Jeffrey Allen Lewis

Born January 13, 1947, Steubenville, Ohio, USA

Graduated from Steinert High School, Hamilton, NJ, in 1965

Volunteered for the US Marine Corps in July 1965

Volunteered for Vietnam Service 1966

Master Lewis served in the Republic of Vietnam from August 1966 to September 1967 at Danang Air Base.  He was a Logistics Man at the 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters, and worked in the General’s G-4 Section.  As G-4 Night Duty NCO, CPL Lewis participated in rescue of a B-52 Tail Gunner, and participated in Emergency Operations following severe damage to base installations from rocket attacks on the Air Base in 1967.  Lewis was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant E-5 in 1968.

Lewis was employed by the original Holiday Health Spas as a Body Building Trainer in 1969-71 in Anaheim, California, where he studied martial arts informally with other professional trainers.

Returning to New Jersey in 1971, Lewis entered Mercer County Community College.  After completing two years of Liberal Arts Study, he became a Certified Correction/Parole Officer for the State of New Jersey, working at the Maximum Security Prison at Trenton. 

Working as a Special Assignment Officer, which included a variety of assignments, from internal security to prisoner transportation, Lewis felt the need for further training, and entered training with Master Jai Chul Shin, the foremost Tang Soo Do Instructor in the United States, and head of the United States Tang Soo Do Federation.  Assigned by Master Shin as a Community Education Karate Instructor in Pemberton, NJ, Jeff tested for First Dan Black Belt in 1976, and later achieved Second Dan Certified Associate Instructor for the Korean Soo Bak Do, Tang Soo Do - Moo Duk Kwan Association in 1978, an internationally recognized certification.

Also, Leaving the Tang Soo Do Association in 1978, Lewis became associated with Master Ja-Mes Bethel, and together they formed the nonprofit fraternal organization, the American Order of Combat BuDoKwan, the first American Combat Karate system to have its own Formal Exercises or Kata incorporated in a new system of training, that encompassed military/police tactics and traditional technical training that included grappling and boxing skills. 

Black Belts in the Order must become familiar with modern weapons, including firearms.  These ideas were revolutionary, and far ahead of their time.  Today, many Americans are involved in these training activities, now known popularly as “mixed martial arts”.    Many of the Order of Combat members have become extremely successful in the military, and in law enforcement careers.  Highlights of the Order’s training activities are the “Combat Camps”.  Master Lewis has organized campouts that give members a chance to participate in an academy setting while also enjoying the great American outdoors.

In addition to achieving his Certified Karate Instructor’s ranking in 1978, Master Lewis graduated from Trenton State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

Over the following years Master Lewis has been a teacher for years K-College at the Donald Bourne School inside Trenton State Prison, the Manager of Facilities Administration for the Remington Rand Corporation, and Parts Service Manager for the Robbinsville Airport, where he realized a lifelong ambition to become a licensed private pilot.

After moving to Virginia in 1986, Master Lewis joined the Virginia Defense Force, which is the official backup to the Army National Guard in Virginia.  Entering as a Sergeant E-5, he has risen through the ranks, and is presently a Major, and Executive Officer of the 24^th Battalion, the most decorated unit with the Defense Force.  As a Captain, Lewis was the senior Tactical Officer for the first modern State Defense Force Officer’s Candidate Qualification Course.  Major Lewis was awarded the Bronze Star, in December 2003, for his supervision, involving security, during a recent deployment of the Virginia National Guard.  Only four persons have earned this honor in modern Defense Force history.

In 1998, Master Lewis was recognized as Grandmaster of the Year by the World Karate Union, the most prestigious international organization for recognition in the martial arts.  He has also been recognized by the American Freestyle Hall of Fame with the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award, and by the American Freestyle Organization, Pioneers and Legends Hall of Fame, for establishing an American Martial Art.

Master Lewis, in addition to being the Appomattox County Karate Instructor, also maintains a private training gym at his home in Concord, Virginia.  He lives there with his wife Theresa, and son James, also a karate instructor.  This is where he hosts the Mountain Eagle Lodge, and continually improves the Mountain Eagle Training System. At the age of 58, Master Lewis was still able to compete, winning the Black Belt Forms/Kata, and Weapons Kata Divisions First Place trophies at the Virginia Karate Alliance VKA Classic.

For over seven years, Master Lewis volunteered his time to coordinate the Virginia Commonwealth Games, the Official Karate Championship for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  

Having established the Order of Combat as dedicated to Citizenship, Education, and Community Service, Master Lewis served as the Commander of the local American Legion Post, is a member of the VFW, the Marine Corps League and the NRA, [Lewis is a NRA Certified Instructor for Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, Safety, and Personal Protection].  He has been a Defense Force volunteer for over 20 years, serving his Community, State, and Nation as a citizen soldier, with no remuneration other than the knowledge that he has given his best to assist his fellow citizens.

Now the Director of the Order of Combat-USA, Master Lewis has established a website, for its members and other interested American martial artists, at www.orderofcombat.org .