Competitors from Andalusia Isshinryu Karate competed in the 2008 USYKA Albertville Open, held in Albertville on October 11.

Andalusia competitors placed in 33 divisions, including nine first place finishes.

Results of the local competitors for their various age groups are as follows:

Hogan Nichols — First place in green belt weapons, green belt kata and third place in green belt fighting.

Rex Butler — First place in men’s executive weapons (below black belt), second place in men’s executive kata (below black belt) and fourth place in men’s executive fighting (below black belt).

Ella Kate Nichols — First place in yellow belt kata and yellow belt fighting.

Cameron Gomillion — First place in green belt fighting.

Allen Butler — First place in black belt musical kata, third place in youth black belt weapons, third place in youth black belt kata and second place in youth black belt fighting.

John Allen Wise — Second place in green belt weapons and second place in green belt kata.

Todd Wright — Second place in green belt weapons, fourth place in green belt kata and third place in green belt fighting.

Caleb Gomillion — Third place in green belt weapons, first place in green belt kata and third place in green belt fighting.

Rusty Mears — First place in men’s executive kata (below black belt) and third place in men’s executive fighting (below black belt).

Kassidy Mears — Third place in yellow belt kata and third place in yellow belt fighting.

Rexanne Butler — Second place in brown belt weapons and third place in brown belt kata.

Justin Majors — Third place in brown belt weapons, third place in brown belt kata and second place in brown belt fighting.

Phillip Martin — Second place in men’s black belt weapons, third place in men’s black belt kata and second place in men’s black belt light weight fighting.

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