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,...
Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo Triumphs on Global Stage at ICO World Championships in Wales Swansea, Wales – October 15–19, 2025 – The travel team from Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo, based in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, dazzled at the 2025 ICO World Championships in Swansea, Wales. Competing against elite athletes from over 40 countries,...
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...
SAINT VINCENT STUDENT KICKS HIS WAY TO A WORLD KARATE TITLE The World Karate and Kickboxing Commission (WKC) hosted the 2021 World Championships November, 23rd -30th in Orlando, Florida. The weeklong event hosted the world’s best in WKC Tatami-style martial arts competition. Pittsburgh based Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo earned over 20 medals, including...
Students of Allegheny Shotokan (Viola Karate Norwin Ninjas) Martial Arts in North Huntingdon gathered outside of the dojo in front of a 20-foot screen, like Penguins fans watching a Stanley Cup playoff game on the big screen outside of PPG Paints Arena, to watch the Tokyo Olympics. This summer’s games carried special meaning to the...
Gabby Viola Joins the Viola Karate Legacy On August 17th 2021, Pittsburgh area karate champion Gabby Viola celebrated her 11th birthday and simultaneously became the youngest Black Belt at Allegheny Shotokan, a dojo that dates back to the 1960s. Gabby joins a Pittsburgh karate legacy that includes three generations of Viola black belts including her Grandfather, Bill Viola Sr.,...
Meet Pittsburgh’s very own Karate Kid Gabby Viola! Gabby Viola karate and kickboxing Gabby began training in karate at just two years old at Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo, becoming the inspiration behind the dojo’s Nursery Ninjas program. A third-generation Viola martial artist, she proudly carries forward a family tradition rooted in discipline, leadership, and...
Pittsburgh Karate Athletes Earn 2019 World Titles The North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) sanctions the most prestigious karate tournaments in the country and abroad. For the last thirty years, the league has tracked and ranked competitors throughout the tournament season to determine the World Tour Champions. The ratings are compiled annually, with the highest...
World Champions Congrats to Team USA and the brought home to the Dojo! The World Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) hosted the World Championships November, 3rd -9th in Niagara Falls, New York. The world’s best from 22 countries converged to compete in WKC Tatami-style divisions. The competition was the largest WKC championships in history with...
September 23rd is “Sensei Viola Day” in Pittsburgh celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the Allegheny Shotokan Viola Karate Dojo (The parent to Norwin Ninjas). “Sensei Viola Day” is a designated day honoring Bill Viola Sr., the pioneering founder of Allegheny Shotokan Karate, recognized officially by Allegheny County, PA. ️ In September 2019, Allegheny County...