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FEATURE STORY

YOUNG WORLD MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPION HEADS FOR THE BIG SCREEN

Taylor Lautner

By KarateAngels.com Reporter Mark Huard

At a young age Taylor's parents exposed him to many different sports but karate really caught his interest.  At the age of six years old Taylor began his Martial Arts training in Holland Michigan .  At first he went to play the many fun games but soon it became more than just fun and games.  At the age of seven Taylor began to compete in local and regional karate tournaments.  He immediately loved the competition and challenges that the tournaments presented.  He did well at these tournaments so his parents took him to his first "big" tournament in Louisville Kentucky at Ken Eubanks' Blue Grass Nationals.  Taylor did very well at his first National tournament.  It was at this tournament that they met Mike Chat.  At the age of seven years old Taylor went out to UCLA to one of Mike Chat's karate camps.  It was here with Mike Chat that Taylor learned to work hard, train smart in order to reach his potential.  At the age of eight years old Taylor was invited to compete on Team Chat International.  Also at the age of eight years old Taylor flew out to LA for his first commercial audition.  Little did we know at the time that this was the beginning of a life changing decision for Taylor. 

Taylor wanted to continue with the auditions.  So while he was eight years old he met with agent and was accepted for representation for for both Theatrical and Commercially.  So every time when Taylor would fly to  LA for karate training he would let his agent know he would be available for auditions while he was out there.  Soon Taylor was leaving Michigan bright and early in the morning for LA and returning just in time for school the next morning after taking the red eye home.  It was soon apparent that this type of schedule could not continue.  

So at the age of ten Taylor went out to LA for a month to try auditioning.  The next year is when Taylor and his family decided to go to LA for six months during the pilot season.  After four months it was decided to stay in LA for two years.  Taylor began booking roles on TV shows such as Summerland, Bernie Mac, and My Wife and Kids.  He also did a National Kellogg's Frosted Flakes commercial and many voice jobs such as Scooby Doo, Danny Phantom, and Charlie Brown. 

 It was august 2004 when Taylor got his big brake in Hollywood and booked a three picture deal with Miramax starring as SHARK BOY in a Robert Rodriguez film titled "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl" due to be released June 10, 2005. Taylor just returned home to LA after spending three months in Austin Texas filming Shark Boy and Lava Girl.

Taylor's training in the martial arts has helped him in a major way for his Hollywood auditioning.  Martial arts training made him confident and able to enter an audition with confidence.  He has been trained to look adults in the eye when talking to them.  His physical abilities have come from all his training in karate.  Not only has it helped him with acting it also has helped him in other sports such as Football and Baseball.