BUILDING CHARACTER WITH KARATE\TV's Power Ranger 'Tommy' opens studio in Santa Clarita.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Special to the Daily News

The door of the tiny karate studio in Santa Clarita opened. In walked Scott Modes with his 4-1/2-year old son, Tyler.

Tyler is a big fan of the television show, "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," and he was understandably wide-eyed and excited to be walking into a place where Jason Frank, who plays the white Ranger, Tommy, would be.

When the two entered, Frank, who owns the studio, was standing there in his white uniform, black belt and long hair pulled back into a pony tail.

Tyler could hardly control himself.

"Tommy! I saw you on TV!" he said.

Father and son had come to enroll Tyler in karate lessons at Frank's studio, which opened Monday.

"(Tyler's) whole life is 'Power Rangers,' " Scott Modes said. "We have to be home at five o'clock or put a tape in (the VCR), or we won't hear the end of it."

Tyler's love for the show led him to Frank's karate studio. Scott Modes said he thought Tyler could use a place like this to funnel his energies as well as learn discipline and lessons in right and wrong.

Frank, 22, feels he's perfect to do that. The TV show, he said, teaches children to make the right decisions, and he hopes to use karate as an extension of his television character.

"We're not gonna be there all the time to reach right or wrong," so it's gonna be up to you," Frank said. "To live like a Power Ranger is the best thing. We live clean lives. We're honest and we respect all living things.

"Some people think it's (the TV show) cheesy, but look at it as a starting point for the kids. I'm trying to show something positive."

It appears Frank, a fourth-degree black belt who's been in karate since he was 4, tries to bridge the gap between television and real life with his information booklet, in which he lists 10 rules of safety for children, ending with the note, "Your parents, teachers, police officers want to keep you safe and happy. You can help by obeying all the rules. . . ."

These are the messages Scott Modes wants his son to hear.

"He's bound to listen to him," Scott said. "If Jason says to do it, he will do it."

As an example, Frank proceeded to give Tyler his first lesson, telling him that starting Tuesday, Tyler should call him "sensei," which means teacher in Japanese. Tyler repeated the word, then said it again whenever he accidentally said, "Tommy" and Frank corrected him.

While many of the new students are children who are fans of the show, Frank also is signing up adults.

Everyone will learn the style of karate Frank practices, Toso Kune Do, which loosely translates to "The way of the fighting fist." But it's not violence that Frank teaches. Students 4 through 14 learn basic moves and the eight steps of making karate a way of life, which include dedication, respect, cooperation, discipline and attitude. They also are taught karate should never be used on the street or at home.

Students 15 and older learn the same steps and moves, but Frank introduces different breathing and punching techniques and offers solutions to on-the-street situations.

The point, he said, is children are taught indirectly to use their karate only if they're in danger, whereas adults are told that up front.

The school also stocks many of the traditional weapons - nunchukas, swords and poles - but these are only used to improve hand-eye coordination, Frank said. Except for the samurai sword, the weapons originated as farm tools, he said.

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Photo Jason Frank, who plays one of TV's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, looks forward to working with youths. Gus Ruelas/Daily News