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 him 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. Joe moved to Tokyo in 2001, and opened the Tokyo Branch of the Mushinkan.
 
Joe has received technical instruction or advice from many other instructors such as Arakaki Kiyoshi (Muso-kai), 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 (Kenshu-kai) and many others.

In addition to his study of the technical theories of karate and kobudo, Joe also researches the history and evolution of the Okinawan martial arts, and also translates old and rare texts to English. Publications by Joe Swift are available here.