Brian Jarvis Sensei

Sensei Brian Jarvis was born on 4th June, 1968 and began his study of Shito-ryu karate-do in his home town of Hereford in 1978. He was awarded his black belt in 1982 by the late Master Shigeru Kimura, a direct student of Chojiro Tani, founder of Tani-ha Shitoryu, Shukokai. Master Tani lived in Kobe, and was a direct student of the founder of Shito-ryu, Soke Kenwa Mabuni.

After a break, Sensei Jarvis returned to his karate training having finished his college education, and was awarded 2nd Dan in 1992, again by Master Kimura. At this time Brian was an active member of his association’s national squad, competing in kata and kumite at national and international level on a number of occasions, including Japan. In 2000, at the age of 32, Sensei Jarvis competed for the last time in Melbourne, Australia, securing gold medals in kata, team kata and a silver medal in kumite.

Whilst in Australia, Sensei Jarvis was awarded his 4th Dan by Master Hiroshi Yamada on the 16th August, 2000, on the Gold Coast. Keen to become a professional karate instructor, on returning from Australia in 2001, Sensei Jarvis founded the Samurai Martial Arts’ school with dojos in Ross-on-Wye, Gloucester and Cheltenham.

In 2003 Sensei Jarvis began training under the direction on Shihan Kunio Murayama, a member of the Shito-kai organisation. Soon after, Sensei Jarvis co-founded Shito-kai England with his peers Sensei P. Powell and Sensei S. Bolland. In March 2006, Brian was awarded his 5th Dan by Master Murayama. Later that year Sensei Jarvis also joined the English Karate Federation’s referee’s programme and was quickly awarded kumite referee judge A by Sensei Terry Pottage, England’s Chief Referee at that time. The following year he was awarded kata judge B and kumite judge A.

In January, 2007, having built a sound reputation within the county, Brian moved his family from Hereford to Gloucester. SMA now boasts well over 200 members and has added another dojo in Tewkesbury. Between 2001 and 2012 Sensei Jarvis has produced over 30 black belts and has trained national and British champions.

By 2010 Brian had gained his British Kata and Kumite Referee’s licence, and was beginning to officiate internationally. In 2012 Sensei Jarvis received his WKF, European kata and kumite, judge B licence in Moscow at the European Championships for the Regions. In October Sensei Jarvis will have made his 10th visit to Monterrey, Mexico to train with his master, Shihan Murayama. As well as Murayama Sensei, Shihan Genzo Iwata, Shito-kai Honbu Dojo Chief Instructor, is a regular guest instructor to the annual festival that is the Copa Murayama.

By 2017 Brian had completed the WKF Continental refereeing programme and in 2022 was awarded his 10-year pin from the European Karate Federation. That same year, on 23rd October, he was awarded 7th Dan by the World Shito-ryu Karate-do Federation's President, Iwata Genzo Hanshi and with the approval of Brian's own sensei, Kunio Murayama Shihan. This occasion proved most poignant as it would be the last time he would see Murayama Sensei, who sadly passed away the following year.

In 2024 Brian was awarded World Kata & Kumite Judge B in A Coruña, Spain. Later that year in December, Brian was able to visit the final resting place of his teacher, Kunio Murayama, 9th Dan, Shihan, accompanied by Iwata Genzo, 8th Dan Hanshi, in Saitama prefecture, Japan.

Brian continues to pass on the lessons and techniques as taught him by all of his teachers, past and present. He continues to travel the world to learn, train and officiate and to share his experience with all who wish to learn. Having taught well over 100 students to black belt and beyond, Brian runs classes 6 days a week in Gloucester and Cheltenham.