Tag Archives: nbl

Kumite Classic

The Kumite Classic is Pittsburgh’s most prestigious open martial arts championships featuring the very best in sport karate, grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.  Sign up for Karate or  Sign up for Grappling/BJJ

Action shots from the 2013 Kumite Classic – Pittsburgh, PA.  Billy Leader executes a double leg take down sweep in the traditional karate division at the tournament.  visit http://www.joekleon.com/fastexpo013/2013fastexpo.html for more photos.

The City of Champions

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Team Kumite represents Pittsburgh Karate and Martial Arts nationwide at NBL National Black Belt League tournaments, competitions and championships. The team is based in Irwin / North Huntingdon, PA and coached by Bill Viola.

2013 Team Kumite NBL Schedule:

Tecumseh Conference:

Kumite Classic:  May 24-25th  Contact:  Bill Viola

North American Intl’s:  Sept.13-14 2013  Contact:  Connell Loveless

Spooktacular:  Oct.19th 2013  Contact:  Christine Fisher

Can-Am Conference: 

SMAC:  March 8-9th 2013   Contact:  Ron Cain

Grand Slam:  April 19-20th 2013   Contact:  Jeff Doss

Kumite Classic:  May 24-25th 2013   Contact:  Bill Viola

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Team Kumite is a Pittsburgh karate tradition.

NBL Player of the Year

Pittsburgh Martial Artist and Team Kumite Classic member Billy Leader receives the 2012 NBL Diamond Award Winner for Sport Karate “Player of the Year”

The 23rd Sport Karate World Games known internationally as the “Super Grands” was held 26th-31st in Buffalo New York. The tournament is sanctioned by the National Black Belt League (NBL) and Sport Karate International (SKIL) which are responsible for the largest sport karate ranking system and league for black belts in the world. The competition is the equivalent of the Super Bowl for martial arts with thousands of world class competitors representing North America, South America, and Europe each year at the Games. The competitor must compete at a series of regional and national events to earn a seed and qualify for the competition, a process similar to NCAA tournaments that is required to secure an invitation.


At the closing ceremonies of the World Games, the NBL Executive Office votes on a series of Hall of Fame categories that represent the entire league. For the first time in Pittsburgh history, a local resident was honored with the NBL Diamond “Player Award” The 21-year-old Billy Leader of North Huntingdon Township was inducted into the NBL Hall of Fame on December 31st 2012 and honored with this prestigious title. Leader’s coach Sensei Bill Viola Jr explains, “It is a special honor, an award for his entire body of work as a competitor. He was in contention with thousands of international competitors worldwide. This is huge, it puts Pittsburgh on the map when it comes to sport karate.” The Norwin Graduate and Penn State Junior has studied martial arts since he was three years old at the Allegheny Shotokan Karate School in atoledo Irwin, PA.
Allegheny Shotokan was founded in 1969 and since has produced more World Champions than any other school in the Pittsburgh region. They school as a rich tradition of representing Pennsylvania and the United States at the World Games dating back to the establishment of the league. Serving as captain of the Pittsburgh based all-star Team Kumite Classic, Leader defeated Andres Garcia of Guatemala (the reigning 6-time World Champion) in the Men’s Light Middleweight Continuous Sparring division en route to an appearance on the main stage for the finals. His brother, 19-year-old Dominic Leader, also advanced to the finals to face Hugo Mendoza of Mexico. Leader’s teammate also includes 20-year old Ali Viola who claimed her 4th continuous sparring World Title by defeating the top international competitors from Canada, Guatemala and Mexico in the finals. Viola had previously become the first female form Pittsburgh to win a World Title in 2006, 2008, and 2009 before winning the Adult title this year.
The Team Kumite Classic Roster also includes a trio of sisters; 14-year-old Bridget Chase, 13-year-old Hope Chase, 11-year old Bess Chase all of Imperial, PA and 17-year-old Connor Burns of North Huntingdon who was inactive due to a torn ACL two weeks prior to the tournament. All of the athletes compete in Black Belt Continuous Sparring, a hybrid of kickboxing which requires high levels of endurance and physical toughness.  Coach Viola was very proud of his team stating, “In all, we qualified six black belts who attended the World Games, and all six placed top three in the World. Its an incredible winning percentage, especially when you consider that our school is the only one in the Pittsburgh area to bring home a World Title. They are a special group of students and Billy [Leader] works harder than any other student I have ever had. Winning player of the year is well deserved.” Congrats Billy.

To see Billy or any of the Team Kumite members in action, mark your calendar for the 2013 Kumite Classic Karate Tournament in Pittsburgh at the Monroeville Convention Center May 24th-25th.

