Bill Viola Jr

{{Infobox person

| name = Bill Viola Jr.

| image = File:William “Bill” Viola Jr.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = William Viola III

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|04|09}}Pickels, Mary (February 8, 2015). [http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/7643637-74/viola-arts-martial “Martial arts are a family affair”]. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B3.

| birth_place = Irwin, PA

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = American

| alma_mater = University of Pittsburgh

| other_names =

| parents = Bill Viola Sr.

| occupation = Martial artist, author

| organization = President: Kumite Classic Entertainment, Owner: Allegheny Shotokan KarateHunger, Brian (July 22, 2001). [http://pittsburghsportkarate.com/viola-poised-to-provide-karate-scholarships-to-youth/ “Viola poised to provide karate scholarships for youth”]. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B3.Kelly, Jack (April 16, 2007). [http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2007/05/15/Festival-puts-emphasis-on-physical-fitness/stories/200705150202 “Festival puts emphasis on physical fitness”]. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works = Tough Guys, Showtime film Tough Guys{{Cite web|url=https://blackbeltmag.com/forging-a-path-for-half-a-century|title = Forging a Path for Half a Century|date = September 12, 2019}}

}}

William Viola Jr. (born April 9, 1977) is an international martial arts champion, promoter and author.{{Cite web|title = A Review of Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of An American Sport|url = http://www.mmalatestnews.com/a-review-of-godfathers-of-mma-the-birth-of-an-american-sport/|website = MMA Latest|access-date = February 7, 2016|language = en-US|first = MMA|last = Latest|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160216040119/http://www.mmalatestnews.com/a-review-of-godfathers-of-mma-the-birth-of-an-american-sport/|archive-date = 2016-02-16|url-status = dead}} He is the producer and founder of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based Kumite Classic.Kelly, Jack (April 16, 2007). [http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2007/05/15/Festival-puts-emphasis-on-physical-fitness/stories/200705150202 “Festival puts emphasis on physical fitness”]. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.MacGregor, Adam (March 4, 1998).[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19980304&id=_9NRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dG8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6562,4039319 “Fivesome may kick its way to a title”]. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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.Cartey, Richard (November 2012). [http://pittsburghmma.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Fighters-Only-Nov.-2013-Tough-Guy-Contest.pdf “Tough guy Contest: The Real Beginnings of MMA in America”]. [http://www.fightersonlymag.com/ Fighters Only]. 3: 72.Jones, Rachel (March 2015) "Family Traditions". WHIRL Magazine, p.38. Viola Jr. followed in his father's footsteps beginning martial arts lessons at the age of 3.Dopirak, Dustin (June 16, 2002). [http://pittsburghsportkarate.com/karate-instructor-passionate-about-foundation/ “Karate instructor passionate about foundation”]. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B7.

Career

In 2019, the city of Pittsburgh named September 23 as "Sensei Viola Day" recognizing the Viola Family for their 50-year dojo anniversary. The date was symbolic as it was Viola Jr.’s son's William Viola IV's birthday.{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/09/26/Bill-Viola-Sr-Allegheny-Shotokan-Karate/stories/201909260004|title = Allegheny County recognizes 'Sensei' Viola for devotion to karate}}{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/governments-students-honor-north-huntingdon-karate-instructor-bill-viola/|title = Governments, students honor North Huntingdon karate instructor Bill Viola|date = September 22, 2019}}

= Competition retirement =

In the summer of 1999, Viola was involved in an automobile accident on US Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He sustained a serious cervical neck fracture injury that effectively ended his competitive karate career (1981–1999).Iovino, Jim (August 15, 1999). [http://pittsburghsportkarate.com/karate-duos-dreams-crash-before-nationals/ “Karate duo’s dreams crash before nationals”]. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, page 6. Westmoreland Sports

= 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."Norwin junior claims a sport karate world title". (January 14, 2011). Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewGulasy, Doug (January 16, 2014). [http://triblive.com/sports/otherlocal/5408417-74/team-chase-kumite “Team Kumite has ‘unprecedented’ success”]. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,. p. 28.Adamski, Chris (January 25, 2013). [http://triblive.com/sports/communitysports/3296136-74/leader-karate-viola “Leader earns top karate honor”]. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

= 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.Schofield, Melissa (November 1, 2000). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20001101&id=-FoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iG8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2544,346126 “Former karate champion makes transition to music video”]. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p. E5.Zuchowski, Dave (February 12, 2015). [http://www.post-gazette.com/life/recreation/2015/02/12/Karate-kids-Viola-family-keeps-kicking-at-World-Games/stories/201502050057 “Karate kids: Viola family keeps kicking at World Games”]. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette p.EZ-4 The company's signature event is the annual self-titled Kumite Classic, a multi-sport and fitness expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Schrecengost, Dave "Kumite Classic kicks it up a notch" Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 23, 2013

Viola has worked as a consultant for a number of major motion pictures, including Warrior (2011). He is credited as an associate producer for the mixed martial arts-inspired film Tapped Out (2014).{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5927878/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1|title=Bill Viola Jr.|work=IMDb}}

