WAKO NATIONAL TEAM
Aspiring Olympians!
The USA Kickboxing Team Trials were held February 8-11th 2024 in Orlando, Florida at the Wyndham Resort Convention Center. For the first time in history, Pittsburgh will be represented at the WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary this fall.
Gabby Viola (13-year-old) and Xander Eddy (15-year-old) earned sports on the US Kickboxing Team by winning the National Championships this past weekend. It is the first time any black belt from Western Pennsylvania has earned WAKO USA titles and Jr. World Championship selection.
Viola won the -50 KG Female fighting division, while Eddy captured the -57 KG. Viola defeated the top athletes from New York and Texas in the semi-finals and finals to secure a gold medal, while Eddy defeated foes from Texas and Florida in the semi-finals and finals. The two young champions have positioned themselves as the top female and male competitors from the region.
USA Kickboxing sanctions combat sports in two disciplines Tatami and Ring Sports. Their coach, Bill Viola Jr., was recently appointed Chairman and Director of Tatami Sports in the United States. His role is to spearhead USA Kickboxing towards the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. Viola said, “This was our most competitive and largest nationals to date. We are confident in our junior athletes headed to Budapest in August and our senior athletes competing in Chile [Vina del Mar] in October. Tatami champions from Chile will earn a slot in the prestigious World Games in Chengdu, China [August 2025].” Viola explains, “Xander is a highly decorated Kick Boxer who won the Pan American Championships in Cancun Mexico in 2018.” Eddy was the youngest ever to win Pan American gold for the United States. Gabby is fresh off WKC (World Kickboxing Commission) Titles in Killarney, Ireland (2022) and triple gold medal performance at the WKC Worlds in 2023.” Coach Viola says, “Gabby flew into the team trials straight from an infusion at UPMC Children’s hospital. Trying to make weight, fight, and win under those conditions is amazing.” Gabby was diagnosed with incurable bowel disease at age seven. She’s battled severe bleeding, dehydration, abdominal pain, cramping and joint and skin inflammation over her career.
In addition to WAKO Worlds, these athletes are also preparing to compete in Albufeira, Portugal in October. Viola explains, “This is a 365 days of the year type of sport. There is no off season, no breaks. We train six days a week and sacrifice a lot to travel and represent Pittsburgh and America on the largest platform for kick boxing and sport karate.” Currently, the US government does not financially support these athletes, like the other nations. They must fundraise independently and have set up a 501.c3 charitable organization to help support their dreams. Viola says, “We hope Pittsburgh corporations will get behind these kids to help and sponsor them towards Gold. These are honor students, role models, and the type of respectful examples we need.” Karate and kick boxing (formerly called full-contact karate) is rooted in tradition, honor, discipline, and respect.
Viola says, “I always get asked, what does this all mean? The answer is simple, we inch one step closer to an Olympic birth.” USA Kickboxing is the only U.S. organization in the sport of kickboxing to have IOC (International Olympic Committee) & AOC (American Olympic Committee) recognition. The athletes compete at the highest of levels, qualifying in our National Championship Tournaments to earn their spots on the team to compete internationally at the Pan-American Championships, World Games and the World Combat Games. WAKO USA serves as the gateway to the Olympics. The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) the National Governing Body for the sport under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Junior World Kickboxing Championships was held August 22nd to September 1st 2024 at Bok Hall in Budapest, Hungary. A record-breaking 3028 entries made the event the largest world championship league’s 47-year history. In all, 68 countries participated in the Olympic-style competition.
WAKO WORLDS
The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) has made significant strides toward Olympic inclusion. On July 20, 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted WAKO full recognition, officially integrating kickboxing into the Olympic family of sports. National Team members 15-year-old Xander Eddy and 14-year-old Gabby Viola represented the United States of America and became the first world medalists in Pennsylvania history. Eddy won silver in the -63kg Older Cadet division and Viola won bronze in the -50kb Older Cadet division. Eddy also added a bronze medal in the team competition. Both athletes train at the Allegheny Shotokan Karate Dojo in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and members of kumite.pro. The school has been serving the greater Pittsburgh region since 1969 under the supervision of Sensei Bill Viola Sr. and Sensei Bill Viola Jr. Joining them in Budapest were 12-year-old Carter Griffith from Penn Trafford and 16-year-old Riley Evans of West Hempfield. Griffith was able to advance to round #3 after a win over China but fell to Poland the eventual gold medalist. Riley was eliminated in preliminary rounds by Greece. Viola and Eddy are members of WAKO Team USA the only kickboxing organization with American Olympic Committee (AOC) status. Bill Viola Jr. is the Chairman of Tatami Sports for WAKO USA and a coach for USA Kickboxing. According to Viola Jr., “Gabby and Xander have poised themselves as elite athletes on a global scale. This was a major step towards and Olympic dream. They put Pittsburgh on the map for kickboxing.”
