Pittsburgh Fitness Expo

Bill Viola Jr. is the founder and producer of the annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo.

Bill Viola Jr. is a 1999 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (Summa cum laude). He moved to Hollywood after graduation to work in the entertainment industry and earned acceptance into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio (AFTRA). After working with some of the biggest names in the industry, Viola Jr. established his own production company, Kumite Classic Entertainment in 1999. The company’s signature event is the self-titled “Kumite Classic,” the largest most prestigious karate tournament in the region.  It has been regarded by the media as the mecca for martial arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Viola Jr. has served as an independent consultant for number major motion pictures including Warrior (2011).  He is an  Associate Producer, Producer, and Executive Producer for films such as the mixed martial arts inspired film Tapped (2014), The Sound, and Gridlocked.  Tapped starred former Kumite Classic champion Nick Bateman and Cody Hackman and former UFC champion’s Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva.

Viola recently team up with MinusL Productions and Academy Award® nominated documentarian Morgan Spurlock (SUPER SIZE ME) and Oscar® winning filmmaker Ross Kauffman to produce the MMA inspired “Tough Guys” set to make its network debut on Showtime September (2017).  The film was inspired by his book Godfathers of MMA which is based on Bill Viola Sr.’s days as an mixed marital arts pioneer. He has since re-released a new edition of the book titled “Tough Guys” to honor the film.  It is the #1 best selling martial arts book in America.

He has the unique opportunity to work with some of the most prominent stars in the industry:

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Bill Viola Jr. is a successful author and journalist.  Go Ask Your Dad debuted on the Amazon best sellers list and the award winning and critically acclaimed Godfathers of MMA, is (available on Amazon) is the subject of the upcoming documentary film, Tough Guys (2017).  

 

-Bill Viola Jr. on the set of Pittsburgh Today Live #CBS #KDKA promoting the Pittsburgh Fitness Expo

-Aubrey Worek and Bill Viola Live on the set #KDKA

Further Reading about Bill Viola Jr:

