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bill viola jr arnold schwarzenegger
March 4, 2024 Bill Viola Jr. 32 Comments

I’ll be back… Arnold

I often get asked what inspired the Kumite Classic? The short answer to a long story is Arnold Schwarzenegger. We’ve come a long way from 1997-2024. Back then Flex Wheeler was on top and by 1998 I got my first face time Arnold… the rest is history.

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2024

Enjoy an excerpt from by book CommonSensei:

While Jean Claude was fading, another mega star shinned brightly into my eyes.  Growing up, long before “Governor” Schwarzenegger was a thing, ArrrrrNOLD was THE ultimate alpha male.  To Gen-X, Van Damme was cool, but Arnold was on a whole other glacier!  My dad was a HUGE fan, and we bonded over his adventures!  Although not exactly “kid appropriate,” our weekend ritual consisted of watching Conan the Barbarian and Terminator on VHS over and over again until my sister and I could quote scenes verbatim: “I’ll be back!,” “Hasta la vista, baby!,” or “Crush your enemies, see them driven before you…”  Throughout middle school, Schwarzenegger’s action hero persona inspired me, and I dreamed of one day working with him. I mean how proud would my dad be if I rose to that level?!? It became an early “tiger” goal of mine.  *I’ll share with you later about my tiger/dragon dynamic, but for now just understand a tiger 🐯 is a “long term” goal, and a dragon 🐉 is a “short term” goal.

Opportunity knocked my sophomore year at Pitt.  I stumbled upon an advertisement in Black Belt Magazine where Arnie was promoting a new martial arts competition.  His aptly named “Arnold Classic,” held in Columbus, Ohio, was the largest fitness festival in the world.  BINGO 💡. Rumors swirled that the champion would get a role in an upcoming flick.  This was my chance to get in front of him; I just needed to beat out everyone else in America with the same ambition😀.  I got to the lab, trained day in and day out with my team, and took my shot in 1997 – I missed the cut 😔.  Devastated but even more motivated, I trained the next 365 days to redeem myself. Trust the process! Just keep chasing the 🐉’s and that 🐯 will follow! That day came my junior year at Pitt (‘98). The stars aligned and bada-bing, bada-boom, I’d conquered the “Classic.”  Years of 🐉 goals had earned me a meeting with a 🐯.  The “Arnold Classic” mimicked “The Predator’s” personality—BIG.  Hundreds of thousands of fans flock annually (shoulder-to-shoulder) in a testosterone fueled foray.   Fitness models, celebrities, pro athletes, and movie stars all co-mingled, and I met them all: Chuck Norris, Wesley Snipes, Hulk Hogan, and down the line.  However, it was impossible to get face time with the big guy; that was of course unless you won!  I had big plans in the pipeline for Pittsburgh and was excited for my congratulatory conversation with the man, the myth, the legend.  Once we got past the pleasantries, ceremonial jokes, and photo op, I bent his ear about my aspirations. I wanted to create my own mega fitness expo in his image. You see, in my pursuit to meet Schwarzenegger, I had become obsessed with the glitz and glamour of his production, and wanted to launch a martial arts themed counterpart—“The Kumite Classic.”  “Well, what did he say, Sensei?” In a deep Austrian accent and slap on the back he responded, “Do it!” Those two words shaped the next 20 years of my life.  He, just like Mr. Kalp, and Van Damme before him didn’t realize the significance of the banter, but never underestimate the power of “action” words.

By 2004 I was shaking up the industry, and rapper Ice-T joined the Kumite (as it became known) as a presenting sponsor of the show.  For a hot minute the Law and Order star was hawking “Liquid Ice” (an energy drink) and choose the Kumite to launch.  Ironically, the other presenting sponsor was the Police Athletic League. DUN DUN.  Parental Advisory:  Back in the day, Ice-T’s heavy metal band “Body Count,” dropped the controversial track “Cop Killer.” It sparked intense outrage and division across America. YIKES. Emotions were still fragile, and animosity was real.  My uncle Jimmy Cvetic (a legendary Pittsburgh Police officer and boxing promoter) said to me, “This outta be fun!?!” To make matters more interesting, opposite stage was NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann who attended as President George Bush’s chairman of Physical Fitness and Sports. Swann and I were awarding inaugural college scholarships to martial artists through a foundation I’d set up with Eckert Seamans law firm. It was the first competitive karate scholarship organization in America, and it created major buzz.  Little did anyone know, but Swann was prepping for a gubernatorial run in the future. This is exactly the way Arnold would have mixed it up 😁.  Guess what? They all played nice in the sandbox.  The next year I teamed up with Olympic Gold Medalist and WWF Champion Kurt Angle to establish a teen strength competition.  It was a huge success, and in the years to follow I parlayed that into a Franco Harris Football Combine.  Superstars like Franco, Lynn, and Kurt were the pride of Pittsburgh, and Kumite was soaring 🚀!!!

