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Kumite Classic

ENTERTAINMENT

Kumite Classic Entertainment is a full-scale production company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 1999, the Kumite Classic brand has become synonymous with world-class promotions and media projects ranging from a bestselling publishing house to award winning film productions. As an industry leader in martial arts, fitness, and sports genre, Kumite Classic has stamped its mark of approval across a spectrum of world-class competitors, Olympians and professional athletes from the NFL, MLB, WWE, UFC, IFBB and more. The self-titled “Kumite Classic” is regarded as the mecca for karate in the Pittsburgh region, and in 2025, will debut an innovative strategic partnership with the Arnold Sports Festival and USA Kickboxing.
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WORLD CHAMPIONS

Pittsburgh, PA
EST. 1999

Kumite Classic Entertainment (KCE) is a full-scale production company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The corporation was founded by Bill Viola Jr. in 1999 and continues to be an industry leader in the martial arts, mixed martial arts, sport karate, kickboxing, fitness, and sports markets. Under the Kumite Classic umbrella lies KCE Press (a bestselling publishing house), KCE Talent management, KCE consulting, and KCE promotions known internationally for its self-titled “Kumite Classic” combat sports tournament.

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WORLD CLASS

International
Events

Since its inception, the Kumite Classic quickly earned “disruptor” status by single handily raising the bar for sport martial arts competition in the United States. Viola Jr., a world renown karate sensei and coach, was born into a martial arts family legacy. His father, Bill Viola Sr., pioneered full contact karate in the 1960s, and by 1979 co-created the sport of mixed martial arts, now a multi-billion-dollar industry since popularized by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Promotion was seemingly embedded in Viola Jr.’s DNA, and he set sights on building a larger audience for his niche sport—karate.

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WORLDWIDE

M: 724 640 2111
E: bill@kumiteclassic.com

After winning the Arnold Classic competition in 1998, Viola Jr. met Arnold Schwarzenegger who inspired him to follow in his footsteps and establish his own version of a multi-sport convention in Pittsburgh. The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest fitness expo in the world, with bodybuilding firmly set at the cornerstone.  The show was electric, but martial arts were just window dressing. Kumite Classic followed a similar blueprint, but instead crowned karate as king of the convention center.

WHAT WE DO

Better to fight for something
than live for nothing...

SPORT KARATE
TV & FILM
PITTSBURGH FITNESS EXPO
AMAZON BEST SELLERS
PRODUCTION
SENSEI SAYS® COMMON SENSEI®
BLACK BELT IN LIFE® KUMITE CLASSIC®

Kumite

TESTIMONIALS

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ROYCE GRACIE

I am honored to be a part of the Kumite Classic and share my experience.

ROYCE GRACIE
ROYCE GRACIE
UFC LEGEND
Arnold Schwarzenegger

The martial arts builds character and you [Cameron] are a true champion.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Hollywood Icon
Kurt Angle

The Kumite Classic is world class martial arts! Proud to be apart of the event.

Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
WWE Olympic Champion

Our Supporters

wako usa
USA Kickboxing
Tough Guy Contest Logo
PAL png
viola karate dojo
Arnold sports festival Columbus logo
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Partners

1999-2025

kumite classic partners
Christmas Kumite
DECEMBER
7

08:00 am - 4:00 pmChristmas Kumite

Kumite Classic
Feb
28

09:00 am - 12:00 pmKumite Classic

Arnold Sports WAKO
March
1
bill viola jr wako usa

BILL VIOLA JR.

組手 Bill Viola Jr., President and Founder of Kumite Classic:  Bill is a bestselling author, producer, and creator of the CommonSensei ® self-help book series. His innovative federal trademarks include the award-winning Sensei Says® life skills curriculum and Black Belt in Life® personal growth courses. Sensei Viola is a former USA Karate National Champion (All-American) and 1998 World Champion martial artist. As an internationally renowned coach and promoter working with Olympians and professional athletes across a spectrum of sports. He is currently Chairman of Tatami Sports under WAKO USA Kickboxing. 

Kumite

STAFF

JENNIFER VIOLA

JENNIFER VIOLA

HEAD REGISTRATION
ROCKY WHATULE

ROCKY WHATULE

LOGISTICS
GARY KLOS

GARY KLOS

HEAD COORDINATOR
AJ EDDY

AJ EDDY

HEAD COORDINATOR
MATT JOHNSON

MATT JOHNSON

HEAD SCORING
BILL VIOLA SR.

BILL VIOLA SR.

HEAD REFEREE

Kumite

MEANING

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In layman’s terms, Kumite is a fist fight. The philosophy of Kumite Classic is taking on all challengers and fighting (taking head-on the status quo) by creating the most dynamic and professional events possible.

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FYI: Kumite (組手) is a Japanese word commonly associated with “fighting.” Its literal translation is “crossing or meeting of hands.”

GEORGE S. PATTON

Our Philosophy is "Better to fight for something, than live for nothing."

GEORGE S. PATTON
GEORGE S. PATTON
GENERAL

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