Four Andalusia Isshinryu karate students were selected as finalists for their contribution to the Isshinryu karate art form at the 31st annual Isshinryu Hall of Fame banquet in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Isshinryu HOF took place July 23-24, and was held at the Knoxville Hilton and Knoxville Convention Center.

Nominations were sent in worldwide for the awards and five finalists are selected in each award category. The following Andalusia students were selected as finalists for the awards:

• Rex Butler — Adult Male Karate-ka of the year (12-and-under).

• Hogan Nichols — Young Male Karate-ka of the Year (12-and-under), Junior Male Competitor of the Year (12-and-under).

• Allen Butler — Young Male Karate-ka of the Year (12-and-under), Junior Male Competitor of the Year (12-and-under).

• Rexanne Butler — Junior Female Competitor of the Year (12-and-under), Young Female Karate-ka of the Year (12-and-under).

On Saturday morning, the IHOF tournament kicked off, and Andalusia karate student Reese Burkhardt finished in first place in green belt fighting, green belt kata and green belt weapons.

Other students that competed in the tournament, and finished within fourth place or better include Colin Marcum, Allen Butler, Nichols and Sharon Joyner.

Marcum finished in second place in green belt fighting; Butler finished in first place in black belt fighting and fourth place in black belt weapons; Nichols finished in third place in black belt fighting and second place in black belt kata; and Joyner finished in second place in black belt women’s fighting.

More information on the IHOF can be found at its Web site at www.ihof.us.

Mark Rudd teaches Issinryu Karate at the USA Gym and Fitness Center.