Karate kid

Ellen McCarty

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Eric Fober shocked his parents when he began

practicing Karate-Do for an hour every day after school without being

told, his dad said.

“He’s 12 years old and he has pecs,” Tom Fober said, referring to the

pectorals, or chest muscles. “I don’t even have pecs.”

Eric’s strength and discipline paid off when the seventh-grader won a

gold medal July 9 at the USA National Karate-Do Championship in

Charleston, W.Va.

With the seriousness and maturity of a master, Eric beat 46 athletes from

across the country in the Kata category for 12-year-olds.

“Kata is a series of movements,” he said. “It’s like fighting a phantom

opponent.”

Akira Fukuda, a six-time national champion who won a gold medal July 25

at the Pan-American Games, has taught Eric at the Boys & Girls Club of

Huntington Valley for the past 3 1/2 years.

“Eric’s skill level is above average, but his dedication and maturity

give him a real advantage,” Fukuda said. “I teach all of my students the

same way, but he absorbs and enjoys it a little more than the others, and

he works very hard.”

Posters of Jackie Chan, 18 medals and eight trophies line the walls of

Eric’s bedroom. Although he said he appreciates the movie star’s form and

personality, he doesn’t aspire to the silver screen.

“I tried auditioning for movies when I was 7 years old, but I froze in

front of the camera,” he said.

He was still shy when he began Karate-Do lessons at 8, but Eric said

Fukuda helped him become more aggressive.

“It’s funny, because he refers to girls when he teaches,” Eric said. “He

said I needed to think about getting the girl before the other guy

does--to get the point before the other guy scores,” he said.

At Brethren Christian Junior High, Eric said he’s just a normal kid who

likes to play. But when he gets home, he disciplines himself--even when

he doesn’t feel like it.

“I have to push myself to achieve my goals,” he said. “Right now, I have

to work on the mental part. It’s challenging because you have to guess

your opponent’s moves and make quick decisions.”

His parents said he can quit anytime, but so far, the shodonho, or

black-and-white belt student, has burned out only once and taken “a

couple days off” to recuperate, Eric said.

Eric will compete Aug. 22 in the 1999 Nikkei Games at Cal State Long

Beach and the 1999 Junior Olympics in Chicago on Nov. 21.