Quanjanim Laura Kemper began her martial arts career in the early 1990’s under instructor William Wade who is the current Owner/Chief Instructor of Circle Tae Kwon Do in Chicago, Illinois. After training under Master Wade, Quanjanim began training concurrently with Master Wade’s instructor, Fred Richmond, Chief Instructor of the United States Dragons Tong Karate Academy (U.S.D.T.K.A.) of Chicago, Illinois. She earned her first through fifth degree black belts under the U.S.D.T.K.A. system and was also certified through the AKA.

Quanjanim began her own system of martial arts—the Kemper’s Academy of Martial Arts System in the year 2006. Her current instructor is the President of the American Karate Association, Sensei John Sharkey, Jr. She was promoted to her 7th degree in 2020.