At Ladd Lane Elementary, Noah Fort is a talent-show superstar. It isn’t because he knows how to sing – though, he may – it’s because he knows how to handle a bowstaff and wield his fists and legs.
Four years removed from becoming infatuated – along with his father Nathan Fort – with martial arts, Fort is still on the fast track to becoming a great martial arts competitor – if he isn’t already one.
In 2011, Fort took his greatest step forward taking six Grand Champion titles and two divisional championships at competitions from around the country, including the Bay Area Sport Karate Association state championships in traditional forms and sparing.
“He’s had a lot of great years, but this year was just unbelievable,” Nathan Fort said.
And his father was by his side the entire time.
Working as a father and son tandem, the pair won a combined 27 championship belts the past year. The two went to 14 tournaments this year together.
“We always go together,” Nathan Fort said. “We started doing this as a family and we always do it as a family.”
The pair was so good, they finished the season undefeated. Every tournament they entered, they walked away with a championship. The Forts competed in categories ranging from traditional forms, musical weapons and sparing.
“I don’t think that’s ever been done before,” Nathan Fort said. “It’s amazing.”
Overall, Noah Fort is ranked the 31st in the world and 24th in the nation for those under 18, according to Sport Karate International, the largest and most prestigious karate tournament association in the world. Nathan Fort is the fourth best in the world and second best in the nation, according to the same organization.
The martial arts family started a little more than four years ago when the Forts watched the Martial Arts U.S. Open together. Afterward, Noah Fort wanted to try the sport and his father decided to show him the way.
As a stay-at-home father, Nathan Fort dedicated his day to the craft of Martial Arts. He scoured the Internet for video on certain forms or handling of weapons.
He studied the tapes for hours each day, learning how to do them. And once Noah Fort arrived home from school, the pair would go over the new lessons.
“I started the same time as him,” Nathan Fort said. “I learned how to do them myself and I taught Noah.”
The Forts then started competing and slowly started to get better and better, before truly taking off last year.
This year promises to be another big one for the Forts, as the younger Noah Fort hopes to follow in his dad’s footsteps and receive his black belt.
The six-month process begins shortly for Noah Fort. If he passes, he’ll receive his black belt before turning 10 years old.
“That is very exciting,” Noah Fort said. “Ever since I was a white belt I wanted to get my black belt.”
But the most important thing for the Forts is doing it together.
“It’s great to be able to do all this stuff with him,” Noah Fort said. “It’s very cool.”
For the older Fort, his son serves as an inspiration.
“With that focus, he is an inspiration,” Nathan Fort said. “He inspires people. They go nuts. A lot of people are inspired by him.”
Nathan Fort will always remember the time after the Ladd Lane talent show. Within a day, his house phone was ringing with kids asking to talk with Noah, he said.
“I don’t know how they got the number but they were all girls wanting to talk with Noah,” the proud father said.
It’s bound to ring even more.
