Eric “E.T.” Tan is a phenomenon. He began his KIA training at age five and continued until he left home to attend Stanford University. Whatever Eric did, he excelled at. His mother was a Ph.D. in nuclear physics and his father a computer whiz. Their genes certainly were manifested in their son.
Eric, in addition to being an excellent martial artist, was also a concert pianist. When only a teenager he was given the spotlight with the Saddleback Symphony, giving the audience mellifluous, dramatic melodies and bringing down the house. To watch him play and listen to his music was one of life’s richest blessings.
E.T. was a magnificent student as well. His GPA extended somewhere into the next solar system. Eric graduated from Santa Margarita High School in Orange County with honors and was the class valedictorian. And what a speech he gave! But it was no wonder. With Eric Tan, excellence was expected, never doubted.
Eric, although beginning in the KIA junior curriculum, worked his way to an adult ranked Black Belt, moving beyond 1st to 2nd Dan just before he left for college. Very precise, extremely determined and almost inhumanely focused, Eric Tan was truly a one-of-a-kind human being. He was also wonderfully supportive and helpful to other students. His genius will always be remembered as a vital part of Kiado-Ryu history.