Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Goju Ryu presents 25th tourney on Oct. 18

Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com

Belen If you think the name of the Third Annual Capt. Tamara Long Archuleta Memorial Open Karate Championships takes a while to say, think how much time it takes to plan and organize the day-long event.

The event, produced by Richard and Cindy Long and named for their late daughter, has thrived as the largest karate event in Valencia County for years. This year's tournament will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18, and it promises to be nearly as big, if not bigger, than the 2007 version.

The Long Archuleta Memorial Open enters its second year as a non-sanctioned competition, meaning it isn't held to the rules or guidelines of any karate organization. Richard Long said that helped boost attendance last year, and helped bring in competitors and other participants from all over New Mexico and other states.

"We got over 260 people last year, and we expect that many again, if not more," said Richard Long. "Organizations are very specific about which divisions must be run, and how points are done, etc. We're going to have 126 divisions, and kids will not only get lots of trophies, some of them will actually get to pick out their style of trophy."

Due to an accumulation of surplus trophies over the years, Belen Goju Ryu has been storing the extras. Goju Ryu had to order some new ones this year, plus swords for the black belt champions, but was able to put in some variety using the older trophies.

Because not all trophies will look the same, some of the winners will get to select which type of trophies they want.

This is the 25th tournament the Longs have produced over the past 10 years, including the Hub City Open through 2003. Their daughter Tamara was killed during military service in Afghanistan in March of 2003, after which the Longs reduced their tournament schedule from two events per year to one.

One key function of the tournament is to help raise scholarship money for home-schooled high school students planning on attending the University of New Mexico. This year's recipients were Peter Crowder and Phillip Shaw.

Belen High School's gym has been the home to many karate tournaments through the years. Cindy Long said the school's hospitality is much appreciated.

"(BHS athletic coordinator) Jim Danner has been great about helping us schedule our event," said Cindy Long. "He gave us a date back in March. There were some years we didn't have a date, like, a month or two before."

The main challenge this year will be the temporary closure of Delgado Avenue. The Longs are encouraging visitors to "take Christopher Road and follow the 'karate' signs."

Christopher Road, the first street east of I-25 along Camino del Llano, is currently the only way in or out of both the high school and Eagle Park.

The Long Archuleta Open will not only have hundreds of competitors, but also sales booths for things like martial arts items. Cindy Long said the high school probably welcomes the karate tournaments because the disciplines teach care for others and their property, which explains why karate tournaments leave facilites in the same condition as before.

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