Category Archives: world champion

WAKO World Championships – Budapest, Hungary

xander eddy wako champ

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 14-year-old Gabby Viola represented the United States of America and became the first world medalists in Pennsylvania history. Eddy won silver in the -63kg Older Cadet division and Viola won bronze in the -50kb Older Cadet division. Eddy also added a bronze medal in the team competition.

xander eddy and gabby viola wako

Both athletes train at the Allegheny Shotokan Karate Dojo in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and members of kumite.pro. The school has been serving the greater Pittsburgh region since 1969 under the supervision of Sensei Bill Viola Sr. and Sensei Bill Viola Jr. Joining them in Budapest were 12-year-old Carter Griffith from Penn Trafford and 16-year-old Riley Evans of West Hempfield. Griffith was able to advance to round #3 after a win over China but fell to Poland the eventual gold medalist. Riley was eliminated in preliminary rounds by Greece.


Viola and Eddy are members of WAKO Team USA the only kickboxing organization with American Olympic Committee (AOC) status. Bill Viola Jr. is the Chairman of Tatami Sports for WAKO USA and a coach for USA Kickboxing. According to Viola Jr., “Gabby and Xander have poised themselves as elite athletes on a global scale. This was a major step towards and Olympic dream. They put Pittsburgh on the map for kickboxing.”

Opening ceremonies was held by former Hungarian President Pal Schmitt and Dr. Raffaele Chiulli from Italy, President of ARISF (Association of IOC) Recognized International Sports Federations. The group was evaluating WAKO for inclusion to the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Africa. Kickboxing is an Olympic sport that was shortlisted for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, and WAKO officials are hopeful for a debut at the 2032 Brisbane, Australia Olympic Games. WAKO is the National Governing Body for the sport under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Under the Patronage of the International Olympic Committee.

The WAKO kickboxing organization counts over 120 affiliated countries representing all five continents as the governing body of amateur kickboxing and officially recognized as an official kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord. WAKO is recognized by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). Viola and Eddy hope to represent America in the Olympics in 2032. They will be 22 and 23-years-old respectively. Viola Jr. continues, “Xander and Gabby are role models of determination, discipline and focus. Martial arts teaching respect, and they have been great ambassadors for the United States.”

Gabby Viola defeated:
Austria
Greece
Italy
Ireland
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
United Kingdom
Mexico
China
Belgium
Poland

Xander Eddy defeated:
South Africa
Italy
Czech Republic
Ireland
Hungary
Cyprus
Austria
Great Britain
Greece
Poland
China
Mexico
Switzerland

WKC Ireland

gabby viola

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 the championships.

Team USA is comprised of elite athletes from across the country who won the National Team trials in Detroit this past June.  Gabby Viola (12-years-old), Riley Evans (14-year old) and Daniel Barrett (17-years old) from Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo earned positions to represent the United States at the World Championships. 

Sensei (coach) Bill Viola Jr. said, “I’m beyond proud of them for just stepping on the mat and representing both American and Western PA.  It is such an honor to bring medals home to North Huntingdon.” 

The team traveled to London, England for a cultural experience, before arriving in Ireland for the week long tournament.  Eighteen countries sent their best competitors to Killarney, Ireland for the WKC World Championships, an event which is hosted by a different country annually.  

Gabby Viola, who won the World Title in 2021, said, “This year was the toughest competition she’s faced at the WKC.  I was very impressed with the British fighters.  They earned my respect.  I’m proud to bring home medals in both my categories.”  Riley Evans agrees, she actually exchanged her team USA uniform with a competitor from England as a keepsake and sign of camaraderie.  Daniel Barrett wasn’t able to garner a medal, but cherished the experience, “I’ve never been overseas, so beyond the competition this is something I’ll always remember.”  Barrett lost in sudden victory overtime to Canada in the quarter finals. 

