U.S. Army Fight Team

Two rising stars from the Pittsburgh region have earned one of the highest honors in competitive martial arts: selection to the U.S. Army Fight Team. Fourteen-year-old Gabby Viola and 15-year-old Xander Eddy have been chosen to represent the United States at elite international martial arts and combative sports events as sponsored athletes for the 2025 season.

The U.S. Army Fight Team is part of a national initiative designed to showcase physical excellence, discipline, and resilience through high-level athletic competition. Serving both as a recruitment platform and a symbol of the Army’s commitment to strength and confidence, the Fight Team brings together standout civilian and military athletes from across the country.

For Viola and Eddy, the news arrived in unforgettable fashion. On Christmas morning, both athletes learned they had officially been selected to join the Army’s prestigious squad.
“I woke up to a U.S. Army flag as my first present,” said Viola. “I am blessed to carry that flag into battle.”
Eddy shared a similar sense of pride, adding, “The first thing I did was update my Instagram bio to say, ‘BE ALL YOU CAN BE.’ I’m going to make the most of this opportunity.”

 

Lifelong training partners who have worked side by side since early childhood, Viola and Eddy signed contracts to represent the U.S. Army Fight Team on a global competition tour throughout 2025.

Their upcoming schedule includes some of the most respected events in combat sports, including the ICO World Championships in Wales, the Mexican Open, the WKC World Championships in Canada, and the WAKO Pan American Championships in the Dominican Republic.

According to Sensei Bill Viola Jr., Gabby’s father and the longtime instructor for both athletes, the opportunity represents a major step toward the Olympic pathway. “This puts them closer to an Olympic dream,” he said. Both athletes are USA Kickboxing national champions competing under the IOC-recognized World Association of Kickboxing Organizations framework.

Viola and Eddy first gained widespread national attention in 2024 after earning medals at the WAKO Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. They followed that performance with gold medals at the WKC World Championships in Albufeira, Portugal.
“They’ve spent their entire lives committed to martial arts,” Viola Jr. said. “The U.S. Army saw that dedication and rewarded it with the chance to represent something bigger than themselves.”

Selection to the Fight Team goes far beyond competitive accolades. Founder Wesley Lawrence, a retired U.S. Army soldier and martial artist with more than four decades of experience, emphasized character as a core factor.
“The U.S. Army Fight Team represents sportsmanship, combat readiness, and the warrior ethos,” Lawrence said. “Gabby and Xander are outstanding students, leaders in their community, and role models for younger athletes. That’s what ‘Army Strong’ looks like. We’re proud to welcome them.”

The U.S. Army Fight Team consists of approximately 25 civilian and military athletes nationwide, all competing at national and international levels. The team’s 2025 debut will take place at the WAKO National Championships, hosted by the Kumite Classic during the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio—widely regarded as the largest fitness expo in the world. The event also serves as the official Team USA trials for the Junior Pan American Championships and Senior World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Both athletes train at the Allegheny Shotokan Viola Karate Dojo, a Pittsburgh-area institution that has produced generations of champions since 1969. As Viola and Eddy prepare to take the international stage in 2025, their journey stands as a powerful example of dedication, discipline, and the life-changing impact of martial arts.

The U.S. Army Fight Team represents elite civilian and soldier-athletes who compete at the highest levels of combat sports while serving their country. Among the standout athletes connected to this program are Coach and founder Wesley Lawrence and Kumite Classic’s own Gabby Viola and Xander Eddy.  They embody the discipline, resilience, and warrior spirit that define both military service and martial arts.

Wesley Lawrence is one of the most recognizable fighters associated with the U.S. Army’s combat sports program. Known for his aggressive yet technical style in the ring, Lawrence represents the tradition of Army fighters who have transitioned from military service into elite international competition.

Key highlights of Lawrence’s career include:

• Competing at a high level in amateur boxing and combat sports tournaments

• Representing the U.S. Army Fight Team in national-level competition

• Serving as a role model for soldier-athletes balancing military duty and elite sport

• Demonstrating the military values of discipline, courage, and perseverance

Army fighters like Lawrence continue a long legacy of military boxers who have gone on to compete in events such as the Olympic Games, national championships, and international military competitions.

🥋 Gabby Viola

Gabby Viola represents the next generation of American combat sports athletes and is closely associated with the Army Fight Team environment through her international kickboxing career and military connections.

Her accomplishments include:

• Member of Team USA Kickboxing

• Competitor on the U.S. Army Fight Team platform

• National champion and international medalist in kickboxing and karate

• Competitor at major international tournaments across Europe and North America

Gabby’s journey reflects a powerful combination of military service, elite athletics, and family martial arts legacy. Training at the highest level while representing the United States, she exemplifies the modern soldier-athlete pursuing world-class performance.

US Army Fight Team Shared Mission

Both Lawrence and Viola represent the core mission of the Army Fight Team:

Warrior mindset
Combat sports demand mental toughness, strategy, and courage.

Elite athletic development
Athletes train at a level comparable to Olympic competitors.

National representation
Competing internationally allows these athletes to represent the United States with pride.

🏆A New Generation of Military Martial Artists

The presence of leaders like Wesley Lawrence and athletes like Gabby Viola and Xander Eddy shows how the tradition of military fighters continues to evolve. While the Army historically produced world-class boxers, the modern era includes athletes from multiple combat disciplines, including kickboxing, karate, wrestling, and other striking arts.

Their success reinforces the idea that martial arts and military service share the same foundation:

• Discipline

• Respect

• Mental toughness

• Commitment to excellence