The official web site of Shinjido inventor Danny Da Costa

Shinjido at the High Wycombe Judo Centre

In September 2005, Gary Gillot organized the first national Shinjido course at the HWJC. It was a commemorative event as a tribute to Danny da Costa and Simon Hicks, who had both been served with a cancer life sentence. (In April Danny had been diagnosed with bowel cancer that had migrated to both lobes of his liver; prognosis 9 months to live. A few months later his great friend and son in law was discovered to have a massive malignant brain tumor. He was given a life expectancy of 12 months. Unfortunately for the Judo World, after two major operations Simon lost the battle. His contribution to the judo world was acknowledged at his funeral in Bristol Cathedral, attended by judoka from as far a field as the USA and Japan. Danny has now had three major operations including two liver resections; he stubbornly fights on and intends to survive.)

Many of Britain’s Judo luminaries attended the High Wycombe event as spectators out of respect for Danny and Simon but to understand what was going on required being on the mat. Danny makes his techniques seem so effortless that the casual observer may not appreciate how real they are. Of those that took part, several became inspired by the possibilities of Shinjido, including Gary Gillot. Gary and Danny had been comrades from the time they met in the British Team at the 1966 at Europeans in Luxembourg. Gary had been forced to give up international competition due to his business commitments but he continues to this day running skill sessions of which the back bone has been uchi komi (repetitive entry for a throw but only completing the throw on the 10th time) Gary is a devotee of upright traditional judo. The record shows that he was both stylish and successful in international tournaments, in spite of competing in the open category and being under 95k. 

The Thursday following Danny’s course, Gary arrived very late and was surprised to find his assistant coach, Mike Smith teaching Shinjido. In spite of the fact that Mike had only been a matside observer! This has now become a regular event. Thursdays are devoted to skill training in both traditional Judo and Shinjido. Danny da Costa has made frequent return visits. Luckily I have managed to attend on every occasion. 

Shinjido is Danny’s brain child. It is extremely efficient, although many of the techniques do not resemble judo as we know it. He uses two basic principles little seen in judo or martial arts. 

Danny Da Costa and Judo Legend Kosei Inoue in front of participants at the January 17 2010 Shinjido seminar at the High Wycombe Judo Centre.

The Power Wave and Gravity Assisted Power - GAP. The latter seems to flaunt convention. The power for a Judo throw comes through muscular effort and opposes gravity. This is particularly evident with all the Katagaruma variations that are so much part of modern day competition. Shinjido techniques usually work through adding weight to an opponent, allowing gravity to do most of the work. This is extremely efficient. To understand the principle, simply stand with your feet at shoulder width apart and lean forward. A ten degree angle will cause you to either take a step or fall. That is without adding any extra weight. With Shinjido, you move in close to the opponent allowing maximum weight to be applied. This is contrary to a Judo throw that depend upon a driving leg action and the greater the drive, the less weight can be applied. As Shinjido throws require close body contact, grip breaking and manipulation play an important role. 

Danny has developed numerous grip breaks. These are followed by an immediate attack as Shinjido techniques rarely require a special grip and can even be performed without gripping. 

The innovations that he has introduced are nothing short of amazing. Danny is unconventional to say the least. He poses two questions, is it efficient, is it within the rules. He may begin a session working off a particular grip break, introducing skill after skill that we have not seen before. Inevitable he comes up with something that even he has not done before. I once asked him “how do you continue to develop new techniques? He replied “I used to be schizophrenic but now that I have developed trizophrenia my imagination is more fertile” He then explained that “a competitor only requires a few real skills to be successful. Champions may well develop their own specialty - a single skill which a coach will analyze and pass on to their own protégées. This is development from the top of the pyramid down. I am working on fundamental principles. I am not copying, I am an inventor rather than a competitor or coach. This allows me to expand on various ideas. Coaches and competitors can select those that have a particular appeal for them and build their own skills. This is the way to create individuality.” 

Shinjido has much to offer the competitor. It also provides a stimulating work out for recreational players. Because it relies on effortless power created through body movement than muscular force, it allows older players to participate longer. HWJC offer their facility to all BJA clubs. Visit the High Wycombe Judo Club web site by clicking the link below:

High Wycombe Judo Centre

Participants in the first Shinjido seminar at High Wycombe in 2005