MARTIAL ARTS EXPERT SETS WORLD RECORD.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

HOLLYWOOD - His right hand almost a blur, his face a mask of gritted teeth and single-minded focus, Leif Becker moved down a row of stacked, inch-thick pine boards, breaking them in half and sending pieces of wood flying into the air.

And after just 60 seconds Saturday afternoon, Becker, 33, had broken 487 boards - a new world's record, according to Christopher Lee of the International Sport Karate Association.

Becker's hand bore a few small cuts, but other than that he was unscathed.

``I feel adrenalized!'' exclaimed Becker as he caught his breath after the feat.

Becker, who is part of Bergamo's Team Schick Quattro, was just one of the martial artists Saturday at the Martial Arts Festival at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

The three-day event, which began Friday and is sponsored by Black Belt Magazine, was expected to have drawn 10,000 people when it ends today.

Saturday was Becker's fourth try at breaking the record. On his last attempt, he tied the old record of 415 boards.

This time, the boards were arranged in 140 stations with 80 stacks of three boards, 40 stacks of four boards, and 20 stacks of five boards.

Becker, of Southbury, Conn., has studied martial arts for about 20 years.

``Your body can do a lot more than you think when you focus your mind and your heart,'' said his brother, Trevor, 32, who is also part of the team.

At the Universal Sheraton, festivalgoers could purchase instructional DVDs on every subject from boxing to self-defense, swords and other martial arts weapons, and T-shirts with slogans such as ``Submission is not an option'' from more than 70 vendors. Martial artists from many different disciplines also gave demonstrations.

Mike Lee Kanarek, an Israeli special operations veteran who now has his own training centers in more than a dozen states including California, said he's seen interest in martial arts and self-defense increase after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

``(Martial arts) are not so mysterious anymore,'' said Kanarek, 38, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who teaches a form of self-defense called haganah. ``Americans are beginning to see it as a physical training activity, as exercise, something healthy for you.''

The martial arts also are gaining in popularity with women who figure, ```I work out anyway, I might as well make my workout self-defense,''' Kanarek said.

Two young women who agreed Saturday were Nicole Habermehl, 16, of Irvine, and Dayna Huor, 9, of Chicago, who were part of the Xtreme Martial Arts team.

Both said they like martial arts because it combines exercise with confidence-boosting self-defense abilities.

``It's just so much fun and you get real exercise out of it,'' said Habermehl, who has a black belt in tae kwon do, and a second-degree black belt in karate. ``You become much more confident and disciplined.''

``And you can be a total girly-girl and still kick peoples' butts.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

Black Belt Magazine's Festival of Martial Arts will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Universal Studios Hollywood. A martial arts film festival will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at the CityWalk Cineplex.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Bergamo's Team Schick Quattro member Leif Becker, above, a third-degree black belt in the World Tang Soo Do Association, breaks 487 pieces of wood in a minute Saturday to set a new world record. Left, another team member gets his kicks with concrete blocks.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

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IF YOU GO (see text)