🥋 What is a Kick-A-Thon?

Get ready for a challenge like no other! Participants will kick non-stop for 3 miles around a designated track. The 5K Kick-A-Thon combines distance with martial arts endurance, turning a traditional walk into a full-body kicking challenge.

It tests cardio, leg endurance, balance, and kicking power — all while athletes raise funds and show their black belt spirit! 💥

Now imagine this…

Walking 3 miles…

🥋 …but every few steps you throw a karate kick!

The rhythm goes like this:

👟 Step
🥋 Kick
👟 Step
🥋 Kick

No stopping. No shortcuts.

By the time you finish, you could throw 1,000+ kicks! 💪

Step… Kick… Repeat.
Endurance. Balance. Black Belt Spirit.

Check out one of our previous kick-a-thons.  Step… Kick… Repeat. 👉 Check it out! Family members can also participate. No experience necessary.  A $50 donation gets you a free race t-shirt and award medal.

Kick-A-Thon Challenge Goals

(average 2.5 ft per step, 1 mile = 5,280 ft)

👟 2 Steps + Kick Version

Step… Step… Kick

👟 5 Steps + Kick Version

(5 steps ≈ 12.5 ft per kick)

Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Kick

👟 10 Steps + Kick Version

(10 steps ≈ 25 ft per kick)

Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Step… Kick

TAX EXEMPT: 75621468
EIN: 46-5120017

Team Kumite athletes proudly compete for the United States on the international stage, earning world titles and major medals at prestigious competitions across Ireland, Portugal, Canada, England, Hungary, and most recently Wales in the United Kingdom. At the 2025 World Championships in Wales, Team Kumite delivered standout performances, rising above a highly competitive global field and finishing among the event’s most decorated teams.

As the team looks toward 2026, athletes are preparing to compete at elite international events in Abu Dhabi, Spain, and France, continuing their pursuit of excellence at the highest levels of the sport. Many Team Kumite competitors hold rankings through WAKO USA, the official National Governing Body for kickboxing in the United States under the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, confirming their place among the nation’s top athletes.

Team Kumite athletes compete in both sport karate and kickboxing, demonstrating exceptional speed, precision, timing, and explosive athletic ability.

The program also represents a strong martial arts tradition rooted in the Viola family’s long-standing legacy in combat sports. Under the leadership of Sensei Bill Viola Jr., and inspired by the pioneering contributions of Bill Viola Sr., Team Kumite continues a multi-generational dedication to martial arts excellence while developing the next generation of international champions.

Over the years, the team has produced numerous national, international, and world champions—more than any other program in Western Pennsylvania. These achievements have helped restore Pittsburgh’s prominence in the sport-karate world, with Team Kumite athletes earning an unprecedented number of world titles and international medals.

Purpose:
The Kick-A-Thon is a non-profit fundraising event where martial arts students collect pledges and then complete a physical challenge involving kicks and movement. Funds help support travel, training, and competition expenses for athletes representing the United States at international events such as world championships.

Concept of the Event:

• Participants complete a “KICK 5K” style challenge (a distance or endurance activity combined with martial-arts kicks).

• Students gather sponsors or pledges from supporters in the community.

• The activity typically involves marching or moving around a track while performing kicks as part of the challenge.

Key Goals:

• Support Team USA athletes traveling to international competitions.

• Raise funds through a community fitness challenge.

• Promote martial arts, health, and discipline among youth.

• Bring together families, students, and local supporters.

Typical Activities at the Event:

• Kick-a-thon challenge (thousands of kicks or distance challenge)

• Martial-arts demonstrations

• Kids activities and games

• Community fitness events

• Team USA fundraising and sponsorship opportunities

Community Impact:
The event reflects the broader mission of the Norwin Ninjas / Viola Karate programs, which focus on developing youth athletes while teaching life skills through martial arts. The dojo has trained many national and world champions and participates in international circuits such as WAKO, WKC, and ICO competitions.