This Kid Takes to Karate

In the movie “The Karate Kid,” a wise, old Japanese karate master instructs an American teenager in the ways of martial arts, helping him build self-esteem and defend himself from bullies.

In Orange County’s real-life version, a wise, young karate master tutors a preteen in the ways of Japanese karate, and the two quietly amass accolades from tournaments throughout the world.

Akira Fukuda, 26, a third-degree black belt from Huntington Beach who ranks among the world’s top five at Japanese Shito-ryu karate, has taught 11-year-old Eric Fober for almost three years, shepherding him from novice to unofficial national champion for his age group.

“You’ve got a world-class champion teaching a national champion right here in the middle of Orange County,” said Eric’s father, Thom. “Not too many places can say that.”

Both Eric and Fukuda have Olympic hopes. If karate, now under Olympic Committee review, becomes a sanctioned sport for the 2000 Games, Fukuda believes he is all but assured a ticket to Sydney, Australia. Last fall he placed among the top five at the world championships, scoring higher than any American in the last 20 years. He is also a five-time national champion.

Fukuda believes that Eric, a brown belt, is good enough to eventually make it to the Olympics as well. “It just depends how hard he wants to work at it,” he said. “He definitely has a chance to be an elite athlete.”

On Sunday, the two will compete in a tournament in Whittier against combatants from all over the West Coast and several countries. Because of his skill level, Eric will compete in the 13-year-old group.

Last summer in his first national tournament, he placed second in kata, or routine, and third in kumite, or sparring. And though the tournament didn’t add the two categories, if it had, he would have earned the highest combined ranking for his age group.

The two have developed a close relationship as teacher and student.

Eric models much of his behavior after Fukuda and says he has learned lessons from him that go beyond karate, such as trying harder in school.

“It’s a lot like ‘The Karate Kid,’ ” Thom Fober said. “All they’re missing is ‘polish on, polish off.’ ”