inside terada

At the end of Steve's first karate class, he ran out of the room vowing, "I'm never going back!" He was 5 and scared of all the "yelling". He didn't go back until he was 9 when he decided he wanted to kick like the Ninja Turtles, and enrolled at Tom Bloom Karate in Thousand Oaks, CA. This proved to be a prudent move once his sister, Andi, took up sparring. Together they spent every spare moment at the studio. In summer, they were there for the first class at 10:00 a.m. and the last class at 9:00 p.m., taking classes and working out stopping only to eat.

For the next 9 years, Steve reaped many benefits as a result of his karate training. He learned that being a "gentle soul" as his teachers at school called him, was not a liability ... that real strength comes from within, and respect and hard work are most often rewarded with respect.

Once not able to do a single push-up because of a back injury from skiing, Steve gained strength in body and spirit as his training progressed. 4 years after he started, he received his black belt in Tang Soo Do in 1997, his second degree in 1999, and is currently in training for his third degree from Master Tom Bloom. He was scheduled to test in March 2001 and June 2002, but was on the road for both tests. Steve is a certified instructor in Tang Soo Do, formerly teaching classes at the Thousand Oaks Spectrum and Tom Bloom Karate. He also teaches private lessons in open forms and seminars. Whenever he can squeeze them in, he enjoys taking wushu classes from Coaches He Jingde and Li Jing and tae kwon do from Master Simon Rhee ... and, no, he hasn’t had the benefit of taking formal gymnastics, which may be why he spends so much time with the chiropractor."

Steve has been very fortunate over the years. Many outstanding martial artists saw something special in him and befriended him, generously sharing their knowledge and insights. It is because of their influence that Steve has always felt he should "pay back" which is why you’ll see so much of his "stuff" on the net and why he helps those who ask him even during his own workout time. He hopes those he helps will do the same in turn.

Just before he received his black belt, Steve was fortunate to meet forms great (now successful stuntman/coordinator), Hiro Koda, on the set of Beverly Hills Ninja. Hiro inspired and encouraged him to enter the world of tournament competition and still remains a source of inspiration. To this day, Steve thinks of himself as Hiro's "humble grasshoppa" and always ends his form with a "Hiro" bow-out (unless he feels his performance was unworthy.) This is when he developed a passion for learning tricks . In those days, he didn't have a source of slow motion examples to learn from, but vividly remembers throwing himself on his bed and slamming into the wall for 6 months before he learned his first barrel roll!

Later, Steve's close friend, fighter Manny Bujold, mentioned Steve to David Douglas when David moved to L.A. They became friends and started working out. Steve was introduced to David's intense regimen, sometimes working form sections to the point of making them both ill. Steve credits his learning how to make up combos through David's workouts with friends. This is where he began to put his gentle soul aside on the competition floor and develop intensity. They still work out from time to time, but David is very busy with his acting these days. He is thankful to David for sharing his knowledge and flair and continues to be amazed at his abilities.

When Arnold Chon moved to L.A., David invited him to their workouts. This is where Steve met him and they became training partners. Workouts with Arnold helped him focus his hands and further build his intensity. Although they don't actually work out together any longer, they are often seen at L.A. Valley working out along side martial artists/stuntmen/actors like Mike Chat, Ernie Reyes, Jr., Wayne Dalglish, Raymond Daniels, Matt Mullins, Aaron Neis, Steven Horst, Shannon Moriarty, Geo Corvera, Aaron and Kerry Wong of ZeroGravity ... and you if you can make it out to L.A.!

Steve's workout schedule depends on his tournament, work, and school schedules and is roughly outlined in the FAQ questions. Open workouts with friends usually begin with a telephone call from someone who actually found a place to workout. The word goes out via telephone and they gather, usually late at night at a studio or gym where classes are over and the owner has graciously given them permission to use "free mat time".

People often wonder how he got onto Team Paul Mitchell. The story is unusual, and I think, can be inspirational to young martial artists looking for that elusive sponsorship.

Steve didn't actually start competing until he was almost a blackbelt. He grew to love karate so much that he gave up soccer, baseball, basketball, skiing, track, and even a place on a State championship football team in his high school. He would love to run on the track team as well, but unfortunately he would have to give up his job.

The most incredible feat is that as a junior Steve paid for his post blackbelt training and competition fees himself. Which is why few people actually knew who he was for so many years. He always asked for money from relatives in lieu of Christmas and birthday gifts, squirreling it away in his "competition fund". He would find local tournaments where a few dollars were offered for junior championships to add to the fund, and based on what he had accumulated, he would try to find competitions to enter within his budget. When he was sixteen Steve was able to secure a job and saved his earnings in his fund. He will never forget how friends Manny Bujold and Raymond Daniels showed their faith in him by helping him out however they could during those lean times. An enduring memory is sharing Hawaiian Rolls on tournament road trips in Manny’s 4Runner.

