18th. Captain Tamara Long-Archuleta Memorial Open Karate Championships

October 18, 2025

This was our 40th Tournament that we have hosted. Our first ten tournaments were the HUB CITY OPEN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS in June dedicated to our Military (Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard). After we lost our daughter in March 2003 and the whole crew of six on the KOMODO 11 Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, we made the decision to make this 10th HUB CITY OPEN our last on June 7, 2003 dedicated to her and the crew. After our first tournament we asked to be the United States Karate Alliance New Mexico State representatives. We hosted twelve USKA State Championships in November each year. That meant we were hosting two tournament a year for ten years. After twelve USKA State Championships we retired as the NM State Reps and started the Tammy Tournaments in October each year. This was our 18th Tammy Tournament. So 10 Hub City’s, !2 USKA NM State, and 18 Tammy Tournaments totals 40 tournaments!

We were so thankful to have Diana Wong and the Women Veteran Warriors present our Colors honoring a female Veteran Warrior, Captain Tamara Long-Archuleta USAF.

Rev. Robert Browning, Church of the Redeemer, gave our opening prayer. Thank you

Isabella Carrillo sang our National Anthem for us and has for several years. We are so thankful.

Santino Miera won the Black Belt Kata Grand Champion and Men’s Black Belt Kumite Grand Champion. He is from Mountain Eagle Karate Academy with Mark and Anna Gorman.

Sydney Engler won the Women’s Kumite Grand Champion. She is from Belen Goju Ryu Karate with Richard and Cindy Long.

Charles Vergo won Adult Kyu Kata Grand Champion. He is from Four Winds Martial Arts with David Brown.

Colton Malcom won the Youth Advance Kata Grand Champion. He is from Belen Goju Ryu Karate with Richard and Cindy Long.

Alexa Nguyen won the Youth Intermediate Kata Grand Champion. She is from Mountain Eagle Karate Academy with Mark and Anna Gorman.

Amelia Lusk won the Youth Beginning Kata Grand Champion. She is from the Four Winds Martial Arts with David Brown.

The Valencia County News-Bulletin and Sports writer, Mike Powers, highlighted this being our 40th Tournament that Belen Goju Ryu Karate and Richard and Cindy Long have hosted.

The Valencia County News-Bulletin then ran a picture after the tournament. This is a student from Four Winds Martial Arts in Albuquerque. We are very appreciative of the support we receive from the Valencia County News-Bulletin.

Now here are pictures from the event and also some other images that were shared with us. Enjoy!