Birney Jarvis

Kyoshi, 7th Dan, boxer, journalist, council advisor, Alabama Branch Chief, and senior student of Hanshi Don Buck.

Birney Jarvis helped popularize Kyokushinkai and the School of Oyama in the United States through training, teaching, public demonstrations, and newspaper coverage.

Life

1929-2012

Rank

7th Degree Black Belt

Roles

Council advisor and Alabama Branch Chief

Boxing Record

56 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw

Early Role in American Kyokushin

Birney Jarvis was one of the people responsible for popularizing Kyokushinkai in the early 1960s, especially the School of Oyama and later the School of the Tiger.

At the time, Jarvis was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1960, he read about karate being introduced in California and decided to write his own story about the art.

Jarvis already had a strong fighting background as both an amateur and professional boxer. He also worked earlier as a bouncer in San Francisco's Tenderloin District.

Meeting Hanshi Don Buck

Jarvis met Hanshi Donald I. Buck at the Ava and Larry Modeling School in San Francisco's Sunset District, where early karate classes were being held.

The two had a shared connection to law enforcement: Hanshi Buck was a San Francisco policeman, and Jarvis worked as a police reporter at the San Francisco Hall of Justice.

Jarvis joined the karate class after writing the story. That decision began his long martial arts career.

Chronicle Coverage and Publicity

Jarvis wrote stories in the Chronicle about karate and its history. He also wrote for adventure and sports magazines, sometimes under a pseudonym.

In December 1960, Hanshi Buck and Jarvis opened the School of Oyama at 2315 Clement Street in San Francisco. An Associated Press story about Jarvis and the school circulated widely and helped bring attention to karate and Kyokushinkai.

The 1960 School of Oyama Challenge

On the opening night of the School of Oyama in December 1960, two Nidans entered the dojo seeking to avenge their master, who they believed had been insulted by Sosai Mas Oyama.

Hanshi Buck would not fight the challenger because of the rank difference and told him to choose one of his students. Jarvis was chosen. The fight lasted 15 minutes, and Jarvis won despite being bloodied and bruised.

Afterward, Sosai Oyama and Hanshi Buck awarded Jarvis Shodan for standing up for Kyokushinkai and Sosai Oyama. The certificate was dated December 16, 1960.

Rank and Later Life

Jarvis later received Nidan in 1961, Sandan in 1968, Yondan in 1976, and Shishdan in 1998. He also received a Yondan degree in 1980 from the Leopard Karate School, Inc.

He served as a School of the Tiger council member advisor and Alabama Branch Chief. In later years, Jarvis retired from active duty in karate while sailing, traveling, writing, and continuing personal training.

Remembered

A San Francisco Chronicle obituary by Carl Nolte, published June 8, 2012, remembered Jarvis as a former reporter, boxer, karate instructor, author, sailor, traveler, and larger-than-life adventurer.

Jarvis died at his home in Bay Minette, Alabama on June 3, 2012. He was 82.