Louisiana Pro Am Karate Tournament

New Orleans Mardi Gras and Martial Arts

Pee Wee Blanco’s Louisiana Pro-Am: A Mardi Gras Tradition in Sport Karate

Every year, as Louisiana gears up for Mardi Gras season, martial artists from across the country make their way to Kenner for one of the region’s most respected events in sport karate — the Louisiana Pro-Am Karate Tournament, promoted by Augustus Pee Wee Blanco and the Blanco family. This year the event featured athletes from the U.S. Army fight team and Team Kumite from Pittsburgh, PA.

Often referred to as the Louisiana Pro-Am Mardi Gras Championship, this tournament has become a staple on the national Pro-Am circuit, blending high-level competition with unmistakable Louisiana culture.

Team Kumite representatives:

• Daniel Barrett: Silver, Silver
• Xander Eddy: Gold, Gold
• Gabby Viola: Gold, Gold, Overall Grand
• River Pendergrass: Gold, Silver
• Carter Griffith: Gold
• Will Viola Gold: Bronze

Gabby Viola wins 15-17 Open Weight and 18+ Adult Female Overall Grand Championship Title

Gabby Viola wins 15-17 Open Weight and 18+ Adult Female Overall Grand Championship Title

A Legacy Event in the South

The Louisiana Pro-Am isn’t a “new kid on the block.” It’s a long-running tournament built on consistency, professionalism, and respect for traditional martial arts values. Under Pee Wee Blanco’s leadership, the event earned a reputation as a competitor-friendly, well-run tournament that attracts:

• Youth and beginner competitors

• Seasoned black belts

• Nationally ranked athletes

• Professional-level divisions competing for cash and championship rings

Hosted annually in Kenner, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans, the tournament’s timing around Mardi Gras adds a unique energy — competition by day, culture and celebration by night.

What Makes the Louisiana Pro-Am Stand Out

The Louisiana Pro-Am is a true all-styles Pro-Am tournament, welcoming competitors from traditional karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and modern sport karate backgrounds.

Divisions typically include:

• Traditional, creative, and musical forms

• Traditional and creative weapons

• Point sparring for all ages and ranks

• Black belt grand championships

• Specialty events such as breaking and self-defense

For black belt competitors, the Pro-Am format offers cash prizes, championship rings, and national exposure, while underbelt and youth divisions benefit from clear structure and fair competition.

The Louisiana Pro-Am Karate Tournament stands as one of the South’s most enduring Pro-Am events — a place where beginners take their first steps onto the big stage and elite competitors test themselves against the best.

If you’re looking for a tournament that combines strong competition, professional presentation, and unmistakable regional flavor, Pee Wee Blanco’s Louisiana Pro-Am continues to deliver year after year.