Closer Look

Teen becomes second Sport Karate World Champion from Franklin

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Elisabeth Lapp-Antoine

In December 2024, 14-year-old Cooper Rogers made history by becoming the second Sport Karate World Champion from Danny Antoine’s Martial Arts Academy in Franklin. (Macon Sense shared Cooper’s national win in the Nov. 8, 2024 edition)

His journey to this prestigious title began in March in San Antonio, Texas, and continued to locations like Minnesota, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. The season culminated in Toronto, Canada, where his consistent placements earned him enough points to secure the number-one world ranking. Next season, he will compete in tournaments in Chicago, Ill.; Columbus, Ohio; Miami, Fla.; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Orlando, Fla.; Wales; and Toronto, to name a few.

DANNY ANTOINE and his wife Mary show support for the new Sport Karate World Champion, Cooper Rogers.

Cooper follows in the footsteps of his instructor, Danny Antoine, who became the first Sport Karate World Champion from Franklin in 2002. Recently, Macon Sense sat for an interview with both teacher and student, as well as Antoine’s wife, Mary, and Rogers’s parents, Meagan and Eric.

Q: What has been your favorite memory from this season, and why?

Cooper: Definitely, Diamond Nationals. I fought Tony Homsani for the Grand Championship, and I was excited to beat him. I also fought my friend, Trey, and beat him in the open weight division. 

Eric: Cooper beating Trey in the open weight division at Capitol Classics in Washington, D.C. He beat him 10-0. He and Trey are friends. They talk right up to the moment that they’re about to fight each other, and they’re still close afterwards.

Danny: For our sport, that’s one of the things that’s very unique. Even though we fight on different teams, we spend a lot of time together. These are going to be lifelong friendships for Cooper. The guys that I fought 10 … 20 years ago, we’re still super close.

Q: How does it feel to represent your karate school and inspire others? 

Cooper: I want to be a good role model. Most important is to have a good attitude, no matter what happens. I know some people that are really good, but if they have a bad reaction, everyone hears about it. Even if they don’t mean for it to look that way. 

Mary: I watched you with that kid who had such a hard time with his coaches at the last tournament. You actually took the time to go talk to him. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, you do not see that.’ Even if you were directed by your wonderful parents, how you did it was on point. I really had respect for you doing that.
 
Q: You’re part of the Demo Team, the Tournament Team, karate class, sparring class. You’re also a Junior Instructor. How do you stay motivated through such a demanding schedule? 

Cooper: I just think about the other kids on the tournament circuit that are training. I can’t slack off, otherwise I’m going to get beat.

Danny: He’s involved in everything. I’ve watched him push through all of this, and he still gets good grades and has a job. He’s living proof that it can be done for those who are committed.

Q: You’ve been at Danny Antoine’s Martial Arts Academy since you were 4 years old. What is it about being here at the karate school that keeps you wanting to come back? 

Cooper: How you all treat me. If I do badly, you’re not just going to sugarcoat it. You’re going to tell me, ‘You’re not doing good, you need to fix this.’ Not because you’re disappointed, but because you want me to get better. That also means if you tell me I’m doing good, I don’t disregard it because I think that’s what you’d say to just anyone.

COOPER ROGERS and his parents Eric and Meagan and his sisters, Maddie and Sophie, pose for a photo with his medals and trophies won in his latest tournament.

Q: Meagan and Eric, as Cooper’s parents, this is a big deal. How has he grown in his mindset in this journey?

Meagan: I saw a change in him three years ago. He wanted to work out at the karate school every day during the summer. Many times, he was on the karate floor by himself doing drills. Eric and I have always told him we’ll do whatever it takes to make his dreams come true.

Eric: He reacts to adversity and how he overcomes the challenges that are put in front of him. I’ve seen Cooper fight sick, I’ve seen him fight blind [without contacts] , and he always finishes what he sets out to do.

Danny: These kids will accomplish the most amazing things through their failure because it’s an opportunity for them to get better. But we are robbing them when we don’t give them an opportunity to understand that things are not always going to go their way; but if they stick to it, they will get there. What would have happened if you just took the attitude of, ‘maybe this is not my thing’? Failure is not what dictates whether or not this is your thing, it’s just one of the roadblocks that you have to get through. I remember the one tournament where it finally switched for you. It was one of your hardest disappointments, I think you had lost to one of the kids in Atlanta. The very next tournament, I remember you calling me because everything made sense to you. It’s one of the ultimate redemption stories, when failure no longer holds people hostage. As an instructor, that’s the focal point of you getting to this place. You and Nathan [McAllister – lead black belt instructor at Danny Antoine’s Martial Arts Academy] have been pretty awesome to watch. The last tournament I was at with you guys, both of you lost your first fight. That’s a hard thing to deal with. Yet, both of you fought your way completely out of the loser’s bracket, came back, and won your divisions.

Eric: Cooper and I had a moment at that one tournament you mentioned. He was upset. He was like, ‘I’m so sorry. I failed here, and you’re probably mad at me, and you spent all this money… and I said, ‘I’m only mad at you if you failed without learning something. Did you learn something from that? That’s all I can ask for. I’m never going to be mad at you for losing, that’s ridiculous.’

Danny: Every little boy has to be able to have a voice, especially coming from a dad, who would say, ‘No, I’m not disappointed. You’re my son.’ That pushes every young man forward. That’s part of why I call it a redemption story. I’m so thankful as parents that you value him enough that you’re willing to invest in him. Cooper, my biggest takeaway from this is that I’m proud of you. Seeing you go through this journey means more to me than getting your world title. What goes through my mind is: how many times did you fail; how many times did you feel like you were never going to be able to get this? But you came back. At tournaments, kids would beat you, but you kept going back until you got the desired result. That’s the testimony that so many kids in our community need to hear, because so many of them feel like failures, but not all of them have a dad to look at them and say, ‘No, I’m not disappointed in you.’ It gives hope to the kids who don’t have that, that maybe it’s the same for them. Which might be the crack in the door for them to become the next World Champion, even if it’s not karate, it doesn’t matter.

Q: What is your insight to kids who don’t necessarily want to be involved in traditional sports like football, soccer, or basketball, but have an interest in a nontraditional sport like karate? If they were intimidated before, when they come here, what do you think would change for them to not feel intimidated anymore?

Cooper: I would say, come and try it out. If you don’t like it, then you don’t have to do it. If you like it, you stay. You have a bunch of kids here that like it, so nothing too crazy is going to happen to you. I think if they see other kids who don’t do other sports, kids their age, that would help. 

Q: What would you say to kids who aspire to be world champions one day? 

Cooper: Work really hard, because that’s the biggest part of it – working hard. You have to really want to be the world champion. You can’t just be like, “oh, well, whatever happens, happens.” You have to put your mind to it.

Cooper attended the North American Sport Karate Association Banquet in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 16, where he was recognized as the 12-13 Black Belt Boys Point Sparring World Champion. Cooper received the World Champion certificate, ring, and personalized black belt. 
Cooper is moving up an age division and is looking forward to the new challenges this tournament season will hold. To keep up with Cooper’s karate achievements, follow him on Instagram @cooperrogers2010.