Date	Title	Author	Publication
10/6/2018	Despite medial issues, extreme heat, 3rd annual PIND 5k a hit	Carr, Dillion	Trib Live
9/4/2018	Martial artists kick their way through research fundraiser	Pickels, Mary	Trib Live
8/23/2018	Boyce Park 5K event to raise funds for Parkinson’s research	Carr, Dillion	Pittsburgh Tribune-review
8/7/2018	Karate kid Gabby Viola kicks back	Pickels, Mary	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
7/20/2018	Allegheny Shotokan students compete at US Open World championships	Hartlep, Bill	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
6/20/2018	Dr. Freddie Fu Gives Karate Standout a Second Chance	Viola, Bill	UPMC
6/6/2018	The Early Years of MMA Were a ‘No-Holds-Barred Freakshow’	Bateman, Oliver	MEL Magazine
4/7/2018	Norwin’s Russell shows no weakness	Dunlap, Shane	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4/7/2018	Whether it’s softball or karate, Norwin’s Russell shows no weakness	Beckner, Bill	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
3/14/2018	Perserving Tough Guys Heritage	Holtschlag, Heather	In Community
2/12/2018	Karate School Helps Needy	Napsha, Joe	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
2/1/2018	How to Organize a Successful Tournament	Borkland, Herb	MAIA
12/23/2017	Team Kumite earns international titles	Trib Staff	Trib Live
11/30/2017	Stepping Into The Ring: A Look At MMA’s Local Roots	Hacke, Matthew	Whirl Magazine
11/11/2017	Book and Film Chronicle Brownsville Native’s Creation of New Sport	Zuchowaki, Dave	Pennsylvania Bridges
10/16/2017	Tough Guys tops Amazon Charts as best seller MMA	Williams, Clem	Pittsburgh MMA
10/11/2017	Tough Guys’ book an inspiring read	Guth, Jonathan	Herald-Standard
10/9/2017	Mike Murray of Colliers remembers being one of the first ‘Tough Guys’	North, Kim	Weirton Daily Times
10/8/2017	Colliers man part of ‘Tough Guys’ movie	North, Kim	Times Leader
10/4/2017	Norwin student leads fundraising efforts to “Kick Parkinson’s Disease”	Staff	Trib Live
10/1/2017	Whos Who in the Martial Arts	Bowen, Jesse	ISBN-10: 1387161539
9/21/2017	A Tough Guy Looks Back	Himler, Jeff	Trib-Norwin Star
9/15/2017	Tough Guys Showtime Network Debut Premiere	Staff	The Palace
9/15/2017	Showtime documentary proves Pittsburgh-area early mixed martial arts fighters were ‘Tough Guys’	Sciullo, Maria	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
9/15/2017	‘Tough Guys’ documentary sheds welcome light on forgotten MMA tourney that pre-dates UFC 1	Chiappetta, Mike	MMAFighting.com
9/15/2017	Tough Guys – Amazon	Viola, Bill	KCE Press
9/15/2017	Two locals were instrumental in first MMA event	Guth, Jonathan	Herald-Standard
9/14/2017	Mixed martial arts pioneer gets TKO in Tough Guys 1980 opener	Himler, Jeff	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
9/14/2017	Will Zullo, Henry Roosevelt, Craig DiBiase & Jamie Crowder On Their Film, “Tough Guys”	Yahoo Staff	Yahoo Entertainment
9/13/2017	Showtime’s ‘Tough Guys’ documentary explores MMA’s early roots	Stupp, Dann	MMA Junkie
9/13/2017	MMA’s roots right back to Western PA	staff	Burghline
9/12/2017	Tough Guys’ trace MMA’s roots right back to Western PA	Harrop, Joanne	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
9/11/2017	Before UFC, It was all about Tough Guys	Viola, Bill	Pittsburgh MMA
9/10/2017	“Tough Guys” Explores Grassroots fighting Precursosr to MMA	Gables, Rick	TV Weekly Now
9/8/2017	New Showtime Doc Tough Guys Explores Origin of MMA	TV News Desk	Broadway World
9/1/2017	Tough Guys	Staff	Showtime
8/29/2017	Showtime to Air New ‘Tough Guys’ Documentary on Early Days of MMA	Golightly, Justin	BJPenn.com
7/24/2017	Team Kumite trio claims gold at North American Open	Karpen, Drew	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
7/17/2017	WAKO North American Open	Corocan, John	MAIA
7/8/2017	Tough Guys’ documentary profiles local creators of MMA Viola, Caliguri	Whalen, William	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
7/2/2017	Allegheny Shotokan named ‘top team’ at Kumite Classic	Staff	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
6/15/2017	AFI Docs is your ticket to 3 world-premiere films	Kirby-Page, Kristen	Washington Post
6/14/2017	Morgan Spurlock producing MMA origins documentary Tough Guys	Brace, Samuel	Flickering Myth
6/13/2017	Morgan Spurlock to Exec Produce MMA Origins Documentary ‘Tough Guys’ (EXCLUSIVE)	Mcnary, Dave	Varitey
6/13/2017	Academy Award Nominated Morgan Spurlock Joins Academy Award Winner Ross Kauffman	New York (SPW)	SHOOT