bill viola jr ice t
Franco Harris, Bill Viola, Kurt Angle

My annual expo and convention grew into the mecca for sports and martial arts in the Burgh. My version of the Arnold Classic [“Kumite Classic”] became a household name within the fitness world. Over the years, anyone who’s anyone had walked through my doors… except Mr. Kalp 😂. Regardless, he taught me some of life’s most valuable lessons, and the answers weren’t on the periodic table. What I learned in high school chemistry class was life is an experiment, and anything that fuels for your fire 🔥🔥🔥 is the formula. I thank you for that sir.  BTW Mr. Kalp, it’s not pronounced “Veee-Ohlah” like the instrument, it’s “Vie-Oh-Lah” like the flower 🌸🌸🌸. I’m built differently!

Sensei Says🥋: Where did the inspiration for “Kumite Classic” come from? Kumite as you already know is the Japanese word for fighting, a perfect battle cry for my Violaosophy: “fight for anything and everything.”  “Classic” was an ode to Arnold and his inspirational fitness expo. 

Kickin’ Flicks🎬:  Pumping Iron (1977) is a docudrama about the world of pro bodybuilding.  It highlights the rivalry between Arnold & Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) as they trained for Mr. Olympia.

Sensei Says🥋 Shout out to the teachers who never quelled my enthusiasm. First, Swan Anderson (my high school Japanese teacher). She never doubted my potential and was instrumental in helping harness my passion. Second, Vitaly Penkovsky (my college Japanese professor). He supported my vision to bring “The Kumite” to Pitt. どうもありがとう.     

About Bill Viola Jr:

He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and moved to Hollywood, California to gain hands-on experience in the entertainment industry.  Subsequently, he was accepted into the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio and established his own company, Kumite Classic Entertainment (KCE).  He gained notoriety from his role in the Britney Spears video Stronger (2000) and was able to network and build relationships with leading directors and producers.  

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bill viola jr hollywood

His company’s signature event, the self-titled “Kumite Classic,” is regarded as the mecca for martial arts in Western Pennsylvania.  KCE also produced the annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo, recognized as the largest and most established multi-sport convention in Western Pennsylvania attracting sports and entertainment icons such as Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, Antonio Brown, Ice-T, and Royce Gracie over the years. Viola has served as a consultant, referee, and event coordinator for some of the largest martial arts events in the world. In 2017 he brokered a partnership with Century Martial Arts and WAKO to produce the North American Open in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with UFC Fight Week. 

kusanku kata
September 26, 2022 437 Comments

Pittsburgh’s world champion Gabby Viola is a martial artist that packs a fierce punch

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – They say good things come in small packages. But here in Pittsburgh, even small packages pack a punch.

“I am a seven-time state champion, a three-time national champion, and last year I won my world title,” Gabby Viola said as she laid out her impressive resume.

“The Viola karate legacy starts back in the 1960s with my father,” Bill Viola, Sr. said. “He was a pioneer of the martial arts. He opened his first dojo [Viola Karate] in 1969 here in western Pennsylvania. And throughout the seventies, eighties, and nineties, the dojo became a dominant force,” Viola added.

The Viola name became synonymous with champions in this region.

“As I came up through the ranks, I also became national champion, and lo and behold, I have my kids, and they become the third generation of Violas to represent the storied tradition of our school. And so now, my son, Will, and my daughter, Gabby, represent the dojo throughout North America,” the senior Viola said.

“Gabby competes in kata, kobudō, and kumite, those are the three levels,” Bill Viola added.

Gabby then laid out the differences between the fighting styles.

“Kata is empty-hand or an imaginary fight. Kobudō is when you use a weapon to do a form, kind of like kata. Kumite, or sparring, is when you actually fight someone,” Gabby said.

This October, Gabby will be competing internationally, traveling overseas to represent the country, and western Pennsylvania, in the world championships.

“I actually won my world title in kumite, but this year, I’m going to try and get the world title in kata, too,” Gabby said.

Gabby has been training at the dojo since the age of two. She trains by herself seven days a week and then takes additional classes five days a week as well.

She even passes on what she’s learned to those even younger than her, including her brother.

