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USAMAF Biography Information

Edward E. Wilkes
Member, Board of Directors
United States (USA) Martial Arts Federation

Kyoshi Sensei Edward E. Wilkes, Doshu was born in Libby, Montana on February 12, 1950. He played little league all through his grade school years. The first time Sensei Wilkes stepped on the mat was in the year of 1964, when he was on the High School wrestling team until 1969. This is when he enlisted in the Marines as a member of the Evergreen State Platoon on 12 July 1969. Training was at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego California for 12 weeks Basic Training. While at Basic training he received hand to hand self defense training to get ready for duty. Sensei Wilkes was sent to Motor Transport School (MOS 3531) in 1969 and graduated and served as a driver until 1972, when he reenlisted to become an Aviation Structural Mechanic (MOS 6042). He was a 6042 until 1978 when the MOS was changed to 6142 by the Marine Corps. During this time he was stationed at M.C.A.S Beaufort S C.

In 1977, Sensei Wilkes met Sensei Rudy Singleton, Head Master at Laurel Bay Judo Club located at the Laurel Bay Base Housing Community Center. He trained with Sensei Singleton and went to the All Marine Judo Championships held at MCRD San Diego, California along with other Judokas from the Laurel Bay Judo Club. Sensei Wilkes placed 1st Place in the 209 and above weigh division and proceeded to compete for Grand Champion but suffered a hyper-extended elbow which kept him from continuing on to the training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado to train for the Nationals. In 1978 inherited the Laurel Bay Judo Club from Sensei Rudy Singleton when he retired from the Marine Corps. From that time on Sensei Wilkes brought the membership up to 100+ members strong. Sensei Wilkes went to the All Marine Judo Championships and met Sensei’s Ben McKay (El Toro Judo Club) and Bill Dye (El Cajon Judo Club) both members of the United States Judo Federation of Southern California (Nanka Yudanshakai of Southern CA.).

With the guidance of these two sensei he ran the Laurel Bay Judo Club for the next three years. Each year Sense Wilkes placed in the top 3 , and in 1981 was promoted to 1st degree Black Belt on February 12, 1981 by Sensei Hill from the USJA National Office while doing a Seminar at the Laurel Bay Judo Club. In 1981, Sensei Wilkes moved to MCAS El Toro, CA and became an assistant instructor with Sensei Ben McKay. In 1982 Sensei Wilkes was selected at the Marine Judo Championship to represent the 209 and up Division to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Also later that year he was selected to train with Leo White at the USN Station at Port Hueneme, CA and attend the All Military World Games.

In 1982 Sensei Wilkes was promoted to Nidan by Sensei’s Ben McKay of The El Toro Judo Club & Bill Dye of the El Cajon Judo Club. His rank was Registered with the Kodokan in Japan. Sensei Wilkes was promoted to Honorary Nidan in Karate to officiate as a referee at the Karate Tournament at MCAS El Toro. About this time Sensei met Sensei Jim Jarrel & Sensei Chen Woo of the Woo Chen Karate Jitsu Club. In 1983 Sensei Wilkes moved to Kaneohe Bay HI, and started up the Wild Bill Wilkes Kaneohe Bay Judo & Ju -Jitsu/ Karate Jitsu Club. Sensei was the NCOIC of the training department at that time in Hawaii and also aboard ship for the next three years.

In 1986 he moved to Tustin CA and started Wild Bill Wilkes Judo, JuJitsu & Karate Jitsu Club. In 1994 the club was moved to Lake Forest CA at the Lake Forest Sun & Sail Club. At this time he started training with Sensei David A. Dye of Costa Mesa, CA. (International Shuyokan Aikido Federation of CA).In 1997 the Club name was changed to Goshin Budokan U.S.A. Classes were held at Sensei’s home and across the way at Lake Forest Sun & Sail Club. Sensei Wilkes was promoted to Shichidan in Aikido Goshin Jutsu by Shodai Sensei David A. Dye and was promoted to Shichidan in Woo Chen Karate Jitsu by Shihan Jim P. Jarrell. Sensei Wilkes ran both clubs with the Instructor Rank of Kyoshi and was brought into the Woo Chen Family as Chen Da Hu (Big Tiger of the Chen Family). Goshin Budokan was designated a branch Shuyokai of the International Shuyokan Aikido Federation of CA. Sensei Wilkes was nominated to be inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame on July 12, 1997 (Outstanding contribution to the Martial Arts). The System that Sensei Wilkes has is Goshin Budokan’s “GenJitsu Ryu “Present Day reality School Self Defense Martial Arts (traditional and practical training in teaching Goshin Do Ryu JuJitsu & Aiki-JuJitsu)

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Contact information

Kyoshi Sensei, Edward E. Wilkes, Doshu of Goshin Budokan U.S.A.
Address: 22013 Lakeland Ave. Lake Forest California 92630
Phone: Home: 1-949-458-3477; Work: 1-949-757-0530 Ext 209; Fax# 1-949-558-1716

 

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