Andalusia Isshinryu Karate hosted the 11th Annual South Alabama Karate Open Championships on Sat., June 6 in the Andalusia Elementary School Gymnasium. The event featured 157 competitors from 22 schools of karate from a six-state area.

Black belt Grand Champions for 2009 include: Adult Black Belt Forms/Weapons Grand Champion – Makoto Hashiguchi of Birmingham; Youth Black Belt Forms/Weapons Grand Champion – Zack McLaren of Alexandria, La.; Women’s Black Belt Fighting Grand Champion – Rachel Mohr of Albertville; and Men’s Black Belt Fighting Grand Champion – Michael Pearson of Opp.

The Andalusia students that finished first place in their events include: Rick Wunsh — first place in black belt weapons; Allen Butler — black belt fighting; Justin Majors — brown belt fighting; Diamon Sasser — brown belt weapons and kata; Hogan Nichols — brown belt weapons, kata and fighting; Rex Butler — brown belt weapons; Cameron Gomillion — green belt weapons and fighting; Kassidy Mears — green belt fighting; Sunny Moody — green belt kata and fighting; Kyle Thornton — green belt kata; Ella Kate Nichols — green belt fighting; Rusty Mear — green belt kata; Tremaine Stoudemire — white/yellow belt fighting; Reese Burkhardt — white/yellow belt weapons and kata; Payton Godwin — white/yellow belt fighting; Alex Myrick — white/yellow belt fighting; and Dalton Spears — white/yellow belt kata.