“I like teaching. It’s harder to teach my little brother,” Gabby said with a smile. “He doesn’t listen to me, but the rest of them do.”

Gabby’s father, Bill, told the Fan N’ATion crew how surreal this experience has been, seeing Gabby develop into a champion, because of the time he spent with his father. Now, the elder Viola is sharing his expertise and passing that down to his children.

“We call it a family. I don’t look at our students as clients that come through the door. They’ve become one with us. It’s embedded in our culture here,” Bill said.

“All my family has done it, and I really enjoy doing it. If I have a family one day, I would want them to do karate,” Gabby said.

Let’s wish her LUCK ☘️☘️☘️

空手🥋㊗️🈴🙌🇯🇵💪🙌🥇🏆💯🥷#norwinninjas #pittsburgh#karatenerd#karate#pittsburghkarate#norwin#naska#martialarts#dojo#violakarate#shotokan#senseisays#karatefamily#karatelife#sensei#blackbelt#pittsburghmartialarts#sportkarate#kumiteclassic#sparring#karateka#karatedo#karatekid#pittsburghshotokan#teamkumite#cobrakai#kumiteclassic#alleghenyshotokan#commonsensei#toranome#zentensity

zentensity
February 8, 2022 Bill Viola Jr. 23 Comments

Gabby Viola – Driven by Zentensity

“Zentensity” is a concept coined by Bill Viola Jr. that describes a profound connection between the body and mind, enabling an individual to surpass perceived limitations. It embodies the fusion of intense focus and Zen-like calm, facilitating exceptional achievements and personal growth. This mindset is particularly applicable in martial arts, where mental strength and physical prowess are equally important, but it’s also relevant to overcoming challenges in everyday life.


Gabby Viola is an inspiring young martial artist who embodies the term “zentensity,” a concept highlighting a powerful body-mind connection that pushes beyond perceived limits. This term was coined by her father, Bill Viola Jr., to describe the extraordinary focus and effort Gabby applies both in her life and in karate. Despite facing significant health challenges due to an incurable form of inflammatory bowel disease, she has achieved remarkable success in karate, becoming the youngest Black Belt at Allegheny Shotokan and earning recognition as a multi-time state champion, a national champion, and even securing a place on Team USA. Gabby’s journey in martial arts is a testament to her resilience, underpinned by a supportive family legacy in the sport that dates back to the 1960s. Her achievements include winning gold at the World Karate Commission National Championships and being ranked first in the North American Sport Karate Association for black belt sparring​.

Gabby’s dedication and perseverance, despite her health struggles, offer a powerful message of strength and determination. Her story is not just about martial arts; it’s about overcoming obstacles and striving for excellence, making her an ambassador for the sport and an inspiration to others facing their own battles.

-By Joe Napsha

Tribune Review

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 

A North Huntingdon girl has earned her first-degree black belt in karate at age 11, persevering through an inflammatory bowel disease that can be debilitating.

Gabriella “Gabby” Viola, 11, the daughter of Jennifer and William Viola Jr., became the youngest holder of a black belt among those who have trained at Allegheny Shotokan Viola Karate Dojo, a North Huntingdon karate school operated by her father, Bill Viola Jr., and founded in 1969 by her grandfather, Bill Viola Sr. She earned her black belt on Aug. 17, which was her birthday.

Gabby Viola

“Gabby has what I call ‘zentensity,’ a body-mind connection that pushes past what you thought was possible,” her father said.

Having a black belt runs in the family. Both her father and grandfather have their black belts, as well as four of her aunts — Addie, Jacque, Ali and Joce Viola. Fewer than 100 people who have trained at Allegheny Shotokan over the past 50 years have earned a black belt, her father said.

“I wanted to be like my dad. My black belt is better than any trophy,” said Gabby, who shared the honor with six teammates who also took the test.

The youngster, a fifth grade student at Norwin’s Hillcrest Intermediate School, has been “kicking before she could walk,” her father said.

“She literally grew up in the dojo,” said her mother, Jennifer, of the karate school. “It was like her playground.”

Gabby, who trains three or four times a week, said she underwent a six-hour test in which her skills were judged to earn her black belt. She had gone through a four-month process which involves learning the history of martial arts, Japanese terms, hundreds of techniques, endless combinations, self-defense maneuvers and physical endurance.

Gabby has accomplished this while suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, her father said. It is an incurable form of colitis, an autoimmune condition that attacks the healthy tissue in the intestine. She has dealt with bouts of severe bleeding, dehydration, abdominal pain, cramping and joint and skin inflammation, her father said. She has had to endure a number of setbacks and emergency room visits.

