Hanshi Shalom Avitan
Head of the West Coast Shotokan Karate Association
Born in morocco in 1952 and immigrated to Israel in 1955.
At the age of 11 practiced Greek-Roman Wrestling and won an Israeli championship.
In 1968 started practicing Karate and in 1972 received Shodan (1st Dan) and opened Avitan Martial Arts School.
In 1980 appointed the head of West Coast Israel.
In 1984 Hanshi Avitan was among the founders of the Israeli Karate Federation.
In 1999 was appointed the head of West Coast Shotokan Karate Association International and received Hachidan (8th Dan), after the death of Shihan Ed Hamile.
In 2004 was elected chairman of the Israeli Karate Federation and retired in 2012 after a severe car crash.
In 2013 received Kudan (9th Dan).
In 2019 received Judan (10th Dan) by a representative of West Coast Mexico.
Shihan Ed Hamile
Founder and head of West Coast Shotokan Karate Association
Shihan Hamile was born in 1923 in Hawaii.
Was the student of masters Hirokazu Kanazawa, Tetsuhiko Asai and Masataka Mori.
His team was the first in history to win over the Japanese in kumite competition.
In 1965 was appointed JKA Hawaii branch instructor.
In 1968 founded the West Coast Shotokan Karate Association International.
In 1994 founded the World Federation of Karate Organizations.
Shihan Hamile passed away on June 22, 1999.
Respect, but fear no man.
Organization structure
