Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Tae kwon do enthusiasts Amanda and Matthew Fazio earned their black belts in the Korean martial art earlier this summer at Studio Kicks in Los Gatos.
Siblings kick their way to black belts
By Shari Kaplan
Putting their best feet forward is not just another time-worn motto for Saratogans Amanda and Matthew Fazio, 12 and 10 respectively. For the siblings, it is also a physical reality, as both have been involved for years in the Korean martial art of tae kwon do.
They proved how serious their involvement is earlier this summer, when they achieved their black belt ranking at Studio Kicks, Larry Lam's martial arts studio in Los Gatos. Earning this prestigious belt color did not simply "happen" following their years of studying and practicing TKD, however.
On the contrary, they had to make it happen--starting at 5:45 a.m. with a run from Studio Kicks to Vasona Lake County Park, followed by sprints and push-ups. After running back to the studio, the pair engaged in group testing that included forms, drills, pad-kicking, sparring, weapons work and calisthenics.
At 10:30 a.m., their parents drove them home to rest, eat, shower and change for the second half of the testing program at 2 p.m., that consisted of formal testing in full TKD uniform.
If not for an unexpected setback in their TKD careers, however, the Fazios might not have become black belts at all. They were demoted.
It began in January 1997, when the Fazio family--which includes parents John and Roz and older son Chad--moved to Saratoga from Sarasota, Fla. Five years ago, while living in Florida, a young Matthew became enamored of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and decided he wanted to "become" Leonardo. Roz enrolled him in a trial TKD class to see if his interest was a passing fancy or the real thing. After her little brother became hooked, Amanda signed up, as well. By the time they moved to Saratoga, both had earned their red belts.
The siblings tested at four martial arts studios in the South Bay before choosing Studio Kicks. To Matthew's surprise, he discovered Lam had played Leonardo in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video series. Because of Lam's more strict approach to forms and his TKD weapons use, Lam felt Amanda's and Matthew's skills were more befitting the lower blue belt.
"At first they both wanted to quit because they didn't want to lose their red belts," Roz recalls. "But then when they were in class with the others, they realized they weren't quite as good as the red belts here. It was a real learning experience for them; they learned humility in being demoted three belts."
Earning a black belt--the culmination of mastering 11 lower skills levels and concomitant belt colors--is not the last challenge in TKD. The Fazios now have the option of earning progressively higher degrees of black belts. But even if they stopped their training now, they would not lose what they have gained.
"I love what martial arts has given Amanda and Matthew. It enhances their skills in every sport and improves how they relate to other people," John says. "You have to have loyalty, discipline and respect to achieve your goals in martial arts. The reward is a stronger, more disciplined individual."
Amanda's other interests include volleyball and soccer, while Matthew plays baseball. Both are also competitors on the Squaw Valley Ski Team.
"We love sports because we come from an active family," Amanda says. "My whole family skis, bikes and rollerblades, and it's so cool living in Saratoga because we can do it all right here. We 'just do it!' "
Saratoga, California Since 1955