“Martial arts teaches perseverance, and she decided that nothing would stop her from earning her black belt,” her father said.

She undergoes monthly infusions of medication at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh as part of the treatment regime that includes medical trials, diets, medication, steroids, tests and therapy.

Despite the risk of having a flareup of major symptoms after a period of remission, Gabby has competed nationally. She won a gold medal at a World Karate Commission National Championships for martial arts in 2019 and earned a spot on Team USA. She has been recognized as a five-time state champion and ranked first in the North American Sport Karate Association for black belt sparring in 2020.

As for earning her second-degree black belt, Gabby said she must wait until she is 16 to take that test.

She is joined in her family’s love of the sport by her 4-year-old brother, William Viola IV, who trains in the “Nursery Ninja” program and holds a yellow stripe belt.

Gabby is an ambassador for the sport, promoting it to other youngsters.

“They should try it. It is fun, and it is good exercise,” Gabby said.

“Zentensity” is a phrase coined by her father and author Bill Viola Jr. Zentensity is a manifestation of mind over matter, pushing someone to new levels of achievement. Read more in the book CommonSensei

night of steel
November 6, 2020 2,248 Comments

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Night of Steel

Night of Steel featured speakers – The Viola Family.

Gabby Viola was a featured “Impact Speaker” the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation for our third annual Night of Steel, a virtual celebration of all things Pittsburgh!

In 2018, Gabby was diagnosed with bowel disease, an incurable inflammatory form of colitis.  You’d never know she is sick on the outside, but on the inside, it is killing her: severe bleeding, dehydration, abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue, inflammation of joints, skin and eyes, and a swelling colon just off the top of my head.  She was only seven years old; no family history of the illness!  Why oh why?!  Long story short, we continue to do what we have to do: Specialists, naturopathic and holistic experts, trials, infusions, diets, meds, steroids, tests, and therapy — the works.  All you can do is pray  for remission.

She has made it her goal to “fight” to find a cure and is an advocate for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

The fundraiser was presented by UPMC and the UPMC Health Plan. The evening featured a craft cocktail experience with the Cocktail Guru and standup comedy from well-known comedian, Casey Balsham.

Please join us on our mission to find cures for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and provide care and resources to patients and their caregivers. With your support, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has invested over $350 million to fund critical research for treatments and cures.

Chapter Information: www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/wpawv

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It was founded in 1967 by Irwin M. and Suzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D. in New York City. The Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Chapter is headquartered in Pittsburgh and serves the Western PA region including Altoona, Erie, and State College. We also serve the entire state of West Virginia. 

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May 18, 2020 Bill Viola Jr. 116 Comments

Karate Dreams Crash

media

The Car Crash that ended my Karate Career… or did it?

I’m in my early 20’s, and I had just graduated college.  Pitt was a great university, but I didn’t attend for the academics. Nope, I chose this campus because I needed to commute and train 5 days a week. The 1999 USA Karate National Championships were slated for mid-August and I was a defending Gold 🥇, poised to repeat. My hard work was finally paying off.

Up until now, I was groomed to be a champion🏆. It was all I knew: school, karate, eat, sleep, repeat.  No other activities were allowed! Day in, day out I had tunnel vision toward Olympic greatness. I was not naturally gifted with speed or size by any means.  In fact, my high school my driver’s license listed me as 5’6” and 105 lbs.  Yea, I was a twerp.  How the heck did I become an All-American?  I had no choice — Sensei says, “Be a champion,” and you know the rest. I had to hold my own against animals at the dojo and bullies at school who thought karate was a joke. Toughness and tenacity were byproducts of survival.  I sure took some lumps and abuse, but when my growth spurt hit, it was payback👊.  By the time I entered college, I was 6 foot tall with something to prove.  I fought in -60 KG category (that’s still only 132 lbs). Hardly menacing, but my confidence grew with my height. I was lean, mean, and kickin’ ass. I didn’t have all the finesse yet, but I unleashed my frustrations in the ring.  Win or lose, they remembered the name. 

“🍀This is 10% luck

 👊20% percent skill

 🧠15% percent concentrated power of will

 🏆5% percent pleasure

 😓50% percent pain

 💯And 100% reason to remember the name”

WHAMMM! 💥⚠ 🚗 Car CRASH

Some careless jagoff in a box truck literally rear-ended my dreams — Fractured neck 😱 😥 🤕 (summer of 1999).  It was earth-shattering.  I was just coming into my prime and now my new uniform was a neck brace.  Diagnosis from the doc, “Don’t fight anymore.” My heart sank into my shoes and the walls closed in. I had never looked past karate — ever. I was 😡 at the world, and needed a reboot.  So I followed an old saying, “Go West young man.”

