Check out one of our previous kick-a-thons.  Step… Kick… Repeat. 👉 Check it out! Family members can also participate. No experience necessary.  A $50 donation gets you a free race t-shirt and award medal.

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Team Kumite athletes proudly compete for the United States on the international stage, earning world titles and major medals at prestigious competitions across Ireland, Portugal, Canada, England, Hungary, and most recently Wales in the United Kingdom. At the 2025 World Championships in Wales, Team Kumite delivered standout performances, rising above a highly competitive global field and finishing among the event’s most decorated teams.

As the team looks toward 2026, athletes are preparing to compete at elite international events in Abu Dhabi (now Germany), Spain, and France, continuing their pursuit of excellence at the highest levels of the sport. Many Team Kumite competitors hold rankings through WAKO USA, the official National Governing Body for kickboxing in the United States under the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, confirming their place among the nation’s top athletes.

Team Kumite athletes compete in both sport karate and kickboxing, demonstrating exceptional speed, precision, timing, and explosive athletic ability.

The program also represents a strong martial arts tradition rooted in the Viola family’s long-standing legacy in combat sports. Under the leadership of Sensei Bill Viola Jr., and inspired by the pioneering contributions of Bill Viola Sr., Team Kumite continues a multi-generational dedication to martial arts excellence while developing the next generation of international champions.

Over the years, the team has produced numerous national, international, and world champions—more than any other program in Western Pennsylvania. These achievements have helped restore Pittsburgh’s prominence in the sport-karate world, with Team Kumite athletes earning an unprecedented number of world titles and international medals.

Purpose:
The Kick-A-Thon is a non-profit fundraising event where martial arts students collect pledges and then complete a physical challenge involving kicks and movement. Funds help support travel, training, and competition expenses for athletes representing the United States at international events such as world championships.

Concept of the Event:

• Participants complete a “KICK 5K” style challenge (a distance or endurance activity combined with martial-arts kicks).

• Students gather sponsors or pledges from supporters in the community.

• The activity typically involves marching or moving around a track while performing kicks as part of the challenge.

Key Goals:

• Support Team USA athletes traveling to international competitions.

• Raise funds through a community fitness challenge.

• Promote martial arts, health, and discipline among youth.

• Bring together families, students, and local supporters.

Typical Activities at the Event:

• Kick-a-thon challenge (thousands of kicks or distance challenge)

• Martial-arts demonstrations

• Kids activities and games

• Community fitness events

• Team USA fundraising and sponsorship opportunities

Community Impact:
The event reflects the broader mission of the Norwin Ninjas / Viola Karate programs, which focus on developing youth athletes while teaching life skills through martial arts. The dojo has trained many national and world champions and participates in international circuits such as WAKO, WKC, and ICO competitions.

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🥋 Kick-A-Thon: Kicking for a Cause.  The Kick-A-Thon, created by Bill Viola Jr., is a one-of-a-kind community fundraiser that blends martial arts, fitness, and purpose. Originally developed alongside Sean Logan through the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (PIND) 5K, the event was built on a simple idea:

👉 Use movement to fight Parkinson’s disease.

Kick Parkinson’s Disease

Progression: of Sean Logan’s PIND Race

Through an innovative mobile Kick-A-Thon, participants walk or run while performing continuous kicks—often totaling over 1,000 per person. With more than 100 athletes involved, the event has generated hundreds of thousands of kicks and helped raise over $1 million for neurological research.

💙 From Personal Mission to Community Movement

Inspired by Sean Logan’s diagnosis and Viola’s experience caring for his grandmother with a neurodegenerative disease, the initiative turned personal hardship into action.  What began as a local effort through Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate and Norwin Ninjas has grown into a powerful community tradition rooted in:

👉 “Building Black Belts in Life since 1969” in North Huntingdon

🥇 Purpose & Impact

The Kick-A-Thon goes beyond fundraising—it develops people:

• 🧠 Builds life skills like discipline, perseverance, and teamwork
• 🥋 Supports athletes by helping fund training, travel, and Team USA opportunities through WAKO USA