        

Medaling for Team USA

  • 12-year old Gabby Viola, Silver 🥈 (classical kata) Bronze 🥉 (female -40kg sparring)
  • 14-year old Riley Evans, Silver 🥈 (-45kg continuous sparring), 🥉 Bronze Medal (-45kg sparring). 

Gabby is a 6th grader at Hillcrest Intermediate School.

Riley is a 9th grader at Christian Academy.

The girls are a apart of “Team Kumite” and all-star travel team that trains at the Viola Karate Dojo.  The team will next compete locally at the annual “Christmas Kumite” hosted by Sensei Bill Viola.  It is the qualifier and first step to attend Detroit in 2023.  The squad has every intention of making the US Team again and representing American next year.

For more information visit www.alleghenyshotokan.com or our sister program www.norwinninjas.com

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 based Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo earned over 20 medals, including top honors from 20-year-old St. Vincent student Cameron Klos, who was recognized as the overall “Grand Champion.”

WKC Gold medal Gabby Viola


Team USA is comprised of 300 athletes from across the country who won the National Team trials in Detroit this past June. Twelve members from Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo earned positions to represent the United States at the World Championships. Of that group, ten students advanced to the medal rounds and stood on the podium. Sensei (coach) Bill Viola Jr. said, “It is so amazing to see our athletes represent Western PA on an international level. When they play the star spangled banner for one our students, it’s a special moment. Cameron is leading by example.”

Medaling for Team USA representing Western Pennsylvania
 11-year old Gabby Viola, Gold (female -40kg sparring) Bronze (classical kata)
 12-year-old Xander Eddy, Gold (male -40kg kickboxing) Gold (classical kata) Gold (Traditional Kata) Bronze (male -40kg sparring)
 12-year-old Zoey Bostard Bronze (50+kg sparring) Bronze (50+kg kickboxing)
 12-year-old Rayden Galley Finalist (50+kg sparring and kata)
 14-year-old Riley Evans Bronze (-45kg sparring) Bronze (-45kg kickboxing)
 14-year-old Sammy Pietrzyk, Gold (55+kg female kickboxing team) Gold (55+kg female sparring) Gold
(female team sparring)
 14-year old Kaleb Knock Silver (-55 kg kickboxing) Bronze (-55kg sparring) Bronze (traditional kata)
 15-year-old Austin Hladek, Gold (classical Kata), Gold (traditional Kata), Gold (Weapons), Bronze
(sparring)
 15-year-old Lucy Lokay Bronze (65kg sparring)
 18-year-old Gavin Hladek Finalist (kata & weapons)
 19-year-old Luke Lokay Silver (75kg sparring)
 20-year-old, Cameron Klos, Gold (traditional kata), Silver (classical kata), Silver (synchronized forms),
Bronze (-85 KG sparring) Gold 18+ overall Forms/Weapons Grand Champion

The highlight of the week was Cameron Klos earning top honors in the Adult Black Belt Overall Finals. Klos earned a spot to compete by winning gold for his traditional kata (pattern) during elimination rounds. The finals pitted gold medal winners and elite athletes in various disciplines to determine the “best of the best.” The final four international champions represented Canada, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Klos for the United States. In the end, Klos was named Grand Champion of the WKC.

WKC cameron klos


Senator Kim Ward presented Cameron with a proclamation for his victory upon his return to Pittsburgh. He will perform for the County Commissioners at the Greensburg Courthouse of December 16th.

Klos, a Cyber Security major at St. Vincent College, holds a 4.0 GPA. Sensei Viola Jr. says, “It takes a special kind of work ethic to juggle an international karate schedule and remain at the top of his class in college. Cameron personifies dedication. His is earning a ‘black belt in life’.”