I took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles to learn the entertainment biz 🎥. What?!?  I wanted to be a promoter just like my Sensei, and thought Hollywood 🎬 was the ticket.  I knew absolutely nothing about the industry, so my friends and family were skeptical to say the least. Fake it till you make it, right?  I borrowed my dad’s swagger and walked in like I owned the place. I had instant success.  Confidence is contagious, there is no other explanation.  SAG card in hand, I worked with A-listers; everyone from Britney Spears to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and all along the way, despite my decision, no one was prouder of me than my father.  I knew a conventional job wasn’t for me.

I went to Hollywood 🎬, crushed it, and came back a new man.  I missed my college sweetheart (and future wife), my family, and dojo.  I refused to let this car crash define me. What should have “broke me; woke me.” It took some Cali🌞for it to sink in, but being a Sensei was in my blood.  When I returned to Pittsburgh, the students rejoiced. I didn’t realize how much they missed and needed me. It was just the therapy I needed.

The car crash that should have “broke” me “woke” me.

Being a Sensei was my destiny, and I turned the negative into a positive. That’s right, it can either break you or wake you. My passion inspired new avenues including coaching, promoting and of course confirming my calling to be a lifelong Sensei.

Sensei Bill Viola Jr  Karate 空手 🥋 Sport Karate Highlights from the 1990s.  Viola was a champion karate competitor in kata, kumite and kobudo.  He retired from tournaments in 1999 after a career ending car crash accident. #karate #kumite #pittsburgh #irwin #northhuntingdon #alleghenyshotokan #norwinninjas  USA Karate National Champion

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Iovino, Jim  (August 15, 1999).  “Karate duo’s dreams crash before nationals”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, page 6.

Billy and Addie Viola stood on the sidelines and patiently watched 11 members of Father’s Allegheny Shotokan Karate School in North Huntingdon Township win 36 medals at USA Karate’s 25th National Championship in Canton, Ohio.

There was no doubt the siblings were happy for the students – most of whom they helped train – but there were times when they stared out at the mats and wondered, “Why us?”

Billy and Addie Viola, who had competed and won medals at the national competition 18 years in a row, wanted desperately to compete in the tournament, but it wasn’t going to happen this year. They had to miss nationals for the first time in their lives due to off-mat incidents out of their control.

Billy Viola, 22, a six-time Pennsylvania state karate champion from North Huntingdon Township, was unable to defend his national title win of a year ago because he was recovering from a cervical sprain and a small fracture in his neck that he suffered in a car accident two weeks earlier on Route 30 in North Huntingdon Township.

Addie Viola, 20, also an accomplished karate champion, was involved in a separate car accident on Route 30 three weeks earlier. She suffered head and neck injuries, including a gash on her forehead that will require several plastic surgeries to correct.

The Violas’ father, Bill, was concerned for his son and daughter, not only because of their injuries, but because they trained all year for nationals but could not compete.

“That was very disturbing,” Bill Viola said. “It was something that just happens. After all the training, sweat and time they put in, and then this happens.”

Even though the Violas were unable to compete at nationals, they still wanted to be there for their students. The only problem was they were in Denver, Col., with their University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg ecology class when the championships started. The Violas talked the rest of the class into jumping in the van and finishing their trip early so they could return in time to see some of the matches in Canton. Twenty-nine consecutive hours of driving later, the Violas, exhausted and sore, arrived at the Civic Center to the surprise of their students.

“I’ve been in martial arts since I was 3 years old, and this is one of the rare times I had to miss the national championships,” Billy Viola said. “Being a defending champion, it was difficult to watch. But I had to be there for my students.”

Addie Viola agreed.

“It was tough to watch and not be able to do it,” she said. “We still went and watched and supported them.”

Their students didn’t disappoint. Billy Leader, a 7-year-old from NorthHuntingdon Township, won two golds in weapons and advanced synchronized weapons, a silver in kata and a bronze in sparring. His 5-year-old brother, Dominic, the youngest representative Allegheny Shotokan sent to the championships, won a gold in weapons and silver medals in kata and sparring.

Ian Elms, 7, of North Huntingdon Township, brought home three gold medals in weapons, sparring and advanced synchronized weapons team. Ian also earned a bronze in kata.