= Author =

Viola is the co-author of the mixed martial arts-inspired Tough Guys.Panian, A.J. (January 23, 2014). [http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmtpleasant/5369911-74/adams-viola-martial “Mt. Pleasant Author helps examine mixed martial arts”]. [http://tribtotalmedia.com/products/detail/23 Mount Pleasant Journal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215135012/http://tribtotalmedia.com/products/detail/23 |date=February 15, 2016 }}, p. 1.{{cite web|url=http://mmahistory.org/who-invented-mma/|title=Who really invented MMA in America mixed martial arts history|work=MMA History – Mixed Martial Arts|date=December 12, 2013}} The book chronicles CV Productions, Inc., the first mixed martial arts league in America and the introduction of the Tough Guy Contest.{{Citation|title = Tough Guys|url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092105/|date = October 3, 1986|accessdate = February 24, 2016|first = Jeff|last = Kanew}}

Godfathers of MMA is the subject of the documentary film Tough Guys (2016) produced by MinusL Inc.{{Cite web|title = From Pittsburgh roots, MMA, UFC have grown to staggering heights|url = http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2016/02/19/From-Pittsburgh-roots-Ultimate-Fighting-Championship-mixed-martial-arts-have-grown/stories/201602190223|website = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date = February 24, 2016}}{{Cite web|title = Before MMA, Tough Guys wowed fans in A-K Valley, throughout state|url = http://triblive.com/sports/otherlocal/9032444-74/frank-tough-mma|website = TribLIVE.com|access-date = February 24, 2016|language = en-US|first = Jerin|last = Steele}}

He established Kumite Quarterly Magazine in 2003. It was published until 2007. As a freelance journalist, he was contracted by Sport Karate Magazine to cover The National Black Belt League World Games on location in Canada, Mexico and across the United States.Solomon, Marlena (December 23, 2003 ). "Bill Viola Jr. named ‘NBL Promoter of the Year’". The Advisor, p. 1. Volume 27 No. 13

The commemorative release of Tough Guys (2017) peaked at No. 1 on Amazon sports category coinciding with the Showtime film Tough Guys debut.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/09/showtime-tough-guys-documentary-explores-mma-roots-1980s-pittsburgh|title = Showtime's 'Tough Guys' documentary explores MMA's early roots in 1980s Pittsburgh|date = September 13, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://mmahistory.org/tough-guys-amazon-1-best-seller/|title = Tough Guys MMA Book reaches #1 on Amazon best sellers list|date = September 19, 2017}}

In 2016, Viola created the Sensei Says educational curriculum and was awarded a Federal Trademark for the courses.{{Cite web|url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:y5jah7.2.1|title = TESS – Error}}

= Producer =

Viola Jr. was an associate producer of the documentary film Tough Guys. It was broadcast on Showtime in 2017. Viola made a cameo in Tough Guys playing his father.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5023566/|title = Tough Guys (2017) – IMDb| website=IMDb }}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tough-guys-traces-mmas-roots-right-back-to-western-pennsylvania/|title = Welcome}}

He has co-produced and worked as a consultant on several films: Warrior (2011), Tapped Out (2014), Gridlocked (2015), and The Sound (2017).

Filmography

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Film

!Notes

2011

|Warrior

|Consultant

2014

|Tapped Out

| Associate Producer

2015

|Gridlocked

| Associate Producer

2015

|The Sound

|Producer

2017

|Tough Guys

| Associate Producer

Bibliography

Viola Jr., Bill (2014). Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of an American Sport. Kumite Classic Entertainment.{{ISBN|978-0-9961633-0-9}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UeY9rgEACAAJ|title=Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of an American Sport|isbn=9780996163309|last1=Bill Viola|first1=Jr|last2=Adams|first2=Fred|date=November 5, 2014}}
Viola Jr., Bill (2016). Go Ask Your Dad: Questions, Answers, and Stories about Fathers, Fatherhood, and Being a Parent (Volume 1). Kumite Classic Entertainment. {{ISBN|978-0996163316}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ub7PjwEACAAJ|isbn = 9780996163316|title = Go Ask Your Dad: Questions, Answers and Stories about Fathers, Fatherhood and Parenting|date = May 5, 2016|publisher = CV Productions}}
Viola Jr., Bill (2017). Tough Guys. Kumite Classic Entertainment. {{ISBN|978-0-9961633-3-0}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j7TtswEACAAJ|title = Tough Guys|isbn = 9780996163323|last1 = Bill Viola|first1 = Jr|date = August 2017}}
Viola Jr., Bill (2020). CommonSensei: Sensei Says. Kumite Classic Entertainment. {{ISBN|978-0-9961633-4-7}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Moe3zQEACAAJ|isbn = 9780996163347|title = CommonSensei: Sensei Says|date = July 28, 2020|publisher = Kumite Classic Entertainment}}
Viola Jr., Bill (2020). CommonSensei: Goal Pagoda. Kumite Classic Entertainment. {{ISBN|978-0-9961633-5-4}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9uwzQEACAAJ|title = CommonSensei: Goal Pagoda|isbn = 9780996163354|last1 = Bill Viola|first1 = Jr|date = July 28, 2020}}