Photograph by R. W. Bradford
Larry Lam, aka Leonardo, shows off his moves at his Saratoga business, Studio Kicks.
By Loretta McCarty
How many masked green turtles do you know who have a fourth-degree black belt in tae kwon do, another in kung fu, a hit television show, and a successful business in Saratoga?
If you guessed Larry Lam, alias "Leonardo" of Ninja Turtle fame, you guessed right.
Lam is also the owner of Studio Kicks karate studio on Big Basin Way.
Six days a week, Lam, 26, and 10 other instructors, many of whom hold national titles, teach tae kwon do, or, as Lam describes it, "Korean karate," in the studio he's operated for four years.
"I want my students to learn both the art of tae kwon do and the sport, both the physical and mental aspects," said Lam. "I am not here to teach people how to kill someone."
Amid the high kicks, loud yells and quick punches, Lam teaches his students the importance of discipline, respect and self-confidence.
"I teach my students to be martial artists 24 hours a day, not just while they are here in the studio," he said.
Respecting one's parents, cleaning your room, getting good grades and even saying thank you are all part of Lam's philosophy.
One grateful mother, Pam Fox, said she noticed the difference in her 8-year-old daughter Katelyn after only two weeks in the class.
"The change in her was really unbelievable," said Fox. "She was so shy and wimpy, now she's more respectful and confident, and she's no longer afraid to ask questions."
As a child growing up in Hong Kong, Lam said he moved around a lot with his parents, and he found stability in martial arts, which he began at the age of 4. He said he looked up to his instructors, and that's why he feels so strongly about setting a good example and being a good role model.
Lam practices what he preaches by paying visits to children in hospitals and schools, where he stresses the importance of an education and respecting one's parents.
He also sponsors volleyball tournaments, movie nights and pizza parties for his students, and he gets a lot of positive support from the parents.
Lam hits the road three months out of the year to film his new television show for kids at Universal Studios in Florida. Contrary to his real-life good-guy image, he plays a bad guy named Warlock in the show, Masters, now in its second season.
Lam said his character, though villainous, plays against a good, moral story line each week. Each show has about 15 minutes of dialogue; the rest is pure action.
Lam began his acting career as a stuntman in such forgettable vehicles as Paper Dragons, Hawk Eye, and The Defector.
For his role as Leonardo, the one he is most famous for, he was approached by a producer after a martial-arts competition in Atlanta. The encounter eventually led to his roles in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II and III.
With characteristic modesty, he attributes his being chosen to "being at the right place at the right time."
Even though he travels a lot, has several movies under his black belt, and has a hit television show, Lam says he doesn't like to leave home. He is a graduate of Los Gatos High School and lives in Los Gatos with his wife Leslie and his 17-month-old son, Keanu.
"I owe a lot to this community; it's home to me and people have been more than kind to me here," he said.
Studio Kicks is located in Saratoga at 14415-A Big Basin Way, and in Los Gatos at 434 North Santa Cruz Ave. The studio accepts students from ages 5 to 65, and every new student is offered two free lessons. Students are placed in classes according to rank, age and belt. Lam's television show, Masters, can be seen on KBHK, Channel 44, at 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, July 3, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved