News & updates

Summer Shiai

Summer Shiai 2025 Showcases Pittsburgh Martial Arts  Greensburg, PA — July 25-26, 2025 — The 2025 Summer Shiai Tournament wrapped up this past weekend at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, welcoming martial artists of all ages for a day filled with intense competition, personal triumphs, and unforgettable memories. Hosted by Kumite Classic Entertainment, the annual event...

From Tragedy to Triumph

From Tragedy to Triumph: River Pendergrass Overcomes Accident to Win WKC National Karate Championship Norwin Student Hit by SUV Survives and Succeeds   In a stunning display of resilience, grit, and heart, 13-year-old River Pendergrass has gone from the brink of tragedy to the top of the martial arts world. After surviving a life-threatening accident...

WKC World Champs

WKC WORLD CHAMPS The Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, achieved remarkable success at the 2024 World Karate and Kickboxing Commission (WKC) World Championships held in Albufeira, Portugal, from October 26 to November 1. Thirteen students from the dojo qualified for Team USA by securing top-four finishes at the WKC National Championships...

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...

Team

Our dojo competition Team: If you really want to make karate something special in your life, consider our competition team. It will give you the extra push, confidence, and opportunities to take your skill to the next level. Many of our kids have gone on to national, international, and world status… but our goal is...

Karate for kids irwin

Karate for kids Irwin, PA Welcome to Norwin Ninjas, the sister program of Allegheny Shotokan Karate Dojo the premier martial arts dojo in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. The class is empowered by the exclusive Sensei Says life skills curriculum. Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate School (ASK) was established in 1969 by Shihan (Master) Bill Viola. Allegheny Shotokan has a...

Saint Vincent Karate Kid Cameron Klos

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...

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.,...