Andalusia Isshinryu Karate put on an excellent performance as it hosted the 2023 South Alabama Karate Open at the Straughn High School Gymnasium on Saturday, June 10.

AIK team members participated in up to three events including kata, weapons and fighting.


“We saw a huge participation with 130 athletes representing 21 different karate schools in a five-state region. It was a great competition as well as the bleachers crowded with spectators. I’d like to extend an especially big thank you for all the black belts as well as instructors who judged the entire day long, along with timekeepers and scorekeepers. We are grateful to all parents who helped to organize the event and everyone who attended and helped make this year’s SAKO an unforgettable one,” Tournament Director Mark Rudd said.

The Black Belt Grand Champions for this year are:

  • Youth Kata/Weapons: Jace Himes of Keichu do in Enterprise, Alabama
  • Adult kata/weapons Jacob Jones of Taekwondo in Jonesboro, Louisiana
  • Women’s fight: Jamie Smith of Eaves Karate in Fayette, Alabama
  • Fighting between men: Tony Williams of Isshinryu in Lebanon, Tennessee

Andalusia Results of Isshinryu Karate are as they are:

  • Allen Butler: second place-weapons; first place-kata
  • Andrew Correro: third place-weapons 4th place-kata
  • James Doulin: second place-fighting
  • Taj Patel: third-place weapon and third place-kata
  • Nathan Rooker: fourth-place weapon 2nd place kata
  • Donald Rudd: first place-kata
  • Dhilan Patel: first place weapons 3rd place-kata; 4th place-fighting
  • Jason Rooker: second place in kata; first place-fighting
  • Braydon Walker: first place weapons 2nd place-kata; 1st place-fighting
  • Brianna Walker: third place weapons 2nd place-kata; 1st place-fighting
  • Zeke Landreneau: fourth place-weapons second place-kata, fourth place-fighting
  • Stetson Cook First place-weapons, first place-kata and first place-fighting
  • Gus Jordan: second place-fighting
  • Lawrence Sargent: fourth place-fighting 3rd place-fighting
  • Gates Tillman: fourth place-fighting
  • Sofia Landreneau: second place-weapons 2nd place-kata; 2nd fight for second place.
  • Mason Morman: fourth place-fighting
  • Ander Parkinson 2nd place-kata; 1st place-fighting
  • Eli Rudd: third place-kata
  • Landry Anderson: third place in the fight for third place
  • The CR Grant second-place-kata first place-fighting
  • Jemari Marshall 2nd place-kata: 2nd place-fighting
  • Lacey Rudd: first place-kata fighting; second place

This year’s South Alabama Karate Open is scheduled for the second weekend in June 2024.

For more information on the programs offered by Andalusia Isshinryu Karate and for information about the South Alabama Karate Open, contact Rudd at 334-488-3104.

The article Andalusia Isshinryu Karate hosts South Alabama Karate Open was originally published at The Andalusia Star-News.