6/1/2017	Wrong Place Wrong Time:  The Real Birthplace of MMA	Stagliano, Matt	Skillset Magazine
5/31/2017	Photo Gallery: 18th annual Kumite Classic & Fitness Expo	Trib Staff	Trib Live
5/24/2017	Get pumped for annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo	Trib Staff	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
5/12/2017	AFI Doc Interviews:  Tough Guys	AFI	American Film Institute
5/12/2017	AFI Docs Line Up Includes ‘Atomic Homefront,’ ‘Saving Brinton,’ ‘Tough Guys’ Premieres	Johnson, Ted	Varitey
5/5/2017	Pittsburgh Today Live	KDKA Staff	KDKA
10/19/2016	40 Under 40: 2016	Roddy, Dennis	Pittsburgh Magazine
8/24/2016	Book Review:  Godfathers of MMA	Guerry, Matthew	Whirl Magazine
7/9/2016	Outstanding Performance	Staff	Trib-Norwin Star
6/27/2016	How Would Reebok Have Done As A Sponsor of MMA Between 1979-1983?	Madden, Dave	MMA Wreckage
6/15/2016	Alumni News	Staff	University of Pittsburgh
5/12/2016	Pittsburgh-The Birthplace of Mixed Martial Arts Matches	Staff	Popular Pittsburgh
5/6/2016	Documentary to feature Milton’s Mixed Martial Arts forefather	Little, Aaron	Santa Rosa Press Gazeette
5/1/2016	An ‘Exponential’ Love of Fitness	Holtschlag, Heather	In Community
5/1/2016	The Evolution of Karate:  2020 Olympics	Viola, Bill	Sport Karate Illustrated
2/25/2016	Martial Art of the Month: MMA	Bulger, Jake	Kung-Fu Kingdom
2/24/2016	From the First Days in Pittsburgh, MMA has Become the Fastest Growing Sport	Pro MMA Staff	Pro MMA Now
2/19/2016	From Pittsburgh roots, MMA, UFC have grown to staggering heights	Bloom, Elizabeth	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2/14/2016	Jacquet Bazemore / Top kickboxer, sparring partner for Muhammad Ali	Ove, Torsten	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2/14/2016	RIP Jacquet Bazemore	Viola, Bill	MMAhistory.org
1/14/2016	SFLC PODCAST EPISODE 89: BILL VIOLA SR., BILL VIOLA JR. & SERENA DEJESUS	Kowal, Eric	MY MMA News
1/1/2016	Ali vs Inoki – The Forgotten Fight that Inspired MMA	Gross, Josh	BenBella Books
9/15/2015	Tough Man Contest Mike Murray Dave Jones	Staff	Steel Nation Magazine
9/13/2015	Before MMA, Tough Guys wowed fans in A-K Valley, throughout state	Steele, Jerin	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
7/30/2015	Dana Double Day	Viola, Bill	MMAhistory.org
7/11/2015	Mixed Martial Arts come to Meadows	Mathurin, Desiree	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
7/9/2015	Outstanding Team	Trib Staff	Trib Live
6/25/2015	Godfathers of MMA	Viola, Bill	Amazon
6/25/2015	Godfather of MMA – Amazon	Viola, Bill	Amazon
5/19/2015	Pittsburgh Fitness Expo returning to Monroeville	Love, Mike	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4/14/2015	Godfathers of MMA – Birth of an American Sport	Etheridge, Pagie	Osu Magazine
3/17/2015	Family Traditions	Jones, Rachel	Whirl Magazine
3/1/2015	Lord of the Ring – World Champion Ali Viola	Q & A	Sport Karate Illustrated
2/12/2015	Karate kids: Viola family keeps kicking at World Games	Zuchowski, Dave	Pittburgh Post-Gazette
2/10/2015	Law student succeeds at Sport Karate World Games	Cardone, Jenn	Duquesne Duke
2/9/2015	For family, martial arts ‘in the DNA’	Pickels, Mary	Trib Live
2/8/2015	Duquesne University law student adds world martial arts titles to resume	Pickels, Mary	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
1/30/2015	Big Muscle in Steel City	Hawk, Dave	Muscle & Body
1/14/2015	Penn-Trafford sophomore World Karate Tournament	Smith, Nathan	Trib Live
5/1/2014	15th Annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo	Staff	Western PA Guide to Good Health
1/22/2014	Mt. Pleasant author helps examine mixed martial arts	Panian, A.J.	Mount Plesant Journal
1/22/2014	Mt. Pleasant author helps examine mixed martial arts	Panian, A.J.	Mount Plesant Journal
1/16/2014	Team Kumite has ‘unprecedented’ success	Gulasy, Doug	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
11/7/2013	Godfather’s Of MMA	Staff	Strength Figther
11/1/2013	MMA’s Forgotten Forefathers	Cartey, Richard	Fighters Only Magazine
9/13/2013	CHAMPIONS GATHER	Neal, Bill	PGH Courier
7/10/2013	Martial arts workout touted as packing a punch	Gulasy, Doug	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
5/22/2013	Kumite Classic Kicks it up a Notch	Schrecengost, Dave	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4/20/2013	Former Steelers wide receiver Ward honors local high school athletes	Price, Karen	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