Needless to say, the first few years were tough. He could usually afford to go to only a handful of tournaments "for fun" and selected them from different leagues for personal reasons. He would pop up at tournaments a virtual unknown...unsponsored and unaffiliated, hoping to go up against a well-known competitor to challenge himself and to see how he "measured up". He had several disappointments until he was no longer completely anonymous, but during these times, he also had some notable successes, Jr. Grand at Ed Parker’s Long Beach Internationals and NBL’s Double Diamonds being the first. It wasn’t until he finally won the Jr. grand prize at the Las Vegas Internationals, that he had enough money in his fund to compete in a few NASKA tournaments in 2000. The rest is history. He was able to compete in 5 NASKA World Tour tournaments, winning 4 junior grand championships for forms, and was noticed by Team Paul Mitchell. Steve will always be grateful to long-time friend, Raymond Daniels for putting in a good word in his behalf to the team. He still remembers the days when no one knew either of them and realizes how lucky he has been.

So, for those of you out there that think one can't overcome the logistics or politics in the martial arts world, Steve's advice is to hang in there, work hard at what you love, give generously of yourself along the way, and hope for the best. It can happen to you too. =)

Turning 18 has afforded Steve some new and exciting opportunities. With friends Matt Mullins and Chris DeVera, Steve performed on FOX’s "30 seconds to fame" where "Sideswipe" won the $25,000 prize! They were booked for FOX Sports Network’s "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" soon after. It was an exciting event for Sideswipe and sport karate because it showed the general public appreciated talents unique to their sport.

Steve has been temporarily sidelined by an injury sustained in May and not properly diagnosed until October. His recovery from surgery will take 4 months or until March 2003, at which time he expects to resume training and rejoin the circuit as soon as he gets the OK from his surgeon. It is difficult to believe he competed and performed during the last five months of the 2002 season with a severed ACL and chewed up meniscus, but he’s looking forward to coming back stronger than ever! =o)

NASKA critics are always talking about league "politics" and how one has to pay one’s dues on the circuit, but Steve Terada has proven these critics wrong in just half a season. A newcomer to the NASKA World Tour in 2000, Steve participated in only 5 of 10 tournaments, winning 4 out of 5 junior grandchampionship titles including NASKA’s grand finale, the Diamond Nationals. It was this feat that earned him the unprecedented honor of being recruited by world renowned Team Paul Mitchell as a relative unknown.

Since then, Steve has already developed a following in Europe where he was asked to perform at the Bercy Martial Arts Festival for 15,000 live spectators. The event was televised to French-speaking countries with Eurosport choosing his form for their highlights version for further broadcast. This summer he taught an "artistic forms" camp in Albertville, France and continues to enjoy success on the NASKA World Tour with his teammates and friends.

Principal:      Best Damn Sports Show, FOX Sports Network, 2002
Principal:      30 Seconds To Fame $25,000 winner, FOX, 2002
Principal:      France 3 Les Bon Plans, Interview, 2002
                    3 News , 2002
Principal:      Paris Premiere French Open Artisitic Forms Exhibition Bercy 2002
Principal:      ESPN2, U.S. Open ISKA Championships
Principal:      Eurosport Bercy Festival Highlights 2001
Principal:      Paris Premiere French Open Artistic Forms Finals Bercy 2001
Principal:      USA World Championships 2001
Principal:      ESPN2 Ryu Dojo Demo 2000
Principal:      USA World Championships 2000
Principal:      Cyberkids series episode, 1998
Principal:      Tom Bloom Karate Shows 1998-1999

Beverly Hills Ninja, forms                 Tristar Productions
Kyodai, Principal                            Oscar Bound Prods.
8 Kids In A Karate Flick, Principal      Just Kick It Productions

Principal:      Diamond Nationals, 2002, JBL Productions, MN
Principal:      U.S. Open 2002
Principal:      Compete Nationals 2002, Videoactive Productions, CA
Principal:      77 Coups de Pieds, Independence Production, FR , DVD 8/2002
Principal:      1er Tournoi International D’Arts Martiaux Artistiques, Independance Prods, FR
Principal:      Festival des Arts Martial Bercy 2001, Independance Productions, FR
Principal:      Bluegrass Nationals 2001, Black & Blue Video Productions, KY
Principal:      World Series of Martial Arts 2001, Black & Blue Video Productions, VA
Principal:      U.S. Capital Classics 2001, Black & Blue Video Productions, VA
Principal:      Compete Nationals 2001, Videoactive Productions, CA
Principal:      USA World Championships 2001, WKKF Productions, NV
Principal:      Best of Forms and Weapons 2000, Black & Blue Video Productions,
Principal:      Diamond Nationals 2000, JBL Productions, MN
Principal:      Cactus Classics 2000, Black & Blue Video Productions, AZ
Principal:      US Capital Classics 2000, Black & Blue Video Productions, VA
Principal:      Compete Nationals 2000, Videoactive Productions, CA
Principal:      USA World Championships 2000, WKKF Productions, NV
Principal:      Dragon Karate Super Show 1998, Dragon Illustrated Prod, CA
Music Video: It Ain’t All Good, Eye Witness Accounts, CA

