Allegheny Shotokan “Viola Karate”

🥋The Viola Karate School (Allegheny Shotokan) was established in 1969 by Bill Viola Sr., recognized as the co-creator of MMA (mixed martial arts) in America. The 空手 school has a rich tradition serving the Pittsburgh region and Western Pennsylvania for nearly 50 years. The family owned business has is the oldest and most established karate and martial arts school in the North Huntingdon (Irwin, PA). The Viola Family is internationally renowned, with teaching experience you can trust training and working with Olympic-level competitors and professional athletes from the NFL and MLB. The dojo features the award-winning Sensei Says ® Life Skills curriculum. “Home of National, International, and World Champions.” We have been ranked #1 Top Karate School in Pittsburgh for decades. The dojo is dedicated to teaching budo “martial way” by building character, respect, and focus. Call or Text Viola Karate: 724-640-2111 to speak with Sensei Bill Jr.

WAKO World Championships – Budapest, Hungary - The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Junior World Kickboxing Championships was held August 22nd to September 1st 2024 at Bok Hall in Budapest, Hungary. A record-breaking 3028 entries made the event the largest world championship league’s 47-year history. In all, 68 countries participated in the Olympic-style competition. National Team members 15-year-old Xander Eddy and… Read More
WKC National Karate Champions - WKC National Champions - Karate The World Karate and Kickboxing Commission (WKC) hosted the 2023 National Championships June, 2-3 in Detroit, Michigan. The North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania based Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo sent their best athletes to represent Western Pennsylvania. The Team qualified regionally to attend by winning the annual Christmas Kumite. Competitors who medal… Read More
WKC Ireland - World Karate and Kickboxing Commission WKC - Ireland 2022 The World Karate and Kickboxing Commission (WKC) hosted the 2022 World Championships October, 9th -14th in Killarney, Ireland. The weeklong event hosted the world’s best in WKC Tatami-style martial arts competition. North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania based Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo sent three athletes to Europe for… Read More
Modern MMA - Modern MMA created in Pittsburgh, PA - Tough Guys KDKA FAN N'ATION 'The Battle Of The Tough Guys:' Tracing modern-day MMA back to its roots in Pittsburgh BY PATRICK DAMP AUGUST 28, 2022 / 1:19 PM / CBS PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - "The octagon" "Ultimate Fighting" and "MMA" are all now very much part of the… Read More
WKC Gold🥇 - Pittsburgh area Team Kumite headquartered at Allegheny Shotokan Karate Dojo earns World Titles. 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… Read More
Olympic Glory - Olympic Aspirations Hit Home in North Huntingdon 🥇🥋 Karate made its Olympic debut last week in Tokyo, Japan the birthplace of the sport, but for one local dojo it’s been a long time coming. Students filled the parking lot of Allegheny Shotokan “Viola Karate” in North Huntingdon to watch the games live on a 20… Read More
Bill Viola Sr. and Jr. Honored in Chuck Norris Book - Father and son will be honored together for their contributions to karate in a virtual awards ceremony Saturday. Bill Viola Sr. and Bill Viola Jr. are inductees into the 2020 American Martial Arts Alliance’s Who’s Who Legends Hall of Honors with martial arts legend Chuck Norris. They also are featured in the 2020 edition of… Read More
Fighter – Gabby Viola 👊 🥋 - In the words of Christina Aguilera, " 'Cause it makes me that much strongerMakes me work a little bit harderIt makes me that much wiserSo thanks for making me a fighterMade me learn a little bit fasterMade my skin a little bit thickerMakes me that much smarterSo thanks for making me a fighter " https://youtu.be/kW0e6RD5VKk… Read More
Gabby Viola and Lucy Lokay Sport Karate People’s Choice - For Immediate Release: 2/13/20 Contact: Call/Text Bill Viola Jr. 724-640-2111 Pittsburgh Karate Girls Honored by Peers with National "People's Choice" Meet Gabby Viola and Lucy Lokay 14-year-old Lucy Lokay and 9-year old Gabby Viola Often times people associate martial arts as a rough-and-tumble sport dominated by male competitors, but two Pittsburgh area karate girls shattering… Read More
NASKA World Champions - NASKA World Champions The North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) sanctions the most prestigious karate tournaments in the country and abroad. For the last thirty years, the league has tracked and ranked competitors throughout the tournament season to determine the World Tour Champions. The ratings are compiled annually, with the highest point total determining who… Read More
