Members of

Andalusia Isshinryu Karate competed in the 2002 USYKA Albertville Open, held in Albertville on Saturday, Oct. 12. This was the last tournament of the year for the USYKA Competition Circuit and competitors from a five-state area competed. Andalusia competitors placed in 27 divisions, including 10 first-place finishes.

Andalusia's group was led by April Jones, with three first-place finishes in adult brown belt weapons, kata and women's fighting divisions. April has unofficially finished the 2002 competition year as USYKA adult brown belt National Champion. Final rankings will be posted in November.

Results of the other local competitors are as follows:

Jamey Doulin won first place in 8- and 9-year-old Advanced fighting and first place in 8- and 9-year-old Advanced kata;

Evan Soles won first place in 11-and-under Advanced weapons and fourth place in 8- and 9-year-old Advanced fighting;

Ashley Jones won first place in 15- to 17-year-old Beginning weapons, second place in 15- to 17-year-old Beginning kata and fourth place in 15- to 17-year-old Girls fighting;

Gene Bass won second placing 11-and-under advanced weapons, second place in 10- to 13-year-old Advanced kata and fourth place in 10- and 11-year-old Advanced fighting;

Thomas Rudd won third place in 13- and 14-year-old green belt fighting;

Phillip Martin won second place in 15- to 17-year-old Black belt weapons, second place in 15- to 17-year-old black belt kata and second place in 15- to 17-year-old black belt fighting;

Josh Godwin won second place in 11-and-under beginning weapons and fourth place in 10- and 11-year-old advanced kata;

Dilan Manring won second place in 10- and 11-year-old Beginning fighting and third place in 10- and 11-year-old Beginning kata;

Bradley Benton won third place in 8- and 9-year-old Beginning kata;

Edward Bass won second place in Executive Men's kata (below black belt) and third place in Executive Men's fighting (below black belt);

Mark Rudd won first place in Men's Senior black belt kata, first place in Men's Senior black belt weapons, first place in Men's Senior black belt fighting, Grand Champion - Adult black belt Forms and Weapons and Grand Champion - Men's black belt fighting.

Black Belt Grand Champions are determined by bracketing the winners of all black belt divisions against each other to determine an overall winner in kata and fighting.

Final rankings for 2002 will be tabulated and posted in the next few weeks on the official USYKA website at http://www.yoshukai.com.

Several members of Andalusia Isshinryu Karate are currently ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions of the USYKA circuit’s rankings.

Classes in Isshinryu Karate and self-defense are taught locally by Mark Rudd at the USA Gym and Fitness Center and at the Andalusia Adult.