Martial Arts Biography - Bill Costa

Grandmaster Bill Costa was born I Honolulu, Hawaii. He was an outstanding baseball player in High School. During a game, he broke has ankle. He was taken to emergency and later; his coach who knew Okazaki took him to Grandmaster Okazaki's house. His coach asks Okazaki if he would be able to play the following week for it was a championship game. Okazaki replied, "life". He grabbed two woods and a claw hammer and Grandmaster Costa was playing in the championship game the following week. He was so amazed and wanted to learn to massage and heal, he ask Okazaki about learning to massage. Okazaki first told Grandmaster Costa to come and watch the jujitsu class, but Grandmaster Costa was more interested in the massage class. Grandmaster Costa has grown to love jujitsu. He started training in jujitsu under Grandmaster's Sig Kufferath and Bing Fai Lau in 1939; Grandmaster Bing Fai Lau suggested that Grandmaster Costa come out to train four times a week.

Grandmaster Costa received his black belt on February of 1949. Grandmaster Henry Okazaki later awarded him his jujitsu scroll later that year. Grandmaster Costa was sent by Okazaki to be the head instructor of the Pearl Harbor dojo at Naval Housing Area #2; in 1944 Grandmaster Costa later was awarded his massage diploma by Grandmaster Okazaki in 1945.

Grandmaster Bill Costa has spent most of his time with Grandmaster Okazaki, including his last days. He has received the Governor's Commendation Award and is one of the Senior Advisors for the Hawaii Kenpo Jujitsu Society.