Kumite Classic NBL Sport Karate

The world’s best martial artists visit Pittsburgh! The Kumite Classic is the cities largest karate tournament.  The championship is proud to be apart of the NBL National Black Belt League Can-Am National Conference. The NBL is the worlds largest league of sport karate tournaments with a ranking system for black belts.  The 2013 schedule includes:

SMAC Internationals   March 8-9th      Ron & Diane Cain

Grand Slam Open         April 19-20th     Jeff Doss

Kumite Classic               May 24-25th      Bill Viola

Survivor                         July 26th-27th    Corky Sikes

 

Karate Tournament

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The 14th Annual Kumite Classic is an international martial arts championship known as the mecca for sport karate in the Pittsburgh region. The annual karate tournament is open to all schools and styles including tae kwon do, karate, tae kwon do, kung fu and american systems of martial arts. The competition has Japanese, Korean and Chinese styles forms divisions as well as creative and contemporary categories to create a diverse atmosphere and a fair open competition. Sign up for point sparring, continuous sparring, traditional forms or kata, weapons, self-defense, breaking, grappling and brazilian jiu-jitsu. The best of the best from Pittsburgh and around the world compete each Memorial Day Weekend.

The Karate tournament is promoted by Bill Viola Jr. and is  sanctioned by Boice Lydell’s NBL National Black Belt League & SKIL Sport Karate International and by Frank Caliguri’s PKRA Pennsylvania Karate Rating Association.

 

Hines Ward Show

hines ward kumite classic

Kumite Classic champions represent Pittsburgh Karate on the Hines Ward Show. WPXI host Alby Oxenreiter, Brett Keisel and Hines were on hand for the program that features Positive Athletes in Pittsburgh. Connor Burns, NBL World Champion Dominic Leader, and Coach Bill Viola all represented sport karate and martial arts. Hines was able to learn some karate on air, and warned the Baltimore Ravens to watch out!

Hines Ward demonstrates his best front snap kick and kiai!

Here”s a clip from behind the scenes on the Hines Ward show on youtube:

 

The demonstration included Hines learning to retrodbonus block a roundhouse kick and counter with a reverse punch. Connor Burns was interviewed by Hines for his community service and taking time out to mentor younger kids. He emphasized self-discipline and the confidence that karate instills. Team Kumite sported the custom kumite classic black & yellow all star gear gloves. Yeah, Champions bleed black & gold! The team is based in North Huntington Irwin, PA. Dominic Leader was the first recipient of the Western PA Positive Athlete award for martial arts last year and continues the tradition of team kumite with the program!

From dancing with the stars, football and even karate, Hines ward is a true sport and great role model! Visit his website http://www.positiveathlete.org/

Kumite Classic

kumite classic

The 2013 Kumite Classic is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend Pittsburgh, PA at the Monroeville Convention Center.  The Kumite Classic, is one of the most diverse martial arts and fitness expos in the United States.  The annual show based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hosts a full scale consumer expo surrounded by multiple championships and competitions that run simultaneously including sports such as; sport karate, natural bodybuilding, power lifting, strongman, Olympic weight lifting, dance, cheer, arm wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, physical fitness challenges etc. The event also hosts concerts, talent showcases, model pageants, bikini pageants, and fitness pageants. The high energy atmosphere has created a unique fan base of sports and fitness enthusiasts. Promoter and Director is Bill Viola.

In May of 2005 Kumite Classic partnered with former Mr. World Dave Hawk and Olympic Champion/Professional Wrestler Kurt Angle to host the Ultimate Teen Challenge in Pittsburgh. The event has become an annual feature at the Kumite Classic.

On May 30th 2010 the Kumite Classic collaborated with CV Production Inc. to host “Caged Kumite,” a pro-am mixed martial arts promotion.

On May 28th 2011 Kumite Classic partnered with former NFL Professional player Franco Harris to host The World Teen Football Combine.  Jeannette High School standout Demetrious Cox won the first annual competition.

In 2010 Kumite Classic Entertainment launched the Fitness And Sports Tour (The FAST Expo), a campaign that features the consumer expo and emphasizes the importance of living a healthy active lifestyle.

December 16th 2010, Kumite Classic promoter Bill Viola, was honored at the 35th Annual Willie Stargell Memorial Banquet with “Pittsburgh M.V.P. Award” for his work within the fitness and Martial Arts industry.  The Kumite Classic is an NBL National Black Belt League Can-Am conference tournament, a qualifier for the NBL Super Grands World Games.

The 2013 Kumite Classic is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend at the Monroeville Convention Center.