Pittsburgh Karate Tournament Marital Arts Championship Kumite Classic

What is Pittsburgh’s largest karate tournament? The Kumite Classic

The Kumite Classic (often called “Kumite Classic Entertainment” or just “Kumite Classic”) is a major multi‐sport & martial arts expo / tournament held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2

It includes karate tournaments, along with fitness events, strength contests, grappling/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and more.
It’s open to many styles, ages, and levels — both traditional martial arts practitioners and more modern sport karate / open divisions. +2

FEEL THE POWER!

2026 Kumite Classic Pittsburgh Power is the premier open martial arts competition, expo and convention in America! From our 25-year-anniversrary last year at the Arnold Sports Festival, back to our hometown of Pittsburgh this year. This is a world class facility, atmosphere and event!!

📅 May 16–17, 2026

📍 David L. Lawrence Convention Center

📌Info: https://www.kumiteclassic.com/pittsburgh-power-karate-tournament/

📝 Registration- Mat Action

🏨 Hotel: WESTIN Pittsburgh (will SELL OUT)

🎦 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WumKmWNH3I

Meet and greet celebrities, fitness icons and health experts during the world-renowned event in bodybuilding, fitness, and action sports. Kumite Classic has partnered with Jim and Tyler Manion, the President and Vice-President of the IFBB Professional League and National Physique Committee. The festival drew over 10,000 attendees last year, including top athletes, fitness influencers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals, showcasing the latest trends in sports and fitness.

Organizer / Key People

The main promoter is Bill Viola Jr., martial artist, coach, promoter, and owner of Kumite Classic Entertainment.
The Kumite Classic is affiliated with Allegheny Shotokan Karate and also with “Team Kumite,” an all-star karate competition team in the Pittsburgh region.

History & Significance

Founded in 1999. It’s been going a long time and is well-established in the martial arts community in Pittsburgh and the wider region.
It has grown into not just tournaments, but a larger expo / fitness / sports event.
The brand has become known for attracting top talent — “world’s greatest martial artists” attend its events, often bringing elite competitors in karate, grappling, fitness, etc.

What Happens at The Kumite Classic

Divisions & Types of Competition

Karate tournaments: traditional kata, sparring (“kumite”), open divisions.
WAKO divisions are offered. WAKO = World Association of Kickboxing Organizations. So there are point fighting / kickboxing style divisions when relevant.
Other martial arts styles are included: tae kwon do, tang soo do, kung fu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, grappling, etc. Fitness and strength / body building / expo components are part of the event.

Who Can Compete

All ages and levels — kids, teens, adults; novice to advanced.
All schools, styles, organizations, and clubs are welcome. It is an “open” tournament in many respects.

Additional Related Events

They also run the Pittsburgh Power open martial arts tournament under the Kumite Classic umbrella. Pitts Power Fit+1
The Summer Shiai is another one of their martial arts tournaments.

Why People Attend / What Makes It Special

It’s well-regarded in the sport karate community; considered a “mecca” in Western Pennsylvania.
Gives opportunities for up-and-coming martial artists to compete on a big stage.
The event is more than just sparring / kata; it has fitness, spectacle, and exposure.
Strong legacy through Team Kumite and Bill Viola Jr.; many successful athletes have connections to these events. Team Kumite 組手

The Kumite Classic is one of the most diverse martial arts and fitness events in the United States. The annual show based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is held over Memorial Day Weekend. The event hosts a full scale consumer expo surrounded by multiple championships and competitions that run simultaneously including sports such as sport karate, natural bodybuilding, power lifting, strongman, Olympic weight lifting, dance, cheer, arm wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, physical fitness challenges etc. The event also hosts concerts, talent showcases, model pageants, bikini pageants, and fitness pageants. The high energy atmosphere has created a unique fan base of combat sports and martial arts enthusiasts.

The Kumite Classic is part of The NBL (National Black Belt League) and acts as a Can-Am National Championship. The event attracts international and world champions to the Pittsburgh region each year. The Kumite Classic is Pittsburgh’s premier karate and martial arts tournament. The Kumite Classic is also the most established Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling championship in the area. The event played host to the first ever BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in the region over a decade ago.

Sport Karate or Sport Martial Arts showcases the best of the best from all point based fighting arts. They are open competitions that allow athletes from all disciplines to participate such as karate, tae kwon do, tang soo do, kung fu to compete on a common platform under a universal set of rules.

The Kumite Classic was founded by NBL Hall of Fame member Bill Viola. Viola a former USA Karate All-American Athlete and international sport karate champion has over 30 years martial arts experience. His father Bill Viola Sr. is a pioneer of karate in the Pittsburgh region, founding Allegheny Shotokan Karate in 1969.

Pittsburgh “City of Champions” The prestigious Kumite Classic is synonymous with athletic excellence recently honored with the Pittsburgh M.V.P. Award at the Willie Stargell Memorial Banquet. Over the past thirty years legends such as Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali have attended the banquet.

Links:

www.kumiteclassic.com

The Kumite Classic, Pittsburgh’s most exciting karate martial arts tournament, championship, competition.

The Kumite Classic’s 25-year anniversary in 2025 was a major milestone for one of America’s longest-running and most respected martial arts events. Here’s a summary of what that celebration has meant and how it was marked:

🥋 Origins and Legacy

- The Kumite Classic was founded in 1999 by martial arts promoter and author Bill Viola Jr. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over the past quarter-century, it has become a staple in the U.S. martial arts calendar, attracting thousands of competitors and spectators.

- Built from grassroots sport karate roots, the event grew into a multi-discipline martial arts festival featuring traditional forms (kata), point sparring, open kumite, weapons, kickboxing, and more.

🎉 25-Year Celebration Highlights (2025)

- Quarter-Century Commemoration: In 2025, the Kumite Classic marked 25 years of martial arts competition and community, celebrating its evolution from a regional tournament to a nationally recognized event.

- Partnership with the Arnold Sports Festival: To honor the anniversary, the Kumite Classic partnered with the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio — one of the world’s largest multi-sport expos. Participating martial artists competed in a full weekend of karate, kickboxing, and WAKO USA sanctioned events as part of the Arnold lineup.

- Expanded Competitive Opportunities: The event featured multiple disciplines — traditional forms and kumite, modern sport karate, team sparring, and kickboxing — welcoming athletes of all ages and skill levels.

- Elevated Prestige: Hosting WAKO USA Nationals and state-level kickboxing competitions within the Arnold framework helped highlight the sport’s continued growth and its connection to Olympic pathways and broader combat sports.

🥇 The Event’s Place in Martial Arts Culture

- Over 25 years, the Kumite Classic has drawn elite champions, world-class competitors, and martial arts legends, blending traditional karate respect with competitive spirit.

- It has served as both a competitive platform for rising athletes and a reunion spot for multi-generational martial arts families, reinforcing community bonds and competitive excellence.

In summary, the 25th anniversary of the Kumite Classic in 2025 celebrated a quarter-century of martial arts heritage, expanded competitive opportunities through strategic partnerships, and reaffirmed its status as a premier martial arts festival in the United States.