The official web site of Shinjido inventor Danny Da Costa

Who is this man Danny Da Costa?

I feel that my lack of fame and stature (I have never exceeded 5ft 4inch) requires a brief introduction. I started in the martial ways through boxing, which I took up for about 12 months as an 8 year old. Later at the age of 15 I rediscovered boxing and within a year I won the British Schoolboys title all by K.O., mostly in the first round. At a mere 119lbs I realised that I would never be the heavyweight champion of the world as “a good big un will always beat a good little un.” I took up judo at the age of 17 in the belief that with Judo size did not matter. Our family moved to Devon and in due course I recommenced Judo at the Exeter club. For some time I was allowed to keep the illusion that in Judo size does not matter. In fact I fancied my chances with anyone in the Western Area. However even my ego had to admit that without weight categories I would never have reached international standard.

I entered the British Judo Trials in 1966 as a 1st Dan in the light weight category. I beat everyone on the day by at least one ippon and commenced a 10 year stint as an international. I captained our Western Area a record 20 years and for 2 years I was the Area Coach. I won my first British Open in 1968 and my last in 1974, together with Silver in the Europeans. My commitment to running a family business in a seaside town prohibited me from fighting in the World or Olympic Championships. 

My big regret is that I sustained an injury to my left knee, shortly before the Europeans in 1966 that prevented me from competing in that event. My throwing ability had experienced a dramatic improvement from the time of the British Trials. I believe that the skill improvement was too rapid for my body to deal with. One day without warning my leg gave way and I collapsed. Although the physical damage – a stretched knee ligament, eventually healed, I never got over the psychological damage. I could no longer abandon myself in a throw. Being largely untutored I did not have a personal coach to help me reconstruct the skill. (This is not to decry the help received by our Area Coach Gerry Hicks.) In the words of Marlon Brandon (On the Waterfront) “I could have been a contender.” I currently hold the rank of 6th Dan judo and 5th Dan Aikido. 
 

Photo Above on the mat at High Wycombe Judo Centre. From left: Ray Stevens (Olympic silver medalist), Neil Adams (MBE, World Champion, double Silver Olympic medalist and Britain's most successful Judo fighter) and Shinjido inventor Danny Da Costa.