Some people say Jeff Helaney started training in TaeKwon-Do in 1969. Others argue it was sometime during the Jurassic period, right after fire was invented but just before the T-Rex was demoted from apex predator to warm-up dummy. Honestly, who can say for sure? The only thing we do know is that he’s been kicking things longer than most of us have been alive—and certainly longer than any velociraptor has been able to run for its life.
Legend has it that young Jeff first discovered martial arts while dodging chores at home. One perfectly timed side step turned into a spinning back kick, and the rest is history—or paleontology, depending on how you look at it. His training began in an era when uniforms were stiffer than the instructors, belts were earned (and ironed) by hand, and dojang floors were padded with nothing but raw determination and the occasional dinosaur bone.
Over the decades, Jeff didn’t just practice TaeKwon-Do and Hapkido—he evolved with them. Much like the martial arts themselves, he became a fusion of tradition and adaptability. Through Omaha Blue Waves Martial Arts, he’s built a community that thrives on discipline, humor, and just the right amount of flying kicks. Through the United States Kido Federation, he’s helped spread the art nationwide, proving that even ancient techniques can survive the modern era—especially when they’re paired with dad jokes and well-timed joint locks.
But don’t let the stripes on his belt—or the gray in his beard—fool you. The man can still launch a side kick high enough to clip low-flying drones. And yes, that velociraptor in the photo? It wasn’t CGI. That’s just another Monday on the mat. After the kick, it signed up for the beginner class and now attends regularly—though it’s still working on its backfall break.
If you ask Jeff how long he’s been training, he might just squint off into the distance and say, “A long time. Long enough to remember when blocking was optional and stretching involved prayer.” Then he’ll snap into a perfect front stance and demonstrate why you really shouldn’t underestimate a guy who’s been refining his technique since before seat belts were standard.
From white belt to dinosaur wrangler, Jeff Helaney’s martial arts journey hasn’t just stood the test of time—it roundhouse kicked it in the face.
