Professor Carl Beaver

Carl Beaver at the 1948 Special Black Belt Class class in Honolulu.

Carl P. Beaver came to Hawaii in 1939 and was first introduced to the Okazaki jujitsu system in 1940 by someone known only as "Corporal Wyatt." Although he learned only the basics of the system at that time, and World War Two caused a disruption of his training, it is clear that the young Mr. Beaver was hooked.

After his discharge in 1945, Beaver came back to Hawaii and began the study of Kodokan judo at the Nuuano YMCA under sensei Yamamoto. After joining the Mano YMCA, he studied jujitsu under sensei Dick McCarty, an Okazaki student, and obtained his Shodan, which was presented by Okazaki himself. Beaver continued with his jujitsu training under Professor Okazaki and his senior student, Wally Jay, and gained further experience through sensei Richard Takemoto.

In 1948, Beaver began an intensive study of massage under both sensei McCarty and Prof. Okazaki in preparation for his Territorial massage license. He graduated from the Okazaki school of restorative massage in January, 1949 and, with his wife, Martha, obtained Territorial licenses.

It was during this time that Beaver lived with Professor Okazaki at the Professor's home. Some of Prof. Beaver's fondest memories and best "war stories" were from this time.

In 1950, Beaver moved to the Mainland and began teaching jujitsu at the Dayton Health Studio in Dayton, Ohio, In 1951, he moved to California and began teaching jujitsu in Gardena. 18 months later, he moved to Bellflower, California, teaching two classes a week for the next three decades.

In 1961, Beaver received his Sandan from sensei Wally Jay. In 1967, he received his Godan from sensei Joe Holck, the American Jujitsu Institute's Regional Chairman at that time. In 1972, Beaver received his Sixth Degree and, thereafter, his Shichidan from the A.J.I. in 1976. In 1977, he was promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt and to Ninth Degree Black Belt by Jujitsu America. After coming out of retirement in 1988, he assumed the position of Technical Director for Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai. In 1990, he was  elevated to Judan by both Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai and the American Jujitsu Institute.

Professor Beaver's recognitions include commendations from the Governors of the State of Hawaii and State of Arizona, Orange County Board of Supervisors and California State Assembly. He was inducted into the Danzan Ryu Jujitsu Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Luciani Service Award in 1994. He was elevated to Godan in 1992 by the United States Judo Association. He was inducted in Jujitsu America's Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1979, and received Jujitsu America's Patriarch Award in 1996.

Article submitted by Prof. Bill Fischer.

See also Prof. Beaver's Obituary.

Carl Beaver receives his Nidan and Mokuroku in 1949

Wally Jay awards his student, Carl Beaver, with a mokuroku.

Prof. Beaver (left) at the 1990 Ohana convention with other instructors.

Prof. Beaver at a convention in Reno in 1994.

The patch for Prof. Beaver's dojo in Downey, CA.