Founder: Wu-Wei / Mo-Wai / Mushin Fighting Arts.

Personal friend and student of Lee Jun Fan (Bruce Lee) Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute.

Personal friend and associate of Professor Albert C. Church, Soke of the Zen Kamishin Kai.

Personal friend and associate of Professor Wally Jay, Soke of the Small Circle Jujitsu Ryu.

Personal friend and associate of Professor George L. Brock, Shodai of the Bei Koku Aibujutsu Ryu.

  Personal friend and associate of Michael J. Heenan, Soke of the Bei Koku Aibujutsu Ryu.

Personal friend and teacher of John A. Douvillier, Kancho of Bei Koku Aibujutsu Ryu Mushin Kan.

After serving two separate tours of duty, first in the United States Marine Corps and then in the United States Navy, Professor Joseph I. Cowles, in 1959, began training in Judo at the Seattle YMCA under Sensei Sueman Moon, Nidan. Later that year he met and was accepted as a personal student of Lee Jun Fan (Bruce Lee) prior to the formation of the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in the Seattle Chinatown District; as such he was listed as a Charter / Permanent Member of that school.

In 1970, after Bruce and Linda were married and moved to California, Professor Cowles also relocated to Dallas Texas. In 1971, he began teaching a few students. He subsequently met George L. Brock (an outstanding Ju-jitsu teacher), who was teaching Ju-Jitsu for the Fort Worth School Board, and began teaching Mr. Brock techniques he had learned from Bruce Lee. In 1974, Professor Cowles received an award cup for outstanding contribution to the Bushikan Ju-Jitsu Ryu by Professor Brock and his students.

In 1978, Professor Cowles received the Shodai Certificate form Soke Albert C. Church, Jr., as Shodai of the Wu-Wei, Mo-Wai, Mushin Fighting Arts based on the teachings of Bruce Lee. Soke Church also presented Professor Cowles a lifetime membership in the Kamishin-Kai International (Charleston, S.C. Hombu). Professor Cowles also holds the rank of  Godan in the Kamishin-Ryu, as issued by Tony Annesi, Sokedai of the Kamishin-Ryu.

In 1983, Professor Cowles was appointed the Western States Executive Director for the Society of Black Belts of America / International. This appointment was granted by the founder and president of the Society, Robert L. Murphy, Soke, Isshin Shorinji Kazoku of SBBA/I.

Professor Cowles has semi retired but continues to conduct limited private class at his home in Forks WA.