My name is Kauner Hooper, I was born October 6, 1994 in Mesa, Arizona. At the age of three my family moved to Beachwood, Ohio. In 2000, I began studying karate through the Beachwood Recreation Department. When I was a blue belt, Sensei Brandon split from the Beachwood Recreation system but continued to teach myself and my brothers in his parent’s basement. Soon after he started teaching with Sensei Ken Messina at the Bedford YMCA. There I earned my purple belt. In the winter of 2006, Sensei Brandon opened a Dojo in Oakwood Village. That spring I earned my brown belt. I have competed in many tournaments and have earned numerous awards.

During the summer of 2006, I attended Falcon camp and learned many good qualities for leadership and responsibility. I am still training with Sensei Brandon and plan to continue for many years. In fourth grade I began playing the cello. The following year I switched to the double bass. I recently placed first at the OMSE conference performing a double bass duet. I also play the bass guitar in my free time.

I began playing football for my school in 7th grade and have been on the swim team since I was nine.

To me, becoming a black belt means eight years of training. It also means a lot more responsibility to help teach at the dojo. Becoming a black belt means making the right decisions. It means helping others be themselves. Becoming a black belt is not an end to my training but the beginning of a new process of my karate education.

Karate is one of my favorite things in the world. It has taught me the most I have ever learned. It taught me about myself and life in general. I am so glad I started when I did because it let me grow up with karate. My karate training has conditioned me to expect whatever life throws at me.