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.
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