Elmore Autauga News
The Grandview Isshinryu Karate at Grandview Family YMCA of Millbrook is hosting its first sport karate tournament and festival in Millbrook. The Open Martial Arts Tournament will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Registration is $20 per event. There is a $5 spectator fee for 5 yrs and up. No checks will be accepted on the day of the event.
The event will be organized by age and rank including Adults and Youth, Beginners to Blackbelts, and inclusive abilities rings.
Doors open at 8 a.m. and the tourney begins at 10 a.m.
Organizers are expecting to see competitors and spectators from all over the state of Alabama, as well as from neighboring states.
This event offers competition in kumite (light contact, point sparring) and kata/weapons (forms) for youth and adult competitors.
All skill levels are welcome, from beginner to blackbelt ranks, of all martial arts styles, with options for inclusive abilities divisions.
Bryan Martial Arts Academy, from Bryan College in Dayton, TN, will be in attendance. Bryan College often recruits and offers full paid athletic scholarships to student athletes competing in martial arts. North Louisiana Isshinryu is travelling in with competitors and also bringing tournament support. Lynn Haven Yoshukai Karate (Lynn Haven, FL) has several competitors preregistered. Other schools throughout Alabama have shown interest in attending and supporting the event: Andalusia Isshinryu Karate (Andalusia, AL), US Yoshukai Karate (Montgomery, AL), Falcon1 Karate (Tuscaloosa, AL), Mojukai Karate (Enterprise/Troy, AL), Wheeles Karate (Gulf Shores, AL), World Yoshukai Karate (Dothan, AL), Albertville Karate Academy (Albertville, AL), IKF Karate (Albertville, AL), and Impact Martial Arts (Clanton, AL). I’m sure there are a few others that I’ve overlooked or who have yet to confirm.
Registration for the tournament is online through www.ymcamontgomery.org–Grandview Family YMCA–Register for Programs–Special Events. The link for direct access is:
Competitors can register up to and on location, day of tournament.
Doris Brothers Trophies is supplying 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies, and 4th place medals for all divisions. Black Belt Grand Champions in Point Sparring and Forms/Weapons Divisions will receive $250 cash and 5-ft grand trophy. Youth Black Belt Grand champions in Forms/Weapons will receive $50 cash and 5ft grand trophy, as will Kyu Rank Grand champions 10 & Under and 11&Up. A “Grand champion” means that the competitor was the best overall in the tournament for those categories.
A martial arts festival will be on site while the tournament is unfolding. Community members can come see some of these athletes in action, and what an open karate tournament is about. Come and enjoy family time with sweets and treats (Made by Molly) such as karate cookies, cotton candy, Freedom Frozen Delights ice cream. There will also be food from the two best local food trucks (Front Porch Grill and Ricos Tacos Wey), bounce houses, kids’ outdoor games and bubble station, Spiderman from Party Palace LLC, face painting by Halee Vaughan Art, balloon art by Greg Taunton, and Crochet By Rae Stuffy Dragons. All productions are martial arts themed.
