Members of Andalusia Isshinryu Karate recently attended the United States Yoshukai Karate Association Winter Workout and Banquet at the Wyndam Gardens Resort in Ft. Walton Beach.

There the students met with instructors and students from other karate schools affiliated with the USYKA to work out, compete in self-defense competition and attend a banquet to recognize top competitors from last year’s competition year on the USYKA tournament circuit.

Andalusia students started the day with a beach workout and attended mini-clinics by various instructors.

The function then moved indoors to the convention center, where a self-defense competition was held.

Andalusia competitors competed in self-defense competition based on belt level and age.

Students placed as follows:

Allen Butler finished in first place in adult black belt.

Landon Caldwell took the top spot in brown belt for his age.

Kaylin Fite secured first place in yellow belt.

Kila Owens also place first in brown belt for her age group.

Dixon Fite came in second place in his green belt division.

Tyler Martin finished second place in the brown belt division.

Konnor Owens placed third in brown belt.

Chris O’Neil picked up a fourth place finish in the white/yellow belt division.

Dalton Spears placed fourth in the black belt division.

At the awards banquet, Andalusia students were awarded for the their rankings for the 2015 competition year.

In the Youth Black Belt division, Taj Patel finished in fourth place, Allen Butler finished in sixth place and Rexanne Butler came in ninth place.

In the Youth Brown Belt division, Caldwell blew past the competition to lay claim to the 2015 Champion. Spears racked in enough points to finish in second place and Kila Owens finished in third place.

In the Youth Green Belt division, Konnor Owens bested his competition for to become the 2015 Champion.

In the Junior Yellow Belt division, Dixon Fite’s strong year earned him the honor of 2015 Champion.

In the Adult Black Belt division, Phillip Martin placed second.

Caldwell, Patel, Spears, Kila Owens and Konnor Owens also received the “200 club” award for achieving over 200 ranking points in the 2015 rankings.

Caldwell and Spears also received “250 club” awards for accumulating over 250 ranking points.

For the second year in a row, Caldwell accumulated more total points than any other person in any category in the USYKA’s entire ranking system, scoring 258 points for the year. For more information on the USYKA and the rankings, go to www.yoshukai.com.

Andalusia Isshinryu Karate is located next to USA Gym and Fitness Center, and all classes are taught by Mark Rudd.