Shihan Edwin Hamile was the founder and the head of West Coast Shotokan Karate Association International (WCSK), founder, president and chairman of the World Federation of Karate-do Organizations (WFKO), founder of the Referees, Arbitrators and Judges Association (RAJA), a Japan Karate Association (JKA) branch instructor, an International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) class A examiner and the head of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) karate referee certification program.

 

Shihan Edwin Hamile was born in 1923 in Pepeekeo, Hawaii.

Shihan Hamile was the student of Masters Hirokazu Kanazawa, Tetsuhiko Asai and Masataka Mori. At the onset of his career he was one of the founders of JKA Hawaii. Shihan Hamile's team was the first ever to defeat the Japanese team in a kumite competition. for this reason, he was the first non-Japanese recipient of the JKA coveted Gichin Funakoshi award. Due to his contribution in developing karate in Hawaii, in 1965, he was designated a JKA branch instructor.

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In 1968, Shihan Hamile founded the West Coast Shotokan Karate International Association in southern California, he was the chief instructor of karate groups spread in many foreign countries such as the U.S.A., Mexico, Europe and the Middle East.

 

Shihan Hamile has for years been involved in the AAKF (American Amateur Karate Federation) and in IKF (International Karate Federation). Additionally, Shihan Hamile was much sought after as one of the world's most respected tournament arbitrators.

Together with fellow Hawaiian key karate figures, Shihan Hamile authored the first rules for AAU karate, and was subsequently appointed to head the karate referee certification program of the AAU. In 1975, Shihan Hamile formed RAJA to train and assist individuals in obtaining WUKO (World Union of Karate-do Organizations) standard judging certification. In late 1994 Shihan Hamile formed the WFKO. He was elected president of that organization and was asked to serve as its Chairman.

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Shihan Hamile had many students and admirers among all kinds of martial arts, not just due to him being a great karate instructor, but due to his philosophy, love, wisdom and knowledge. His say was “Respect, but fear no man”.

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Shihan Hamile passed away on June 22, 1999 in Arcedia, California. He died from cancer.

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On October 19, 1999 on Shihan Hamile's birthday, a memorial service was held in his respect and as per his last will, his ashes were spread in the ocean of his hometown in Hawaii. Not only his close family came, but his extended family, friends and many instructors of karate organizations from various countries. During this ceremony, Hanshi Shalom Avitan from Israel was chosen to continue Shihan Hamile's ways and to be the chairman of the West Coast Shotokan Karate International Association. Sensei David Hurlbut was chosen to be the chief instructor of the West Coast Shotokan in the USA. They both have awarded Shihan Hamile with Judan (10th Dan), an honor rank, on behalf of all the West Coast International representatives all over the world. The diploma and the red belt were handed to his children out of respect.

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Shihan Hamile's death is a great loss to the karate world and especially to his family and to the West Coast Shotokan Karate International Association organization.

 

Shihan Hamile will remain in our hearts forever and we will stick to his philosophy

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Respect, but fear no man.