Leah Ray, a 10-year-old from Larimer, won a silver in sparring and a bronze in kata. Another 10-year-old, Brian Hails from Jeannette, led the 10-13 age group advanced synchronized weapons team to a gold medal and won a silver in kata.

Rick Fox, 17, of Irwin, won golds in weapons and adult synchronized weapons team and a silver in sparring. Theresa Perry, an 18-year-old intermediate green belt from McKeesport, earned gold in weapons, silver in kata and bronze in sparring.

Two intermediate green belts, 22-year-old Christina Adams of Irwin and 24-year-old Tim Meyer of Greensburg, won golds in kata and sparring and silver in weapons. Meyer also captured a gold medal in adult synchronized weapons and a bronze medal in advanced adult team fighting.

Nick Cyktor Jr. of West Newton, who was competing in his first national championship, won a gold in sparring and a bronze in adult team fighting. Cyktor, a beginner white belt, impressed his teammates by taking on black belts in the team event despite a lack of experience.

Rocky Whatule, a 21-year-old advanced black belt from Jeannette, led the adult synchronized weapons team to a gold medal, won a silver in kata and bronze medals in weapons, sparring and adult team fighting.

The Violas’ students and training partners missed seeing them compete. Whatule, who learns and trains with Billy Viola, said this was the first tournament he attended that Billy didn’t compete in.

“As soon as I’d get done with a fight (at past events), I’d head over to his ring and cheer him on and vice versa,” Whatule said. “I used to get pumped up by watching him fight and cheering him on.

“I hope their health stays good and they can compete again soon. When you don’t have a member of your team there, a lot of people get thrown off their games.”

The Violas hope to get back into competition in a couple months. Billy Viola is undergoing therapy three days a week at the Medical Wellness Center in Jeannette, but still teaches at the karate school to stay active. So does Addie Viola, who will need a skin graft to cover the scar on her forehead.

“My goal is to make it back to nationals next year and not move a step back from the previous year when I was the champion,” Billy Viola said. “I want to be right back where I was.”

bill viola jr car crash accident
Car Crash Article

The car crash did end Bill Viola Jr.’s competitive career, but it opened the door to his true passions.

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May 8, 2020 Bill Viola Jr. 149 Comments

Karate Scholarships

Bill Viola Jr. began his non-profit work as a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh (1999).  Viola founded Kumite International (KI), a scholarship foundation (the first of its kind in the United States) through a partnership with Western PA Police Athletic League and Eckert Seamans Law Firm. KI allocated $50,000 in scholarship funds for karate athletes and made national news when Lynn Swann (The Chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports) presented the scholarships with Viola Jr. at his 2004 Kumite Classic.

karate scholarships
NFL Legend Lynn Swann (The Chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports) and Bill Viola Jr. presenting scholarships at the Kumite Classic.

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Viola poised to provide karate scholarships to youth

By Brian Hunger

July 22, 2001

The tone in his voice tells it all.

He wouldn’t tell you it himself, but when Bill Viola graduated from HempfieldArea High School in 1995, he just might have been the most accomplished athlete in his class. But because his specialty was karate, a sport offering little opportunity on the college scene, Viola, now 24, was left with no scholarship offers. He surely had the credentials. A nine-time Pennsylvania state champion who had won six national titles and a 1998 world title, Viola graduated in the top five percent of his senior class, which was one of the biggest in the state.

It seems hard to believe there was no money waiting for him, considering an athlete with similar accolades in, say football, could pick any school he wanted, from Notre Dame to perhaps the Ivy League. Not Viola. He would sit back and ponder whether to laugh or cry. Lots of his friends, most of whom were good athletes but not great ones, received numerous offers from colleges to wrestle and play football or baseball. “I graduated at top end of my class and had a No. 1 rating (in the nation), but couldn’t get any kind of scholarship,” Viola said. “It really bothered me a lot. Even mediocre kids were getting a lot of money. I went to the state and had references and everything but just couldn’t get a dime.” Forced to pay his own way, Viola enrolled at theUniversity of Pittsburgh and graduated Summa Cum Laude and in the top one percent of the political science program.

