Category Archives: featured

Pittsburgh MMA

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pittsburgh mma

Fighters Only Magazine, the World’s leading mixed martial arts and lifestyle magazine features Pittsburgh MMA and the history of mixed martial arts in America dating back to 1979 in Western Pennsylvania in this months issue. The first competition, Battle of the Tough Guys, made the front cover. “Tough Guy Contest The Real Beginning of MMA in America” Take a look. The story is title:

“Mixed martial arts in the United States was not conceived by the Gracie
family and Art Davie in 1993, it actually began life 14 years earlier
in a Pennsylvanian diner. FO reveals the untold story of… MMA’s Forgotten Forefathers”

The magazine is available on newsstands now.

The Pittsburgh region is finally getting the respect it earned over thirty years ago. A great article on the history of the sport of MMA in the United States.

Antonio Brown Meet & Greet

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Kumite Classic is excited to announce that Pittsburgh Steeler Superstar Antonio Brown will be making an appearance at the Expo Saturday May 26th from Noon-1PM.  The meet and greet will include free autographs for fans on a first come first serve basis. *1 item per person only

Brown is the first player in NFL history with at least 1,000 yards receiving (1,108) and at least 1,000 return yards (1,062) in the same season.  The 2011 Pro Bowler was also named Steelers MVP by his teammates, an honor that Troy Polamalu held in 2010. We are honored to have Antonio Brown as our special guest, he is a proven leader and role model!

Positive Athlete

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Kumite Classic is proud to support Hines Ward’s Positive Athlete Program. Kumite Classic Champion Dominic Leader was recently honored by Hines for his accomplishments in Martial Arts and his dedication to community service. Congrats Dom.  Pictured below left to right: Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Jeff Karstens, Dominic Leader, and Hines Ward at the Heinz History Center.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Several young athletes were honored this weekend for their positivity both on and off the field.

The first ever Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Awards were held Saturday afternoon at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center. Retired Pittsburgh Steelers’ star Hines Ward and Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher Jeff Karstens were on hand for the festivities.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also proclaimed April 21 as Positive Athlete Day in the city.

The 26 honorees, representing 23 area high schools, received an award certificate and a Positive Athlete Dedication t-shirt signed by Ward.

They will also be honored on May 9 at a Pittsburgh Pirates’ home game at PNC Park.

Each student-athlete nominee was required to show excellence on the field, an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, leadership, heart for others, an ability to admit imperfections, giving 100 percent and realizing the team is more important than the individual.

Here is the full list of winners for 2011-2012:

  • Baseball – Ben Swaby – Pittsburgh Allderdice (12th grade)
  • Basketball (Girls) – Brittany Jackson – Westinghouse (10th grade)
  • Basketball (Boys) – Christian Joiner – Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12th grade)
  • Cheerleading – Lauren O’Connor – Montour (12th grade)
  • Cross Country (Boys) – Dylan Anderer – South Side (11th grade)
  • Cross Country (Girls) – Emily Strohm – McKeesport (10th grade)
  • Football – Steven O’Hara – Blackhawk (12th grade)
  • Golf (Boys) – Austin Grieger – Quaker Valley (12th grade)
  • Golf (Girls) – Michelle Klein – South Side (10th grade)
  • Gymnastics – Abbie Porritt – North Allegheny (12th grade)
  • Ice Hockey – Koby Uhrig – Moon (11th grade)
  • Lacrosse (Boys) – Zach Simpson – Canon-McMillan (12th grade)
  • Lacrosse (Girls) – Emily Jamison – North Hills (12th grade)
  • Martial Arts – Dominic Leader – Norwin (12th grade)
  • Soccer (Boys) – Alex Burbules – General McLane – Erie (12th grade)
  • Soccer (Girls) – Victoria Fedora – Serra Catholic (12th grade)
  • Softball – Ali Chambers – Avonworth (12th grade)
  • Swimming (Boys) – Erik Brinkhoff – Bethel Park (11th grade)
  • Swimming (Girls) – Mia Pietropola – Plum (11th grade)
  • Tennis (Boys) – Paul Scherer – Hampton Township (12th grade)
  • Tennis (Girls) – Julia Vandrak – Seneca Valley (12th grade)
  • Track & Field (Boys) – Dominic Gibson – Uniontown Area (12th grade)
  • Track & Field (Girls) – Kasey Kemp – Norwin (12th grade)
  • Volleyball (Boys) – Tommy Keisling – North Allegheny (11th grade)
  • Volleyball (Girls) – Nicole Addleman – Indiana (12th grade)
  • Wrestling – Andrew Wood – Pine-Richland (12th grade)

Savage Girls

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Pittsburgh Savage Girls Seminar! Contest prep with Kumite Classic Coordinator and Savage Head Coach Andi Martin.  Posing, training, nutrition and more.  www.cathysavagefitness.com

Savage Girls Seminar Pittsburgh. Great place to prep for the Kumite Classic.