Opening ceremonies was held by former Hungarian President Pal Schmitt and Dr. Raffaele Chiulli from Italy, President of ARISF (Association of IOC) Recognized International Sports Federations. The group was evaluating WAKO for inclusion to the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Africa. Kickboxing is an Olympic sport that was shortlisted for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, and WAKO officials are hopeful for a debut at the 2032 Brisbane, Australia Olympic Games. WAKO is the National Governing Body for the sport under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Under the Patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
The WAKO kickboxing organization counts over 120 affiliated countries representing all five continents as the governing body of amateur kickboxing and officially recognized as an official kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord. WAKO is recognized by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). Viola and Eddy hope to represent America in the Olympics in 2032. They will be 22 and 23-years-old respectively. Viola Jr. continues, “Xander and Gabby are role models of determination, discipline and focus. Martial arts teaching respect, and they have been great ambassadors for the United States.”
Gabby Viola defeated:
Austria
Greece
Italy
Ireland
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
United Kingdom
Mexico
China
Belgium
Poland
Xander Eddy defeated:
South Africa
Italy
Czech Republic
Ireland
Hungary
Cyprus
Austria
Great Britain
Greece
Poland
China
Mexico
Switzerland
WAKO’s Olympic Journey
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Provisional Recognition: WAKO received provisional IOC recognition in November 2018, marking the beginning of its journey toward full Olympic inclusion.
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Full Recognition: After demonstrating adherence to Olympic standards, including governance and anti-doping measures, WAKO achieved full IOC recognition in 2021.
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Olympic Participation Efforts: Despite being shortlisted for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, kickboxing was not selected for inclusion. However, WAKO President Roy Baker remains optimistic about future opportunities, emphasizing the sport’s growth and global appeal.
WAKO governs kickboxing in over 130 countries, with more than 100 national federations recognized by their respective Olympic committees or sports ministries . The organization oversees various disciplines, including Point Fighting, Light Contact, Full Contact, Kick Light, Low Kick, K1-style, and Musical Forms.
In the United States, WAKO USA serves as the official governing body for kickboxing, recognized by both the IOC and the American Olympic Committee. The organization facilitates national championships, such as the WAKO USA Nationals, which serve as qualifiers for international competitions like the Pan American Kickboxing Championships and the Senior World Championships .
While kickboxing has not yet been included in the Olympic Games, WAKO’s full IOC recognition represents a significant milestone. The organization’s continued efforts aim to secure the sport’s place in future Olympic programs, potentially as early as the 2032 Brisbane Games .Black Belt Magazine
Gabby Viola, a 14-year-old martial artist from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, achieved a significant milestone at the 2024 WAKO Junior World Kickboxing Championships held from August 22 to September 1 in Budapest, Hungary. Representing Team USA, she secured a bronze medal in the -50 kg Older Cadet division, marking her as one of the first athletes from Pennsylvania to medal at this prestigious event.
Gabby trains at the Allegheny Shotokan Karate Dojo under the guidance of her father, Sensei Bill Viola Jr., a prominent figure in USA Kickboxing and the Chairman of Tatami Sports for WAKO USA . Her journey is particularly inspiring, as she has been managing ulcerative colitis since the age of seven, demonstrating remarkable resilience by competing at elite levels while undergoing regular treatments .
In the same championship, her teammate Xander Eddy, 15, earned a silver medal in the -63 kg division, further highlighting the strength of their dojo . Both athletes have been selected to join the U.S. Army Fight Team for the 2025 season, where they will represent the United States in various international competitions, including events in Wales, Mexico, Canada, and the Dominican Republic
Their accomplishments not only bring pride to their local community but also contribute to the broader recognition of kickboxing as it moves toward potential inclusion in future Olympic Games.