Karate Bushido Magazine, May, 2002 -- Paris, France Centuron Negro, Ano XIV, 2002 -- Madrid, Spain Black Belt Magazine, May, 2002 -- Santa Clarita, CA Sport Karate Magazine, Mar-May, 2002 -- Lakewood, NY Karate Bushido Magazine, July/August 2001 -- Paris, France
   4 page featured interview/article
Taekwando Choc Magazine, Vol. 33, 2001 -- Paris, France
Martial Arts & Combat Sports Magazine, December 2001 -- Burbank, CA
NASKA, June 2001 -- Minneapolis, MN
   Cover, The one to watch for in 2001
Inside Karate Magazine, November 2001 -- Los Angeles, CA
Action Martial Arts Magazine, May-June 2001
Sport Karate Magazine, 2000 -- Lakewood, NY
Sport Karate Magazine, Nov-Feb 1999 -- Lakewood, NY
Thousand Oaks News Chronicle, Oct. 1998 -- Thousand Oaks, CA
Otomix Martial Arts Catalogs, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 -- Los Angeles, CA

Kathy Ireland’s Athletes and Entertainers for the Children’s Hospital
Muscular Dystrophy, fundraiser and kids camp
D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs Point Mugu Air Force Base Show
Dragonfest, Pediatric A.I.D.S. Foundation benefit and martial arts expo
Bercy Martial Arts Festivals, 2001 and 2002
Dragon Illustrated Supershow
Agoura Great Race
NBL Super Grands Opening Demo
Diesel Show
Fudoshin Great Mall of America Show

2002   NASKA Men’s Open Forms World Champion
          French Open II Men’s Forms Grand Champion
          San Francisco Nationals Men’s Forms Grand Champion
          Minnesota Diamond Nationals Men’s Open and Musical Forms Champion
          Washington D.C. Capital Classics Men’s Open Forms Champion
          U.S. Open Men’s Open Forms Champion
          Kentucky Bluegrass Men’s Open Forms Champion
          Virginia World Series of Martial Arts Men’s Open Forms Champion
          Compete Internationals Men’s Open and Musical Forms Champion
          Oregon Pacific Jewel Men’s Open and Musical Forms Champion
          Ocean State Men’s Open Forms Champion
          New England Open Men’s Open Forms Champion
          Battle of Atlanta Men’s Open Forms Champion

2001   (Joined Team Paul Mitchell National Karate Team)
          French Open Jr. Forms Champion
          Kentucky Bluegrass Nationals Jr. Grand Champion
          Virginia World Series of Martial Arts Jr. Grand Champion
          Rhode Island Ocean State Nationals Jr. Grand Champion
          IMAC USA World Championships Jr. Grand Champion
          NBL March Madness Jr. Grand Champion & Hall of Fame Recipient
          NBL Super Grands World Champion

2000   Minnesota Diamond Nationals Jr. Grand Champion
          Arizona Cactus Classics Jr. Grand Champion
          Washington D.C. Capital Classics Jr. Grand Champion
          Compete Nationals Jr. Grand Champion
          IMAC USA World Championships Jr. Grand Champion
          NBL March Madness Jr. Grand Champion
          Combastics ASKOT Alpha Adult Forms Champion

1999   Ed Parker’s 36th Long Beach Internationals Jr. Grand Champion
          NBL Oregon Double Diamond Jr. Grand Champion
          Arizona Desert Storm Jr. Grand Champion
          IMAC National Champion, Forms and Musical Forms
          Battle of the Desert Jr. Grand Champion
          California Gold Coast Classic Jr. Grand Champion
          Hollywood Nationals Jr. Grand Champion
          Orange Coast Jr. Grand Champion

Creative Forms Seminar/Camp, Albertville, France
Creative Forms & Kicks, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Basketball, snowboarding, snowskiing, rollerblading, skateboarding, breakdancing, hip hop, tumbling, computer games, computer animation, acting.

Member: W.O.R. (Way of Rhythm) Hip Hop Exhibition Dance Team