News & updates

WAKO World Champions

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...

Viola karate family takes pride in sport’s Olympic debut

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...

Viola Karate 3 Generations Strong

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.,...

WTAE Pittsburgh Athlete of the Week – Xander Eddy

WTAE Pittsburgh Athlete of the Week – Pittsburgh Karate / Kickboxing Champion, Xander Eddy Guy Junker Reports: Action Athlete: Will air Feb. 1st, 2019 @ 5:30 on WTAE.  Set you DVR Xander Eddy won a Gold Medal for Team USA (WAKO World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) National team at the 2018 Pan American Kickboxing Championships in...

Xander Eddy Team USA Karate Kickboxing

                                  WAKO (World Association for Kickboxing Organizations) is the National Governing Body for Kickboxing in the United States and a member of the International Olympic Committee.  Read more.  9-year-old Xander Eddy of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, has become the youngest...