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...
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 Century Cup WAKO Century North American Cup Toronto, Canada September 25-28th sport karate tatami tournament, competition, championships Century Cup North American Open – WAKO Canada Sensei Cameron Klos, Gabby Viola, and Xander Eddy attended the Championship and represented WAKO USA. Gabby won the Open Weight Grand and Xander and Cameron both won gold...
U.S. Army Fight Team Camp What it is:A high-intensity sport-martial arts camp run in partnership with the U.S. Army Fight Team (aka Team Army Strong). The camp blends point-sparring/kata mastery with Army-style fitness, discipline, and leadership—rooted in Army values (loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage). The Army Fight Team is a U.S....
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...
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...
PIND Kick a thon Finding a Cure for Parkinson’s Disease One “Kick” at a Time An inspiring group of martial artists have made it their mission to KICK Parkinson’s disease—literally. On September 2rd 2019 the Viola Karate Dojo and their sister program Norwin Ninjas assembled over 100 students to make a statement and kick non-stop...
The Viola Karate Family is one of the most influential martial arts families in America, particularly known for their contributions to traditional karate, sport karate, and the early development of mixed martial arts (MMA). Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Viola family has spent over five decades promoting martial arts excellence and discipline across generations. Bill...