Dallas, Texas is the new home of Jose and Sharon Santamaria’s Masters Karate Tournament. During the last ten years this event was held in Austin, Texas but due to a move by its producers, north Texas has become the new home . Jose Santamaria has always been known for having one of the best tournaments in Texas and has given his best during his 39 years hosting karate tournaments. Richland College in North Dallas was the venue for this years Masters.
One thing you can count on in Texas, that’s heat. It was over one hundred degrees July 24th and 25th. Luckily we had cold air in the gym where the tournament was held. This did not stop some of the top competitors in the NBL Cowboy and Bayou conference from heating up the competition floor.
Some of the top national teams were there slugging it out for the points toward the NBL World Games and a championship title. Team G.O.P showed up in force and cleaned winning in many of the junior divisions. Team Focus and VKA also won in the junior and many adult divisions. Some of the Junior black belt champions with multiple title wins were Clarissa Villanueva, Marco Villanueva, Zachary Blundell, Joseph Pruiett and Chris Gallio. All taking victories in contemporary and traditional forms.
Junior sparring champions also included some of the earlier mentioned winners. Charlie Davidson, Lauren Broussard and Samantha Fields were also winners in sparring. Samantha Fields is the daughter of breaking world champion Larry Fields, who was present to support his daughter and the event.
In the Adult weapons, forms and self defense divisions John Dengel and Johnnie Murphy cleaned up with ten divisional first. Another multiple champion and NBL rookie, Jason Hutchinson, was prominent in the contemporary forms divisions as he took first place in men’s adult hard and musical forms.
Adult sparring champions included Texas legends Norman Roberts, Derrick Wilson and James Gunn. Other sparring champions were Carlos Arevalo, Kennie Ritche and Jorge Arevalo, Jr. The senior sparring grand championship was between Norman Roberts and Derrick Wilson with Norman Roberts winning the money
