The 42nd annual Ocean State Grand National Karate Championship is set to go down this weekend at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, and will once again host some of the top competitors throughout the world over a three-day span.

It is set to be the biggest event yet with over 800 participants estimated, spanning across 10 countries. Seven local hotels have been booked solid with out-of-towners making the trip. It is one of 12 stops on the North American Sport Karate World Tour that happens each year, and this stop has been headed – as always – by Don and Christine Rodrigues of Warwick’s Don Rodrigues Karate Academy. More than 30 of its own students are expected to compete.

“The who’s who will be here, it’s very special. The talent of competitors coming in is incredible,” said Don Rodrigues.

The event will hand out $35,000 in prize money to both men and women competing in the four major grand championship categories – Super Fights, Form, Weapons and Sparring.

Rodrigues was appreciative of the sponsors that helped raise the funds for the cash, including the City of Warwick, Paul Mitchell (who sponsors the Don Rodrigues team), Century Martial Arts and Ocean State Collision.

Another special sponsor was the Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation, which focuses on drunk driving awareness as Tori Lynn Andreozzi was stuck by a drunk driver that caused traumatic brain injury when she was 12 years old. Tori was a student of Don Rodrigues.

Playing a major role in the promotion of the women’s categories was Maggie Messina, who runs Female Fighters Matter Too and also serves as a sponsor.

“We wanted to make sure we gave the money back to the competitors. It’s a lot of work and without them, and my wife Christine, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” Don Rodrigues said.

Some other events will be the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which this year includes Dawn Kempf, Eric Rudolph, Ronnie Presley, John Palitti, Dante Rodrigues, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi, Keirston “Peaches” Costabile and Reid Presley as inductees.

Other awards to be handed out will be the Veterans Award, recognizing military service, as well as the Kevin Thompson MVP Awards.

Each year, the tournament hosts a special guest which in years past has included names such as Chuck Norris and Andre Tippett. This year’s guest will be 10-time WAKO World Champion Zsolt Moradi, a former student of Don Rodrigues that was the Paul Mitchell team’s first-ever European competitor.

“It was a different style of fighting, but once he figured it out, he beat everybody,” said Don Rodrigues of Moradi’s introduction to North American karate year ago. “He’s a special fighter, one that only comes around once in awhile. He’s not just an incredible fighter, but an incredible guy.”

Rodrigues also thanked all of his valuable volunteers that lend a hand each year, many of which have been around for decades, as well as the DRKA community for making the event an annual success.

“I thought by this time I wouldn’t be excited to do it, but I am. The reward is worth the challenge. This is hard, but thanks to Christine, my black belts, all of our volunteers, we make it happen. A family that kicks together sticks together,” said Rodrigues. “It’s a machine.”

The tournament will begin on Friday with black belt competitors which and will finish on Saturday night. The under belts will go at it on Sunday to wrap up the event. For more information, visit www.Oceanstategrandnational.net or email DRKA111@aol.com