The 2022 WKC World Championships will be held in Dublin, Ireland. The team will be fundraising throughout the year to attend and defend their titles. For more information visit www.alleghenyshotokan.com


Olympic Glory

ariel torres olympics

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 ft. screen like a drive-in movie theater. While Judo and Tae Kwon Do have been part of the Olympic program for years, this the first time in history for karate.    The event was special for Bill Viola Jr. and his father Bill Viola Sr. who have been dreaming of an Olympic berth since the 1980s.  Viola Sr. helped spearhead the grassroots Olympic movement in Pennsylvania decades before.  Viola Jr. said, “It’s taken over 40 years for Karate to make its way to the Games, and we’ve been cheering every step of the way.” 

The Viola’s have been instrumental in the sports development and were part of a big push to get karate included in the Pan-American Games in 1999.  Doug Selchan, a member of Team USA, began his training with Sensei Viola and was able to win a Gold Medal at karate’s PAN-AM debut in Winnipeg, Canada. Sensei George E. Anderson was responsible for getting the Olympic Karate movement started in the United States, and he enlisted Sensei Viola to oversee Pennsylvania and help coordinate national events for USA Karate. The USA Karate Federation (USAKF) was the National Governing Body for Karate from 1985-1995 in the United States and member of the US Olympic Committee.  In 1986 Viola was appointed Regional Administrator for the USA Karate Federation and promoted the Allegheny Mountain Championships, a qualifier for the USA National Championships.  In 1992 Viola hosted the USA Karate Junior Olympics at the University of Pittsburgh Field House.  Viola’s tournament experience lead him to be named to the USA Karate Organizing Committee, responsible for coordination of the USA Karate National Championships.  Today that group has transformed into the USA-National Karate Federation (USANKF) under the banner of the World Karate Federation (WKF) which oversees Olympic karate.  On March 9, 2019 Viola Sr. was inducted into the USA Karate Hall of Fame as a “Pioneer of USA Karate” specifically for his contributions to the Olympic karate movement.

George Anderson (President of USA Karate with Sensei Bill Viola Sr.

Viola Jr. was a multiple time USA Karate National Champion and Team USA Member.  He has since passed the torch to his students, namely his daughter Gabby.  At just 10-years-old, she is highly accomplished already winning Gold at the WKC National Championships and earning a spot on WKC Team USA.  She has been recognized as a 5x State Champion and currently ranked #2 in North America by North American Karate Association (NASKA). This month Black Belt Magazine published her as “Top 5 Female” competitors in the country.  At the 2021 US Open in Florida she was awarded Competitor of the Year” by Point Fighter Live.  The honor, dubbed as a “Power Award” was voted on by coaches, competitors, and promoters from across North America.  After a nationwide poll, Viola not only won her category (edging out a talented competitor from El Paso, Texas) but was the highest vote getter of the show.  However, her biggest inspiration is training with the best athletes in the world, including the first Olympic champion in karate history.  Six-time defending European Champion Sandra Sánchez of Spain became the first-ever Gold Medalist in the sport on August 5th 2021.  Gabby has had the rare opportunity train with Sandra, and that experience has left a lasting impact.  She even named her special edition Olympic Barbie “Sandra,” touting it as she claimed Olympic glory. 

Olympic Gold Medalist Sandra Sanchez with Gabby Viola

As for the United States, they won their first-ever and “only” karate medal of the games when Ariel Torres secured bronze for Team USA in kata.  Torres, from Hialeah Florida, works with 20-year-old Viola Karate student Cameron Klos.  Torres is like a big brother to Cameron, mentoring him in the ways of International Competition.  Klos a student at Saint Vincent University, is a 2020 North American Sport Karate (NASKA) World Champion, WKC Team USA Member, and Kumite Classic Champion.  He travels to train with Ariel and studies remotely via Zoom weekly with him for private lessons. Ariel is preparing Cameron for a bid to make the USA Karate National Team. The same team Ariel represents and competed for in the Olympics.    

