly. In pursuit of a gang member who stole his bike, Joe was shot in the face, just 1/2 an inch above his left eye. Due to extreme training that included head breaks of wood and brick, the bullet flattened against his skull, but did not penetrate. Covered with blood, Joe continued the pursuit and knocked the gang member unconscious using the bike chain and lock. It took 3 hours of surgery to remove the bullet. Joe was conscious during the procedure. In 1988, the Weinersnitzel (walk up hot dog fast food A frame) where Joe worked after school was approached by a man with a gun demanding money. Joe disarmed the man, breaking his wrist in 3 places (according to a Bellflower, California police officer). Joe was given a written reprimand (by headquarters) for not following company policy. Policy stated the robber should have been treated like a customer and the money given to him promptly. Joe began training the manager and assistant manager in martial arts at the Los Altos, California park. Others began to ask if they could "join" class. In 1989, Joe was invited to teach a one day seminar on martial arts for L.A. F.B.I. headquarters. Joe earned his second degree black belt in 1989. Joe became the California junior (17) kickboxing champion. Joe tumbled (jumped head first) over an oncoming moving vehicle in a martial arts demonstration in 1990. Joe graduated in 1990 and moved to Washington State with his parents. Joe received a drug and alcohol diversion grant from the Federal Government to teach martial arts at The Shoelwater Bay Indian Reservation in 1991. Joe does a martial arts demonstration at the reservation and parries arrows shot at him from 35 feet away. The bow was a compound hunting bow with the velocity of the arrows at 265 feet per second. Joe caught the last arrow fired at him. In 1992, Joe is asked by elders of tribe to lead a group of students to catch four rapists of a 12 year old Indian girl. Subjects were captured and turned over to authorities for prosecution. At a demonstration, Joe lights wood boards on fire with gasoline and lighter fluid, enters the flames and breaks them.

Under construction, more to follow.