1/25/2013	Leader earns top karate honor	Adamski, Chris	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
10/24/2012	The Martial Chronicles: Before Fighting Was Ultimate It Was Super	Nash, John	SB Nation
10/1/2012	Hines Ward Show	Ward, Hines	WPXI
8/23/2012	Battle of Superfighters (Tough Guys the Real Beginings of MMA in America	Cartey, Richard	Fighters Only
5/30/2012	Fitness and martial-arts enthusiasts pack Convention Center for Kumite Classic	Love, Michael	Trib Live
5/29/2012	2012 Kumite Classic with Antonio Brown	Trib Staff	Trib Live
5/23/2012	The Martial Chronicles: Before Fighting Was Ultimate It Was Super	Nash, John	Bloody Elbow
5/9/2012	Norwin’s Leader, Kemp pull down Positive Athlete Awards	Trib Staff	Trib Live
4/29/2012	Norwin junior seeks karate championship	Harvath, Les	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4/21/2012	26 Honored At Western Pa. Positive Athlete Awards	KDKA Staff	KDKA
3/1/2012	2012 Positive Athletes	Ward, Hines	Positive Athlete
1/1/2012	Exhibit Must-Sees	Madarasz, Ann	Western PA Sports Museum
12/20/2011	Pioneers of MMA	Madarasz, Ann	Heinz History Center
12/5/2011	Viola Honored for role with early MMA	Grubba, Matt	Trib Live
12/1/2011	Pittsburgh MVP	Staff	Champions Association
10/1/2011	Tough Guys	Madarasz, Ann	Western Pennsylvania History: Fall 2011, 8-9
10/1/2011	New Sports Museum Display Explores Local Roots of Mixed Martial Arts	Madarasz, Ann	Senator John Heinz History Center Newsletter
10/1/2011	Local karate students compete in Ohio	Trib staff	Norwin Star
7/4/2011	Viola Honored As Mixed Martial Arts Innovator	Santa, John	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
6/24/2011	MMA roots were planted in New Kensington	Werner, Sam	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
6/23/2011	Caliguri and Viola history honored	Kogut, Paul	Trib Live
6/22/2011	UFC makes long-waited Pittsburgh debut	Stefano, Dan	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
1/14/2011	Norwin junior claims a sport karate world title	Trib Staff	Trib Live
1/6/2011	Karate coach Bill Viola recognized by peers	Hartlep, Bill	Trib Live
12/29/2010	Christmas Kumite	Trib Staff	Norwin Star
8/24/2010	The Zuffa Myth and UFC auteur theory	Rossen, Jake	ESPN
5/27/2010	MMA Trailblazers to be honored at Caged Kumite	Hartlep, Bill	Trib-Norwin Star
5/25/2009	Kumite Karate Klassic celebrates 10 years	Neal, Bill	New Pittsburgh Courier
3/26/2009	Viola’s Bring MMA Back to Pittsburgh	Hartlep, Bill	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
1/15/2009	Illness doesn’t deter karate champion	Dudurich, Mike	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
12/26/2007	1997 Sports Champions	NGB Reports	Slam sports
5/15/2007	Festival puts emphasis on physical fitness	Kelly, Jack	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
5/25/2005	North Huntingdon Twp. Promoter heads Pittsburgh Sports and Fitness Festival	Cloonan, Patrick	Daily News
6/13/2002	Karate instructor passionate about foundation	Dopirak, Dustin	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
7/22/2001	Viola poised to provide karate scholarships to youth	Hunger, Brian	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
11/4/2000	North Huntingdon Township man hopes to hit it big in Tinsel Town	Wertz, Marjorie	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
11/1/2000	Former Karate Champion Makes Transition to Music Video	Schofield, Melissa	Pittburgh Post-Gazette
8/15/1999	Karate duo’s dreams crash before nationals	Iovino, Jim	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
8/9/1999	U.S. Karate Team Caputres Gold in Kumite	Staff	USOC Press
3/4/1998	Fivesome May Kick its Way to Title	MacGregor, Adam	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2/23/1997	Schwarzenegger Selects Irwin Karate School for Festival	Robertson, Scott	Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
4/1/1993	Laurel State Champions	Staff	Standard Observer
5/5/1987	Norwin’s Karate Kid is Making Mark in World	Haky, Mike	Daily News
4/9/1987	Norwin Student Gets a Kick from Karate	Ove, Torsten	Pittsburgh Press
4/5/1987	Karate Kid Alive and Well in North Huntingdon	Junker, Guy	WTAE

–Bill Viola Jr., Producer of Pittsburgh Fitness Expo and Founder of Kumite Classic Entertainment Corp. *press photo (released for creative commons 3.0 for free commercial and non commercial use)

-Bill Viola Jr. & Bill Viola Sr. with Royce Gracie at the 2012 Kumite Classic *press photo (released for creative commons 3.0 for free commercial and non commercial use)