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The 2025 25th Annual South Alabama Karate Open took place on Saturday, June 14, at the Straughn High School Gymnasium and was hosted by Andalusia Isshinryu Karate.

Competitors from 24 different martial arts schools came together to showcase their skills. Participants represented dojos from across Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, and New Jersey, offering a thrilling display of talent from various martial arts styles.

At the end of a highly competitive event, the Grand Champions of this year’s tournament were:

• Adult black belt kata grand champion: Jace Himes, Keichu Do, Enterprise, Alabama
• Youth black belt kata grand champion: Johnathan Rudd, Andalusia Isshinryu, Andalusia
• Men’s black belt fighting grand champion: Jace Himes, Keichu Do, Enterprise, Alabama
• Youth kyu rank grand champion (10 & under): Arie Post, Grandview Isshinryu, Prattville, Alabama
• Youth kyu rank grand champion (Ages 11-17): Hector Cruz, Keichu Do, Enterprise, Alabama

Competitors from Andalusia Isshinryu Karate placed highly across several divisions, securing an impressive 26 first-place finishes. Those results are as follows:

Men’s Black Belt Division

• Drew Correro – First place men’s lightweight fighting
• James Doulin – Third place kata, third place men’s heavyweight fighting
• Phillip Martin – Second place weapons, second place kata
• Taj Patel – Third place weapons, fourth place kata

4 & 5-Year-Old Beginner Division

• Phoenix Mims – First place kata, first place fighting
• Jack Dunbar – Third place kata, second place fighting

6-Year-Old Beginner Division

• CJ Lucca – First place kata, third place boys fighting
• Renley McQuaig – Fourth place boys fighting
• Henley Sargent – Third place kata
• Ben Stovall – Second place kata, first place boys fighting

7 & 8-Year-Old Beginner Division

• Bridgett Hommes – First place kata first place girls fighting
• Landin Wheeler – Third place boys fighting
• Leland Williams – Second place boys fighting

7 & 8-Year-Old Intermediate Division

• Eli Rudd – First place weapons, third place kata
• Lawrence Sargent – Fourth place weapons, first place kata, third place boys fighting

9 & 10-Year-Old Intermediate Division

• Harless Huckabaa – Fourth place kata, fourth place boys fighting
• Drew Marcotte – First place weapons, third place kata
• Lacey Rudd – Third place weapons, second place kata, first place girls fighting

11 & 12-Year-Old Beginner Division

• Noah Cobb – Second place boys fighting
• Pablo Pestana – Second place kata, first place boys fighting
• Andi Worley – Fourth place kata, second place girls fighting

11 & 12-Year-Old Intermediate Division

• Luna Raines – First place kata, first place girls fighting

11 & 12-Year-Old Advanced Division

• Brianna Walker – Third place weapons, third place kata, third place girls fighting

13 & 14-Year-Old Beginner Division

• Gabriel Pestana – Second place kata, first place boys fighting
• Miguel Pestana – First place kata, second place boys fighting

15-17 Advanced Division

• Dhilan Patel – First place weapons, first place kata, second place boys fighting

40 & Up Men’s Beginner Division

• Craig Lucca – Third place kata, second place fighting
• Ivan Pestana – First place fighting

13 & 14-Year-Old Black Belt Division

• Johnathan Rudd – First place weapons, first place kata, first place boys fighting (Youth Kata/Weapons Grand Champion)

15-17-Year-Old Black Belt Division

• Braydon Walker – First place weapons, fourth place kata, fourth place boys fighting

“We would like to extend a special thank you to all the competitors, instructors, and spectators who made this year’s South Alabama Karate Open a resounding success. We also extend our gratitude to the local businesses and sponsors who supported the event through advertisements in our tournament program. Their contributions gave visitors a glimpse of the vibrant community spirit in Andalusia and Covington County,” Tournament Director Mark Rudd said.

For more information about the South Alabama Karate Open or to inquire about Isshinryu Karate and Jiu-Jitsu instruction call or text Rudd at 334-488-3104.