Sensei Cameron Klos with Olympic Bronze Medalist Ariel Torres

Sensei Bill Viola Sr. says, “I’ve trained thousands of students, many who have had Olympic aspirations and skill.  It was satisfying to see the Olympics on television, knowing my students have personal connections to these champions.  I know all the hard work has finally paid off.”  Viola Karate has been serving Western Pennsylvania since 1969 and is a member of the USA-NKF under the auspices of the United States Olympic Committee.  Their sister program is the award-winning Norwin Ninjas.  

NASKA World Champions

naska ring

NASKA World Champions

luke lokay, xander eddy, cameron klos

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 earns the World Championship Belt and ring. 

naska world champion

North Huntingdon residents Xander Eddy (10 years old), Luke Lokay (16 years old), and Cameron Klos (17 years old) became the first Western Pennsylvania martial artists to win a NASKA title since their Coach, Bill Viola Jr. and his sister Addie were ranked #1 in NASKA in the 1980s.

bill viola addie naska
Bill Viola Jr. and Addie Viola #1 Ranked NASKA (1989)

Sensei Bill Viola Jr. said, “I am so happy to pass the torch to these kids. They are an inspiration to this community and a testimony of hard work and dedication.  They made all of Norwin and Pittsburgh proud.”

The 2019 World Championship awards were presented at the AKA Warrior Cup in Chicago, Illinois.  It is the longest running tournament in America founded in 1964.  The tourney hosted the NASKA Banquet on Thursday January 23rd 2020.  NASKA President Larry Carnahan from Minneapolis, MN presided over the ceremony in which the three Western Pennsylvanian black belts earned #1 rankings and World Titles for their age categories.

NASKA World Tour Champions:

  • 10-year-old Xander Eddy         World Champion (10- Open Weight  and 10- Black Belt)
  • 16-year-old Luke Lokay            World Champion (16-17 Light Weight Black Belt Sparring)
  • 17-year-old, Cameron Klos      World Champion (15-17 Open Weight

16-17 Heavy Weight black belt sparring

The trio are members of Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo which recently celebrated it’s 50 Year Anniversary proclaimed by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald as “Sensei Viola Day” on September 23rd 2019 for the Pittsburgh region. 

Xander, Luke, and Cameron traveled to Illinois, California, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, New York, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey and Canada to compete during the season.  The honor is based on an entire year’s body of work.   

Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/09/26/Bill-Viola-Sr-Allegheny-Shotokan-Karate/stories/201909260004

Pittsburgh Tribune Review:

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/governments-students-honor-north-huntingdon-karate-instructor-bill-viola/

The team is gearing up for the 2020 WKC World Championships held in Madrid, Spain and fundraising to visit Tokyo, Japan and attend the 2020 Olympics.

For more information visit www.alleghenyshotokan.com  

Press Release

WKC World Champions

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 was the largest WKC championships in history with thousands of athletes.

wkc champion
Riley Evans on the podium

Team USA was comprised of athletes from across the country who won the National Team trials in Detroit this past June.  13 members from Allegheny Shotokan “Viola” Karate Dojo earned positions to represent the United States at the World Championships.  Of that group, 5 students advanced to the medal rounds and secured top honors.  These medals are the first ever for the Pittsburgh region.    

Sensei Bill Viola Jr. said, “I am proud of the way these kids represented our community and the United States.  Win or lose, they demonstrated respect and determination.  We they play our National Anthem for Gold, it makes all the sacrifice worthwhile.”

xander eddy karate
Xander Eddy Wins Gold

Medaling for the United States:

  • 10-year-old Xander Eddy, Gold (male kickboxing team)
  • 18-year-old, Cameron Klos, Silver (classical kata) Silver (traditional kata)
  • 12-year-old Sammy Pietrzyk, Silver (female kickboxing team)
  • 12-year-old Taylor Provence, Bronze (female kickboxing)
  • 12-year-old Riley Evans, Bronze (female kickboxing)

 The 2020 WKC World Championships will be held in Madrid, Spain.  The team will be fundraising to send a team to Spain and to visit Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics.

For more information visit www.alleghenyshotokan.com