Still disgruntled years later, Viola recently developed a program called “Kumite International,” which is the first non-profit sport karate rating organization in the United States based upon competitive scholarships. Through two sponsors, Viola designed a ranking system called KicKiss, which is Pennsylvania’s first and only rating system supporting the academic and sport goals of karate students. Viola held his first tournament, the Kumite Classic, recently atHempfield Area High School. The event marked the first of several competitions over the coming year. The top 10 scorers each will be given a $1,000 scholarship. “It’s a unique program,” said Viola, who has won more than 2,000 medals and trophies. “There’s been no financial aid to help in schooling for so long, and there really has never been a board to bring all the other schools in the area together. This new system is like a league of sorts because it brings everybody together, and it’s really catching on in the martial arts community.” Viola said one of the things that bothered him the most regarding the lack of financial support for karate students is that most of them are forced to quit the sport and pursue other avenues in the hope of landing an athletic scholarship. “I’ve known so many people who could have possibly been Olympians, but quit because they needed to go to college,” he said. “There’s no support for them. This is a theme long over due, and we’re starting to draw some national attention. We’re just starting, but it had to begin somewhere.”

Prior to becoming a karate teacher and coach, Viola saw his own career of competing come to an end in a automobile accident. Seemingly invincible, Viola endured a life-changing day in 1999. While travelling on Route 30, his car was struck from behind and he suffered a fractured neck. The accident ultimately ended his competing days, and also left him unable to defend his 1998 national title. “The wreck sure put my life on a different avenue,” he said.

A few months after the accident, Viola moved in with his cousin in Hollywood and did some acting and modeling, including an appearance in a Britney Spears video. He has also coordinated several karate stunt shows on ESPN.

While Viola said he could see himself working in movies as an instructor someday, lately he has been solely a karate connoisseur. “It’s all I really know,” he said. “My dad’s been teaching it since the 1960s and I’ve been doing it since I could stand.”

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Karate Instructor Passionate About Foundation

By Dustin Dopirak

June 13, 2002

Bill Viola Jr. had spent countless hours on the phone, on airplanes and in different cities trying to get his organization, Kumite International, going. He had put everything, even a budding career in Hollywood, on hold.

But he remembered why he was doing it the first time he saw the fruits of his labor.

Kumite International is a non-profit organization that sanctions events in sport karate, a sport which allows martial artists of every discipline to compete against one another with a unified point scale. Throughout the year, competitiors accumulate points for winning matches at tournaments. The organization ended its third year of existence with the Kumite Classic April 27 at Hempfield AreaHigh School.

This year’s event marked the first time Viola, 25, was able to award scholarships to those who had earned the most points in each division. It made his organization the first non-profit organization to award scholarships to sport karate athletes.

“It was just a tremendous feeling of gratification,” Viola said. “It was great to know that all of that work we put in allowed them to receive something they truly deserved. I know how much they put into this sport and how little they get for it. Karate athletes face a lot of obstacles that a lot of people don’t know about.”

Viola knows as well as anyone. He began his competitive martial arts career when he was 3 years old, learning karate at his father’s school, the AlleghenyShotokan Karate School in North Huntingdon Township. He won nine state titles, six national championships and one world title in 1998. He already owned four national titles by the time he graduated from Hempfield Area in 1995, but unlike conventional athletes, his successes were rewarded only with trophies.

“I was about as good as there was in the sport of karate, and there was no money there at all for college,” Viola said. “There was a lot for football and basketball and sports like that. Even guys that were mediocre could get a scholarship.”

He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, and continued to practice karate while he was in school. However, his career ended when he suffered a broken neck in a car accident in 1999. While recovering, he decided to find another way to contribute to karate, and that was where Kumite International found its beginnings.

After leaving the hospital, Viola contacted James Cvetic, president of the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the Police Athletic League, whom Viola had known since his youth. Cvetic put Viola in touch with C. James Parks of the law firm of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin and Mellot, who made the foundation a legal entity.

Viola went on the road to promote the foundation and took it from there. In its second year, Kumite-sanctioned events dotted the East Coast. There are sanctioned tournaments throughout the United States and in Canada and Italy. Last season, there were approximately 18 sanctioned events throughout the entire season. Viola already has scheduled 15 through November.

“Kids his age usually don’t know what they want to do,” Viola’s father said. “But he’s always been very goal-oriented, and you see that in the way he works with this. It’s become like a job to him, and its difficult to have a job like this to do, and he’s done a great job with it.”

The foundation brings in money through selling memberships and through various other fund raisers.This year, it awarded $10,000 in scholarship money to the overall national point champions in novice and advanced divisions in three age groups: 11-and-younger, 12-18, and adult. There are also scholarships for junior black belts (17-and-younger), adult black belts and female black belts.

Next year, Viola said he plans to allocate an additional $10,000 in scholarship money for members who show leadership. High school seniors and college students who intend to teach martial arts also will be able to apply for scholarships.

