CommonSensei meet Bill Viola Jr. aka Common Sensei

Meet Bill Viola Jr. aka Common Sensei

“Common Sense is not so common.” –Voltaire

com·mon /ˈkämən/

Adjective: Sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts

sen·sei 先生 /ˈsenˌsā,senˈsā/

Noun: Literally translated “one born before” or someone with experience: a teacher

Bill is an Amazon best selling author, blogger, and creator of the CommonSensei self-help brand dedicated to enlightenment, wisdom, and knowledge. His new project CommonSensei is focused on brining practical wisdom to students who lack street smarts and common sense.

12421 St Nikolai Drive N. Huntingdon, PA 15642 • (724) 640-2111 • Bill@kumiteclassic.com

» Profile

Bill Viola Jr. is a Western Pennsylvania based entrepreneur, producer, author and Master Martial Arts instructor. He operates Allegheny Shotokan Karate Inc., established in 1969 by his father, and is the President and founder of Kumite Classic Entertainment Corp.

» Education

University of Pittsburgh, Summa Cum Laude
BS Political Science, 1999

» Work Experience

Allegheny Shotokan Karate Inc., North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Master Instructor, 1995-Present

Recognized as World Champion by Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1998
USA Karate National Champion and All-American Athlete
Creator of the Norwin Ninjas program and curriculum

Kumite Classic Entertainment Corp., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

President & Founder, 1999-Present

Promoter of 18^th Pittsburgh Fitness Expo (multi-sport convention)
Film producer, talent management, consultant

Author

Non-Fiction, 2003-Present: Notable work

Go Ask Your Dad (2016) Debuted on Amazon Best Seller List
Godfathers of MMA (2015) Inspiration of the documentary film Tough Guys (2016)

Kumite Quarterly Magazine., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Publisher, 2003-2007

Eckert Seamans Law Firm, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

KI Scholarship Program Director, 2001-2007

Congressman Ron Klink (PA 4^th District), North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Congressional Intern, 1997

» Associations

Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League Martial Arts Chairman, Union member of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio, USA Karate National Federation (member United States Olympic Committee), Sport Karate Museum.

» Honors

Inducted into The Karate Hall of Fame, 2003
Recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award, Sport Karate Museum, 2005
Honored with The Willie Stargell “MVP Award” for community service, 2011
Named to Pittsburgh Magazine “40 under 40” list of influential individuals, 2016

Bill Viola Jr. is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based producer, Amazon bestselling author, and international martial arts champion who experienced the “Golden Era” of MMA firsthand as his father; Bill Sr. is credited as the co-creator of the sport (a decade before the UFC) by the Heinz History Center, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute.

Bill graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and immediately moved to Hollywood, California to gain hands-on experience in the entertainment industry. Subsequently, he earned acceptance into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio (AFTRA) en route to establishing his own production company, Kumite Classic Entertainment in 1999. The company’s signature event, the self-titled “Kumite Classic,” is regarded as the mecca for martial arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company hosts the annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo, regarded as the largest and most established multi-sport convention in Western Pennsylvania attracting sports and entertainment icons such as Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, Antonio Brown, Ice-T, and Royce Gracie over the years.

Viola Jr. established Kumite Quarterly magazine in 2003, serving as publisher and overseeing distribution throughout North America until 2007. The magazine was the official publication of Kumite International, a scholarship foundation (the first of its kind) established by Viola Jr. in partnership with Eckert Seamans Law Firm. Viola Jr. is an accomplished freelance journalist, contracted by such publications as Sport Karate Magazine and Sport Karate Illustrated.

In 2014, Viola Jr. published the critically acclaimed non-fiction book Godfathers of MMA inspired by the life of his father. The book is the subject of the documentary film Tough Guys (2016). Viola Jr. has also served as an independent consultant for number major motion pictures including the mixed martial arts movie Warrior (2011) and as an Associate Producer for the film Tapped Out (2014) starring former UFC champions Lyoto Machida and Anderson “Spider” Silva. In 2016, he co-authored Go Ask Your Dad, an inspirational book about fatherhood which debuted on the Amazon best sellers list. In 2016, Pittsburgh Magazine named him to the prestigious “40 under 40” list recognizing the most influential young leaders in the city.

Viola Jr. was one of the most consistent sport karate competitors in the country recognized as a multiple time United States of America Karate Federation (USAKF) national champion and All American Athlete. In 1998 he was recognized by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a World Champion at The Arnold Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio. “Sensei” Bill is the head coach of “Team Kumite,” an all-star travel team that represents Pittsburgh on a global scale and continues to teach martial arts at the same school his father established in 1969 (Allegheny Shotokan). He is credited with developing the award winning “Norwin Ninjas” curriculum for teaching martial arts and instilling character in children. He is part of a growing Pittsburgh karate legacy that that includes all four of his sisters and now his daughter, Gabriella Capri Viola.