Kumite Classic 2012

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kumite classic expo

The Kumite Classic is bigger and better in 2012! Join us May 25-26th at The Monroeville Convention Center for Pittsburgh’s most established fitness expo.  The media has dubbed The Kumite Classic Expo as a “One stop shop for everything fitness.” The expo showcases the latest fitness products, exercise equipment, sports gear, clothing, nutritional supplements, health foods, and cutting edge cosmetic advancements.

The Kumite Classic campaign is dedicated to promoting healthy active lifestyles through a full scale interactive consumer expo. The Kumite Classic is Pittsburgh’s most established fitness expo, celebrating its 13th annual season attracting thousands of fitness enthusiasts and health conscious consumers from across the country. The multifaceted expo is surrounded by “non-stop action” playing host to simultaneous championships, competitions, and demonstrations in one expansive area for spectators to enjoy. The audience is one of the most diverse (demographic & geographic) in the fitness industry attracting fans from over 15 different sports. The prestigious Kumite Classic brand is synonymous with athletic excellence.

Health and wellness consultations are available with industry professionals and onsite evaluations are presented by doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and natural health experts. The FAST Expo collaborates with health professionals and educators on comprehensive and sustainable approaches to preventing and reducing serious health problems from both conventional medical and holistic approaches. The expo provides spectators the opportunity to participate in workouts, seminars, certification courses, competitions, and challenges.

The general public can meet & greet with celebrities, professional athletes, Olympic champions, and fitness icons. The expo highlights sports performance athletes, strength competitors, and fitness experts though a multitude of athletic skills competitions and world class sport championships.

The Kumite Classic is a fitness expo, sports expo, health expo, martial arts expo and wellness expo all under one roof!

City of Champions

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bill viola, frank caliguri

The Champions Association presented the 36th Annual Pittsburgh M.V.P. awards at the Willie Stargell Memorial Awards Banquet, Monday December 5th.  The distinguished ceremony honors industry leaders and professional athletes who are making a difference in the community.

North Huntington resident Bill Viola Sr. received the “Pittsburgh M.V.P.” award for his work as a Mixed Martial Arts pioneer.  Viola co-founded CV Productions in 1979, a company which is credited with creating a new sport, known today as mixed martial arts..   The award brought recognition to the city of Pittsburgh and the Western PA region celebrating the true birthplace of modern Mixed Martial Arts in the United States.  Most fight fans had believed that the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) established the first mixed martial arts competitions, however Viola and his partner Frank Caliguri actually developed the sport in 1979.  They promoted 10 competitions across Pennsylvania in 1980 until the State Legislature banned mixed martial arts with the passage of  SENATE BILL No. 632 Session 1983. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum of the Heinz History Center in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute unveiled an exhibit on June 23rd 2011 to document Viola’s role in developing mixed martial arts in America.  Dr. Fred Adams of Penn State University is currently writing a new book the history of Mixed Martial Arts that will chronicle Viola and Caliguri’s creation.

Over the past thirty years, The Willie Stargell Banquet has attracted some of the countries most prolific figures including basketball legend Michael Jordan and  World Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali.  Viola was honored to be recognized with such an elite alumni.   Viola said, “Pittsburgh is known as the City of Champions and now they can have pride that the fastest growing sport in the World (MMA), was started here as well.”  Dr. Fred Adams of Penn State University is currently writing a new book the history of Mixed Martial Arts that will chronicle Viola and Caliguri’s creation.

Other distinguished guests and honorees at the 2011 banquet included Pittsburgh County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Judge Dwayne Woodruff just to name a few.  The event was co-sponsored by The Hillman Foundation and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The banquet was hosted by Champion Enterprises founder Bill Neal, who has dedicated his life to community service.  Proceeds from the event support a Christmas Toy drive for underprivileged kids in Pittsburgh.