YORKTOWN — Austin Rader manages school, playing in the Grafton High School marching band, working as a math tutor, and competing in three different styles of karate.
With that packed schedule, the 16-year-old is also helping the youth at his dojo, Brian Hobson Karate Studio, learn the basics of the sport.
Rader got started with karate after attending a friend’s birthday party.
“My earliest memory of karate was the day I started. In kindergarten, my friend who got me into karate was hosting a birthday party at the Hampton location of our karate dojo. He invited me and at the party, I got to learn some karate, cut the birthday cake with a sword, and I got my white belt in karate. I started the day after as a student at the dojo. I absolutely loved it and never stopped going,” Rader says.
Rader began competing just a short time later.
“I finally realized I wanted to do karate competitively about a year or so after I started karate. I went to my first karate tournament at Hampton University and won first place. From that point on, I knew I wanted to keep doing karate competitively,” Rader recalls.
Now, with 10 years under his belt, Rader has started training the next generation of karate students at the dojo. After earning his black belt at the age of 11, Rader knew that he was a role model for the younger kids in the dojo.
“The absolute most rewarding part of being a coach and teacher to the little ones is being able to see myself in them. I remember how excited I was as a little kid learning how to fight and take people down, and I especially used to be excited about competing in tournaments. Seeing the little ones in my dojo grow up and learn more and more karate is so fulfilling and makes me really happy. Whenever I end my competitive career in karate, I definitely will keep being a coach to the little ones so that they can reach the same level I have and be great,” Rader says.
Earlier this year, Rader earned a chance to compete at the 2024 National Karate Championships. He competed in kata (routine), kumite (fighting), and kubudo (weapons). In the elite division, Rader placed third in kubudo.
“I have enjoyed the competitive side of karate. Karate has allowed me to travel all over the country to compete, and at many of these tournaments, I have won. I have lost a couple along the way, which really gives me the learning experience and motivation I need to get better. When I get beat by someone, that just tells me that that person is super good. It pushes me so much harder to get to their level, and I even try to implement some of their strategies into my matchplay,” Rader says.
Rader hopes to secure a spot on the U.S. Karate Team in 2025.
As for the students he teaches, he hopes that they stick with the sport.
“Karate does not only teach you self-defense and how to beat someone up. It also builds your confidence, it makes you so much stronger, it gives you good discipline and makes you behave better, and overall, it gives you both a sport and a family. This is something I don’t think any kid should overlook and take for granted. I am who I am in every way because of karate. It gives you motivation and a reason to push yourself. It shapes who you are and connects you with people from all over,” Rader says.
For more information on Brian Hobson Karate Studio, visit brianhobsonkarate.com.
