Who is Bill Schettino?

William A. (Bill) Schettino was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a result of his particular circumstances, he found himself spending a lot of his time in the streets at an early age. Part of his "street education" came as a result of his own natural aggressive nature. Up until the age of sixteen, Bill was just a brawler, but around this time he started to investigate boxing through observation, conversation, and trial and error. Bill would move around with anyone he could, regardless of size and each encounter would be his lesson. He didn't have a formal teacher, so this "process" became his teacher. For nearly nine years Bill "studied" in this fashion. His goal was not competition, but personal gratification. This process would stay with him in the future as his skills developed and new "arts" were examined.

In 1977 Bill moved to San Diego, CA and the second phase of his "education" began. In San Diego, Bill worked as a bouncer, something he has done since the age of eighteen. Bouncing put Bill in a position to gain invaluable practical experience. It was in San Diego that Bill became exposed to kickboxing and fencing, once again using his "process" to learn from these arts. For the next eight years in San Diego, Bill worked as a bouncer, taught privately, taught women's self-defense, and did some bodyguarding. As part of his "process" Bill also fought for money in a few "no rules" pick-up fights in Tijuana, Mexico.

Then in 1987, Bill became exposed to the formal "martial arts" in the person of Dr. Vince Black, who taught him, among other things, the internal art of Hsing-I and the art of Kajukenbo. Living with Dr. Black at this time was Sijo Adriano Emperado, a founder of Kajukenbo, and a legendary martial artist in his own right. Bill was fortunate to be able to study with both Dr. Black, one of Sijo Emperado's most senior students, and Sijo himself at the same time. In addition, one of Dr. Black's students in the Internal Arts and Chinese medicine was Tom Bisio, an accomplished martial artist known for his expertise in Arnis. It was in this environment, surrounded by men with similar attitudes about "fighting", yet vastly different skills and experiences than his own, that Bill's "process" led him to what is now known as Estacada. In the persons of Dr. Black, Sijo Emperado and Mr. Bisio, Bill was fortunate to have three friends and teachers who actually encouraged him to develop his "art" into what is now Estacada. It was during a conversation in 1993 with Dr. Black that it was suggested to Bill that he systematize what he does. Dr. Black recognized that bill had a unique way of fighting, and that Bill's students would benefit greatly if they were taught the entire art in a systematic fashion. Dr. Black pointed out that if Estacada was to carry on into the future, Bill should teach his entire art, not just pieces of it.

In 1994, Bill moved back to New York City and with the help of Tom Bisio, formed and started teaching classes in Estacada. In addition, Bill teaches Kajukenbo "Emperado Method" using the principles and mechanics of Estacada.