WAKO USA Kickboxing Bill Viola Jr.: Innovating the Future of Martial Arts From the Tatami to the World Stage Few figures in American martial arts have influenced the sport from as many angles as Bill Viola Jr.. A former world-class competitor turned author, producer, educator, and international sports executive, Viola has spent decades redefining what...
Team Kumite International What Is Team Kumite International? Team Kumite is a professional all-star sport karate team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded and coached by Bill Viola Jr. — a nationally recognized martial artist, author, and promoter. It operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to high-level competition and athlete development. The team draws from...
Pittsburgh Power Karate Tournament Event Overview The Pittsburgh Power is an open martial arts tournament that welcomes competitors of all ages, styles, and levels — from beginners to seasoned black belts. It’s presented by Kumite Classic Entertainment, the same organization behind the well-known Kumite Classic martial arts and fitness expo held annually in Pittsburgh. FEEL...
Allergies – My Fight Outside the Ring Will Viola is a kid just like many others—but with a superpower: courage. When Will was just 7 years old, he became one of the youngest athletes ever selected to Team USA through WAKO USA, competing on the Olympic-style kickboxing pathway. Soon after, he became a World Champion,...
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...
Cartwheel Kid – Making Cartwheel Kicks Great Again Meet Will Viola aka “Cartwill” The Karate Kick no one sees coming… Will Viola is one of those kids who makes people stop mid-sentence in a dojo and go, “Whoa—did you see that?” 😄And the move everyone talks about? His cartwheel kick. Will Viola grew up inside the...
Gabby Viola IBD ADVOCATE A Fighter Inside and Outside the Ring Gabby Viola is the definition of a fighter — not only for the titles she has earned on the world stage, but for the battles she has faced, and overcome, away from the spotlight. Born into a third-generation martial arts family...
Voted Best Karate School in Pittsburgh Best of the Best Why Norwin Ninjas Is the Best Karate School in Pittsburgh Norwin Ninjas stands out not just for teaching karate, but for developing champions on the mat and leaders in the community. Its reputation is built on measurable results, long-term impact,...
Gabby Viola – 2026 Athlete Ambassador for Edgar Snyder & Associates PITTSBURGH, PA — Fifteen-year-old Gabriella “Gabby” Viola, one of the nation’s most accomplished young martial artists and a rising star on the international kickboxing and sport karate stage, has signed as a Sponsored Athlete and Ambassador for Edgar Snyder & Associates for the...
Tribune Review Norwin Star Celebrates Karate World Champions The Norwin Ninjas Karate Team from Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo made history with back-to-back victories at the 2025 ICO World Championships in Wales and the WKC Worlds in Niagara Falls, Canada — showcasing Pittsburgh’s top martial arts talent on the global stage. Norwin Ninjas Karate Dominate...