WAKO Kickboxing Champs – Team USA

WAKO Kickboxing Champs – Team USA

 

Congratulations to Xander Eddy and Luke Lokay for earning a spot on “Team USA” at the WAKO National Team Trials in Kansas City.  The two have earn spots to represent America at:

Jesolo Lido (VE), Italy, 15-23 September 2018:
WAKO Cadets and Juniors World Championships (All Disciplines)

Cancun, Mexico, 24-28 October 2018:
10th PanAmerican Kickboxing Championships (All Disciplines)

The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations or WAKO; is the largest international organization of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord. It is formed of two organizations: WAKO for amateur sports and WAKO PRO for professional sports. Besides holding world championships, WAKO sanctions the champions of kickboxing in six rule styles.

WAKO holds a world championships every two years, with youth (18 and under) and adults (18–45) on separate years; only national teams are accepted. Each member country can present only one competitor in each weight class. Competitors are commonly the national champion of their weight class in that particular kickboxing style and many are also officially recognized by their National Olympic Committees or Ministry of Sports.

WAKO USA and WAKO PRO govern and sanction the sport of kickboxing in three rule styles that compete inside a boxing ring: Full Contact, Low Kick, and K-1.
WAKO USA governs and supports martial arts competition which takes place on a matted floor in four styles: Point Fighting, Light Contact, Kick-Light, and Musical Forms.
Every two years the WAKO World Championships brings together the best athletes from around the world to compete in each rule style. Each of WAKO’s 85 affiliated national federations can present only 1 competitor in each weight class and the WAKO World Championships determines who truly is the best of the best.

WAKO Kickboxing Champs Today:

The connection between World Association of Kickboxing Organizations and the Viola Karate family runs deep and represents an important part of the development of amateur kickboxing in Western Pennsylvania and the United States.

Early Foundations

The roots of the connection go back to the pioneering work of Bill Viola Sr., who was instrumental in building the regional karate tournament circuit during the 1970s and 1980s. Through events and promotions in the Pittsburgh area, Viola Sr. helped expose local martial artists to the evolving world of full-contact and sport kickboxing.

As international organizations like WAKO began organizing amateur kickboxing worldwide, Western Pennsylvania competitors started to connect with the global governing body.

Bill Viola Jr. and WAKO Leadership

The relationship grew even stronger through Bill Viola Jr., who became deeply involved with WAKO. He served in leadership roles within the organization and helped expand opportunities for American fighters.

Through his work, he helped:

• Promote amateur kickboxing as a safe and organized sport

• Develop rules and sanctioning standards

• Provide pathways for American athletes to compete internationally

• Support the growth of USA national teams

His involvement helped strengthen the connection between local martial arts schools and the international governing body.

Viola Karate and Athlete Development

Students from the Viola Karate system benefited from this connection by gaining direct access to international competition through WAKO events. Fighters trained in the Viola system have competed in regional, national, and world-level tournaments sanctioned by WAKO.

One example of this next generation is Gabby Viola, who followed in the family tradition and went on to compete at the elite level, including representing the United States in international kickboxing.

Pittsburgh’s Role in Kickboxing History

Because of the Viola family’s influence, the Pittsburgh region became an important hub for martial arts competition. Events like the Kumite Classic helped connect traditional karate tournaments with modern sport kickboxing and provided athletes with opportunities to progress from local competition to international stages.

A Continuing Legacy

Today, the relationship between WAKO and the Viola martial arts community represents a multi-generation commitment to the growth of kickboxing—from grassroots karate tournaments to world championship competition.

Through leadership, promotion, and athlete development, the Viola family helped ensure that fighters from Western Pennsylvania could step onto the global kickboxing stage.