Western PA Police Athletic League

Bill Viola Jr. began his non-profit and philanthropic work as a senior at the University of Pittsburgh in 1999. That year, he founded Kumite International (KI), a groundbreaking scholarship foundation created to support student-athletes competing in martial arts. Established through a strategic partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League and the law firm Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, Kumite International became the first non-profit scholarship organization in the United States dedicated specifically to competitive sport karate.

The initiative was inspired and guided by Jimmy Cvetic, the legendary Pittsburgh boxing promoter affectionately known as “Uncle Jimmy,” who served as a lifelong mentor and influential figure in Viola’s commitment to using sport as a vehicle for education, discipline, and opportunity.

Through this initiative, KI allocated an initial $50,000 in college scholarship funding for deserving karate athletes, helping legitimize sport karate as a pathway to higher education. The program gained national recognition in 2004 at the Kumite Classic, when Lynn Swann—then Chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports—joined Viola Jr. in formally presenting the scholarships, bringing national attention to the program’s mission and impact.

In 2000, the Kumite Classic Hall of Fame was founded at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg as an extension of this scholarship vision. The Hall of Fame honored prominent leaders within the martial arts community, many of whom had scholarships named in their honor to celebrate their contributions to the sport and to youth development.

The first Kumite International scholarship recipient was Jenn Smith of BCAC Academy of Tae Kwon Do. Her award was presented in honor of Bill Viola Sr. and was paid directly to the University of Pittsburgh, reinforcing the program’s academic focus and institutional credibility.

Over time, more than $100,000 in college scholarship opportunities were made available through Kumite International. The program—created by Eckert Seamans and supported by the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League—set a national precedent for using competitive martial arts as a vehicle for education, leadership, and positive youth development, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence sport-based philanthropy today.

Bill Viola Jr. has long served as a visible ambassador for the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League (PAL), using martial arts as a powerful platform for youth mentorship, crime prevention, and positive police–community relationships. His role with PAL was rooted not only in competition, but in public service, education, and outreach, representing the belief that martial arts can steer young people toward discipline, confidence, and purpose.

Police Athletic League PAL Ambassador & “Say No to Drugs” Campaign

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Viola Jr. was selected to represent PAL nationally as part of Say No to Drugs initiatives. He performed martial arts demonstrations at community events, schools, and large-scale exhibitions that emphasized: respect for law enforcement, personal responsibility and self-discipline, physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.  These demonstrations blended high-level martial arts performance with clear educational messaging, making the campaign relatable and impactful for young audiences. Viola Jr.’s role helped position martial arts as a constructive alternative to negative influences and reinforced PAL’s mission of prevention through engagement rather than enforcement alone. Bill’s daughter Gabby Viola is carrying on the tradition of representing PAL.

Performing at Professional Boxing Events

In addition to community outreach, Bill Viola Jr. was a frequent featured martial arts performer and fixture at Jimmy Cvetic’s Golden Gloves and professional boxing shows, where his demonstrations introduced mainstream sports audiences to karate and full-contact martial arts. These appearances often took place between bouts or as special attractions, showcasing:

Performing in professional boxing venues helped bridge the gap between traditional martial arts and professional combat sports, at a time when karate and kickboxing were still emerging into the public spotlight. These shows placed martial arts alongside elite boxing talent, elevating its visibility and credibility as a legitimate competitive discipline.

Through his work with PAL, national anti-drug campaigns, and professional sports entertainment, Bill Viola Jr. helped redefine the role of a martial artist as more than an athlete—as a role model, ambassador, and educator. His outreach laid important groundwork for later initiatives such as Kumite International, Team Kumite, and the Kumite Classic, where sport, service, and character development continue to intersect.

 

Allegheny Shotokan (NORWIN NINJAS) is proudly endorsed by the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League (PAL), where Bill Viola Jr. previously served as a goodwill ambassador during his youth. His commitment to charitable and community service began during his senior year at the University of Pittsburgh, when he founded Kumite International, a collegiate scholarship initiative supporting martial arts athletes. Through a landmark partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League and the Eckert Seamans Law Firm, the program allocated $50,000 in scholarship funding to deserving karate athletes. The initiative garnered national attention in 2004 when NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann—then Chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports—formally presented the scholarships alongside Viola Jr. at the Pittsburgh Fitness Expo / Kumite Classic, held in Pittsburgh, widely regarded as a premier hub for martial arts competition.

About Bill Viola Sr.

Bill Viola Sr. is widely regarded as one of the founding pioneers of modern American martial arts and early mixed-style competition. Based in the Pittsburgh region, he was instrumental in moving karate beyond traditional boundaries at a time when styles were isolated and competition between systems was rare.

Long before “mixed martial arts” became a recognized term, Viola Sr. promoted open-format competition, full-contact testing, and cross-discipline respect. His vision emphasized realism, discipline, and character development, helping shape what would later evolve into full-contact karate, kickboxing, and ultimately modern MMA.

Beyond competition, Bill Viola Sr.’s greatest legacy lies in teaching and mentorship. He believed martial arts should build leaders, not just fighters, and his influence extended through generations of students, coaches, and promoters. His philosophy laid the foundation for what would become the Allegheny Shotokan / Viola Karate lineage, a system known for blending traditional karate values with competitive excellence.

His impact is formally recognized through scholarships, halls of fame, and programs established in his honor, including early Kumite International scholarships that connected martial arts achievement directly to higher education. Many regard Bill Viola Sr. as a bridge between traditional karate and the modern combat-sports era in the United States.

About Jimmy Cvetic

Jimmy Cvetic is a legendary American kickboxer, trainer, and innovator, and member of Kumite Classic Hall of Fame, best known as one of the earliest and most successful competitors in the rise of full-contact kickboxing during the 1970s and 1980s. Fighting out of Pittsburgh, Cvetic became a dominant force in professional kickboxing, earning a reputation for toughness, conditioning, and technical precision.

Nicknamed “The Midnight Cowboy,” Cvetic was not only a world-class athlete but also a forward-thinking trainer. He later became famous for coaching elite fighters, including world champions and professional boxers, and for developing conditioning systems that emphasized durability, mental toughness, and real-world effectiveness.

Cvetic’s influence extended well beyond the ring. He was among the first American fighters to demonstrate that karate-based striking could succeed at the highest professional levels, helping legitimize kickboxing as a serious combat sport in the United States. His training methods helped shape generations of fighters across kickboxing, boxing, and MMA.

Together, Bill Viola Sr. and Jimmy Cvetic represent two sides of the same historic movement:

• Viola Sr. as the visionary organizer, mentor, and architect of early mixed-style martial arts culture

• Cvetic as the elite competitor and trainer who proved those ideas worked at the highest level

Both men were instrumental in transforming martial arts from traditional dojo practice into modern, competitive combat sport, particularly in Western Pennsylvania. Their combined influence helped position Pittsburgh as an early hotbed for full-contact karate, kickboxing, and the eventual rise of MMA—decades before the sport reached mainstream popularity.