PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (AP) — Calm, cool and confident, Shawnee Mission East High School teacher David Muhammad is among the most skilled martial artists in the world and the No.1 seed on this year's U.S. Karate team.

But Muhammad, 32, knows he has a lot more going for him when it comes to connecting with high schoolers today. He's young — even bearded and bespectacled — and he doesn't look all that much older than some of his students. He's also a talented musician.

Earlier this school year Muhammad dropped a hip-hop, rap album. One cut is titled "'Fairytale,' a song highlighting the fallacy b...