The foundation has allowed Viola to help a few people that have followed his path, including Angelo Marcile, one of Viola’s best friends and toughest karate rivals.

Marcile, 30, is a blackbelt who has won more than 30 national and state titles in his continuing career. He didn’t have enough money to go to college when he graduated but remained dedicated to the idea while working as a free lance subcontractor and teaching karate at night.

He is enrolled at Point Park College, where he will begin classes after he finishes a course at Community College of Allegheny County to get his grades up. He expects the scholarship he won to pay for his books.

“He told me he was thinking about doing this, and I told him I would help him out anyway I could,” Marcile said of Viola. “He’s really put his heart and soul into this and I’m very thankful for what he’s done.”

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December 1, 2019 Bill Viola Jr. 155 Comments

Hollywood

Bill Viola Jr. hopes to hit it big in Tinsel Town

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TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Wertz, Majorie (November 4, 2000).  “North Huntingdon Township man hopes to hit it big in Tinsel Town”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. 5.  Standard Observer Section

You can take the man out of western Pennsylvania, but you can’t take westernPennsylvania out of the man. At least, that’s what Bill Viola, Jr. believes.

Born and raised in North Huntingdon Township, the 1995 Hempfield High Schoolgraduate attended the University of Pittsburgh and received a degree in political science. Within a year’s time, he took his good looks and talents to Hollywood. “A number of things happened to bring me out to California,” said Viola. “It’s always been a dream of mine to break into movies. And I’ve always been in front of a camera and in front of large audiences when competing in karate.”

Viola has been training and competing in a Japanese form of karate for nearly 20 years. Viola’s father, Bill Sr., owns the Allegheny Shotokan Karate School inNorth Huntingdon. Since 1981, Bill Jr. has won over 2,000 trophies, awards and titles. But a serious automobile accident last year could have ended his days in competitions. “The vehicle I was in got hit from behind on Route 30 in North Huntingdon last summer,” he said. “I suffered a fractured neck.”

The accident and his injury put a stop to his competing in the karate national championships in August. Viola was a six-time Pennsylvania state karate champion and couldn’t defend his national title win of 1998. “All I’ve ever done was compete in karate tournaments and championships,” said Viola. “Then in January, I had to have surgery on my esophagus at UPMC. I wasn’t allowed to train or compete. So I decided to try a different avenue.”

Viola began promoting karate and tournaments, but it wasn’t enough. “Summer was coming and I had to decide what do to. I have a cousin who is a model inCalifornia. He encouraged me to come out and try modeling.” After only two weeks in Hollywood, Viola was signed by the Pang Matusi Agency. “Pang Matusi is Japanese and because I’ve competed in Japanese style karate, there was a click between me and the agency right away,” he said.

Since moving to North Hollywood, Viola has found work as a model, actor and dancer, appearing in a wide variety of movies, commercials, promos and dance videos, including Britney Spears’ “Stronger” video. “I like to keep myself open to a lot of things – TV, movies, videos. A casting director was selecting the right look for the Britney Spears’ video and he saw my photograph on my web site,” said Viola. “The casting director said I had the perfect look for her video. “My three little sisters are the most popular girls in school now because of my association with Britney Spears,” he said with a laugh. 

bill viola jr hollywood
Onset of the music video “Stronger”

The 23-year-old son of Bill Viola, Sr. and Shelly Rossi of the Penglyn area of North Huntingdon said other opportunities have opened up since the Britney Spears’ video. “Since then, I’ve done other things, little things here and there. You never know what to expect. It’s like no other job out there and you have to be ready. You get to meet directors, actors, connections that will help you in the future. My political science background has helped me in this industry. Hollywood is all politics. So I have to give credit to my poly sci professors at Pitt.”

Although Viola’s future in Hollywood is bright, he still maintains his hometown roots in western Pennsylvania. “People comment on my western Pennsylvaniaaccent all the time,” Viola said. “The relatives I have out here are originally from western Pennsylvania, so we can relate. “I come back home as much as I can. All my friends and family are still there. I hope to be back for Christmas.”

Living life in Hollywood is definitely different, Viola said. “The traffic is unbelievable. To go a mile may take an hour or two. If anything stresses me out, it’s the traffic jams.” Despite the setbacks that have hampered his competing in karate tournaments and championships, Viola continues to be an active member of the Hollywood scene. “I’m very fortunate that I can still teach and coach karate to make extra money, but I’ve been really busy with modeling and acting.”

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