WKC World Champions - WKC World Champions For Immediate Release: 11/21/19 Contact: Call/Text Bill Viola Jr. 724-640-2111 2019 World Titles brought home to Western Pennsylvania The World Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) hosted the World Championships November, 3rd -9th in Niagara Falls, New York. The world’s best from 22 countries converged to compete in WKC Tatami-style divisions. The competition… Read More
Sensei Viola Day - September 23rd 2019 was named "Sensei Viola Day" in Pittsburgh 🥋. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald enacted the day in honor of the dojo's 50-year anniversary. Congrats. Pittsburgh Post Gazette Article Pittsburgh Tribune Review Article Read more about Sensei Viola Day. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, by virtue of the authority… Read More
USA Karate Pioneer Award – Olympic Movement - Stow, Ohio-The USA Karate Federation has unveiled its 2019 Hall of Fame Class, to be inducted at a black-tie ceremony on March 9, at the SYB Party Center 4157 Hudson Drive Stow, Ohio. Bill Viola of Pittsburgh, PA was nominated as an inductee into the Hall of Fame as a Pioneer of USA Karate for… Read More
Journey Continues for Master Ray Adams and Master Dave Zezza - The Journey Continues for two North Huntingdon Martial Arts 🥋Masters On Wednesday August 29, 2018 history was made at the Allegheny Shotokan Viola Karate Dojo. North Huntingdon / Irwin Residents Sensei Ray Adams, 76, and Sensei Dave Zezza, 63, were promoted to Master Rank in the art of Shotokan karate. It has been a lifetime… Read More
$10,000 Donation Made to KICK Parkinsons - Kick Parkinson's Disease 2018 We gave Parkinson's a swift KICK this weekend! Very proud to announce that Allegheny Shotokan "Viola" karate and its sister program Norwin Ninjas in conjunction with Team Kumite to have combined to raise over $10,000 for The Pittsburgh Institute of Neurological Diseases #PIND Read more. The “KICK” concept was developed Irwin… Read More
USA Karate Kickboxing Team - A pair of Pittsburgh martial artists are poised to make history as they represent the United States of America (USA) as members of the prestigious 2018 “Team USA” at the Pan American Kickboxing Championship in Cancun, Mexico October 24-28th. In the upcoming months while other kids are enjoying summer break, 15-year old Luke Lokay and 9-year… Read More
Martial Arts Success - Sensei Bill Viola Jr. is featured in Martial Arts Success Magazine. He explains "How to Organize a Successful Tournament" in the feature story of the issue. Viola is considered one of the foremost experts on tournament promotion in America. Read More
WAKO Team USA - Congratulations to Xander Eddy and Luke Lokay for earning a spots on “Team USA” at the WAKO National Team Trials in Kansas City. The two have been selected to represent America at the WAKO Team Trials in Kansas City and our official members of "Team USA" At the Pan-American Games (Mexico)and Jr. World Championships (Italy). Austin Hladek won Bronze and… Read More
Shihan Viola’s life story comes to Showtime network - "Toughs Guys" make television history on Showtime When you think of MMA, most people think Dana White. He has been the face of the UFC and mixed martial arts for years. A new documentary reveals the true creators of MMA: Pittsburgh martial artists Bill Viola Sr. and Frank Caliguri (1979-1983). Their company CV Productions… Read More
Pittsburgh Karate Champs - Allegheny Shotokan named 'top team' at Pittsburgh Kumite Classic STAFF REPORT | Sunday, July 2, 2017, 11:00 p.m. The Allegheny Shotokan Karate School was honored as the “Top Team” at the 2017 Kumite Classic martial arts championships at the 18th annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo on May 26-27 at Monroeville Convention Center. The Kumite Classic is the region's largest multisport… Read More

-Allegheny Shotokan Karate 🥋 and the Viola family are martial wayists who have served the Pittsburgh region for over 50 years. Allegheny Shotokan is the the most experienced school in the area teaching martial arts in the Pittsbugh region of North Huntingdon & Irwin area since 1969. Allegheny Shotokan karate is experience you can trust! Viola karate is home of the award winning Norwin Ninjas children’s program and World Champion Team Kumite competition team. Viola Karate implements the award-winning Sensei Says ® Life Skills curriculum.

Allegheny Shotokan has produced hundreds of regional, national, and international champions including titles from; Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), United States of America Karate Federation (USAKF), United States of American National Karate Federation (USANKF), National Black Belt League (NBL), Sport Karate International (SKI) North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA), and Police Athletic League (PAL) Pennsylvania Karate Rating Association (PKRA). Contact Allegheny Shotokan or Norwin Ninjas for a free lesson at no obligation.