2026 New Mexico State Championships

Saturday, May 2, 2026
8:00 AM 7:00 PM

Highland High School 4700 Coal Avenue Southeast Albuquerque, NM, 87108 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

Promo graphic for the 2026 New Mexico State Championships on May 2 in Albuquerque, NM, presented by Mountain Eagle Karate Academy, with tournament floor in the background.

MEKA is proud to present the 2026 New Mexico State Championships! Join us Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Highland High School in Albuquerque, NM.

Events:

Kata (forms) • Kobudo (weapons) • Kumite (sparring)

Open to all schools and styles!

Download the registration form here.

Tips for First Time Competitors:

Represent your dojo with pride. Arrive in a clean gi, properly tied belt, no clothing visible underneath, no jewelry, and hair neat and out of your face.
Don’t be nervous.
If you are nervous, remember that the one thing you can always control is your spirit.
Give your best effort.
If you do well, be humble.
If you don’t do as well as you’d hoped, be proud that you faced your fears and remember what you need to work on for next time.
Support your fellow competitors.
Be respectful to all of the other competitors, judges, parents, etc.
Have fun!

Bracketing Divisions

Beginner:

7 years and younger studying for 24 months or less
8 years and older studying for 18 months or less
Must be 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th kyu/gup

Intermediate:

7 years and younger studying for 25-48 months.
8 years and older studying for 19-48 months.
Must be 4th, 5th, or 6th kyu/gup

Advanced:

Any age studying for 49 months or more.
Must be brown or black belt

Note: Competitors will compete at the level of their current belt rank, regardless of age or months trained. For example, a seven-year-old with a blue belt will compete at the intermediate level. However, if there are only advanced and beginner divisions, blue belts and under will compete in the beginner division, and green to black belts will compete in the advanced division.

Kata/Weapons Rules

Judging Criteria: Kata and weapons are judged on symmetry, power, fluidity, consistency, and spirit. The highest and lowest scores are dropped; the middle three are combined for the final score.

Ties: Competitors will repeat their kata. Intermediate level and above must perform a different kata; weapons competitors may repeat the same one.

Restarts and Dropped Weapons: Competitors may restart their kata, and may continue after dropping a weapon, but will automatically place below all competitors who did not restart or drop their weapon.

USKA Sparring Rules

Face Contact: No face contact is permitted for competitors under 18. Competitors who are 18 or older and ranked brown belt or above may make controlled face contact.

Techniques: All techniques require a pull back and cannot swing through. Excessive contact results in penalties.

Target Areas: No leg kicks. The only target below the belt is the groin.

Ring Boundaries: You must be in the ring to score. First violation is a warning; each subsequent violation awards a point to your opponent.

Coaching and Sportsmanship: No coaching during matches. Poor sportsmanship from competitors, coaches, or families results in competitor penalties.

Judges: Points are only awarded for techniques that judges clearly see land. Judges are volunteers, so please be respectful and understand their perspective may differ from yours.