Nationality American Notable work Godfathers of MMA | Occupation Martial artist, author Parents Bill Viola | |
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Full Name William "Bill" Viola III Born April 9, 1977 (age 39) ( 1977-04-09 ) Irwin, PA Organization Kumite Classic Entertainment | ||
William “Bill” Viola Jr. (born April 9, 1977) is an international martial arts champion, promoter and author. He is the producer and founder of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based Kumite Classic.
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Early life
Bill Viola Jr. was born in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was introduced to the art of Shotokan Karate by his father Bill Viola Sr. who is the founder of Allegheny Shotokan Karate and co-creator of the modern sport of MMA. Viola Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps beginning martial arts lessons at the age of 3.
Career
Viola was one of the most consistent sport karate competitors in the country recognized as a United States of America Karate Federation (USAKF) national champion and All American Athlete. In 1998 he was recognized by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a World Champion at The Arnold Classic Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio.
Competition retirement
In the summer of 1999, Viola was involved in an automobile accident on US Route 30 in North Huntingdon, PA. He sustained a serious cervical neck fracture injury that effectively ended his competitive karate career (1981-1999).
Coaching
Viola has remained active in martial arts serving as head coach of “Team Kumite,” an all-star karate team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team is noted as the most successful sport karate competition team in the Pittsburgh region, winning 12 National Black Belt League (NBL) World titles in 2013.
Kumite Classic Entertainment
Viola graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999 and moved to Hollywood, California to work in the entertainment industry. He earned acceptance into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio (AFTRA). After working with top industry professionals he established his own production company, Kumite Classic Entertainment in 1999. The company's signature event is the annual self-titled Kumite Classic, a multi-sport and fitness expo regarded as the mecca for martial arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Viola has served as an independent consultant for number major motion pictures including Warrior (2011). He is credited as an Associate Producer for the mixed martial arts inspired film Tapped Out (2014) starring former Kumite Classic champion’s Nick Bateman and Cody Hackman and former UFC champion’s Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva.
Author
Viola is the co-author of the mixed martial arts inspired Godfathers of MMA. The book chronicles CV Productions, Inc., the first mixed martial arts league in America and the introduction of the Tough Guy Contest.
Godfathers of MMA is the subject of the documentary film Tough Guys (2016) produced by MinusL Inc.
He established Kumite Quarterly Magazine in 2003, serving as publisher with distribution throughout North America until 2007. As a freelance journalist, he was contracted by Sport Karate Magazine to cover The National Black Belt League (NBL) World Games on location in Canada, Mexico and across the United States.