Joe Smith, whom most everyone called "Judo Joe" because he had learned self-defense during his childhood in Japan, was a sophomore at Mid-City High. His original revealed that his father, John, was a medical doctor who took his wife to Japan in 1932. Joe was born shortly thereafter, making him a Japanese citizen. Joe's father saved the life of Wan Tung, the leader of the community and the most famous judo expert in all of Japan. For this, Wan Tung chose to teach judo to Joe alongside his own son, Yoshimiru.