Kumite Classic Entertainment
TypePrivate
IndustrySports, fitness, martial arts
Founded1999[1][2]
FounderBill Viola Jr[1][2]
HeadquartersPittsburgh, PA[3]
SubsidiariesAllegheny Shotokan Karate[4]
Websitekumiteclassic.com

Kumite Classic Entertainment (KCE) is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based sports production company. It was established in 1999 by Bill Viola Jr. KCE specializes in fitness, martial arts, and multi-sport competitions.[1][2]

The Kumite Classic

“Kumite” is a Japanese word referring to “fighting.”[5] The company's self-titled “Kumite Classic” is an annual series of combat sports tournaments, widely regarded as the mecca of martial arts in the Pittsburgh region.[2][6][7]

The Kumite Classic has traditionally featured strongman, powerlifting, body building, fitness, figure, and model competitions.[1][2] The Kumite Classic showcases traditional and open karate, tae kwon do, tang soo do, kung fu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling tournaments.[8][3]

Notable martial arts and sports celebrities including Royce Gracie, Franco Harris, Antonio Brown, Lynn Swan, Ice-T and Kurt Angle have appeared at the Kumite Classic.[9][6][10][11] Angle's “Ultimate Teen Challenge,” a strength competition, was launched at the 2005 Kumite Classic and has also expanded to the Arnold Sports Festival.[12][13][14]

Kumite Classic Entertainment took ownership of Allegheny Shotokan Karate in 2016.[15]

Pittsburgh Fitness Expo

Kumite Classic hosts the annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo, a full scale consumer convention that promotes health and wellness in the Western Pennsylvania region. The expo is held at the Monroeville Convention Center over Memorial Day Weekend.[1][2][8][3][16]

Publishing

In 2013, the company established Kumite Classic Press and released Godfathers of MMA, a mixed martial arts non-fiction book inspired by the life of Bill Viola Sr. and the rise and fall of CV Productions and the Tough Guy Contest.[6][17] The book is the subject of the documentary film Tough Guys (2017) produced by MinusL Inc.[18][19][20]

Kumite Classic published a commemorative edition of Godfather's of MMA retitled Tough Guys (2017) which peaked at #1 on the Amazon best sellers list in the individual sports category. The launch was synchronized with the network television debut of Tough Guys on Showtime.[21][22][23][24]

Published works

  • Viola Jr., Bill (2014). Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of an American Sport. Kumite Classic Entertainment.ISBN 978-0-9961633-0-9[25]
  • Viola Jr., Bill (2016). Go Ask Your Dad: Questions, Answers, and Stories about Fathers, Fatherhood, and Being a Parent (Volume 1). Kumite Classic Entertainment. ISBN 978-0996163316[26]
  • Viola Jr., Bill (2017). Tough Guys. Kumite Classic Entertainment. ISBN 978-0-9961633-3-0[27]
  • Viola Jr., Bill (2020). CommonSensei: Sensei Says. Kumite Classic Entertainment. ISBN 978-0-9961633-4-7[28]
  • Viola Jr., Bill (2020). CommonSensei: Goal Pagoda. Kumite Classic Entertainment. ISBN 978-0-9961633-5-4[29]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Schrecengost, Dave “Kumite Classic event is back in Monroeville”. Pittsburgh Tribune Review, May 23, 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kelly, Jack (April 16, 2007). “Festival puts emphasis on physical fitness”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kumite Classic Expo, Pittsburgh PA Memorial Day WeekendKumite Classic". Kumiteclassic.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  4. ↑ Staff. Forging a Path for Half a Century. Black Belt Magazine. (September 12, 2019).
  5. ↑ Schofield, Melissa (November 1, 2000). “Former karate champion makes transition to music video”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p. E5.
  6. 1 2 3 Love, Mike (May 20, 2012). “Fitness and martial-arts enthusiasts pack Monroeville Convention Center for Kumite Classic”. Tribune-Review.
  7. ↑ Cloonan, Patrick (May 25, 2005). “North Huntingdon Twp. Promoter heads Pittsburgh Sports and Fitness Festival”. The Daily News, p. 11.
  8. 1 2 Love, Michael (May 19, 2015). “Pittsburgh Fitness Expo returning to Monroeville”. Tribune-Review.
  9. ↑ Cartey, Richard (November 2012). “Tough guy Contest: The Real Beginnings of MMA in America”. Fighters Only.3: 72.
  10. ↑ "About the producer of Pittsburgh Fitness Expo: Bill Viola Jr". Pittsburghfitnessexpo.com. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  11. ↑ "2012 Kumite Classic | Sports | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Photos". Photos.triblive.com. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  12. ↑ KurtAngleBrand. "The Ultimate Teen Challenge". Kurtanglebrand.com. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  13. ↑ "The Ultimate Teen Challenge". The Ultimate Teen Challenge. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  14. ↑ "2015 Arnold Sports Festival schedule, map | The Columbus Dispatch". Dispatch.com. 2015-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  15. ↑ Bowen, Jessie.(2017). Who’s Who in the Martial Arts. Elite Publication. ISBN 978-13-87161-53-9
  16. ↑ "15th Annual Pittsburgh Fitness Expo". Guidetogoodhealth.com. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  17. ↑ MMA Latest. "A Review of Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of An American Sport | MMA Latest - Bringing you worldwide MMA news". Mmalatestnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  18. ↑ Kanew, Jeff (1986-10-03), Tough Guys, retrieved 2016-02-24
  19. ↑ Steele, Jerin (2015-09-13). "Before MMA, Tough Guys wowed fans in A-K Valley, throughout state". TribLIVE. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  20. ↑ Pickels, Mary (February 8, 2015). “Martial arts are a family affair”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B3.
  21. ↑ "Showtime's 'Tough Guys' documentary explores MMA's early roots in 1980s Pittsburgh". September 13, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Tough Guys MMA Book reaches #1 on Amazon best sellers list". September 19, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Two Pittsburgh Tough Guys Made MMA Safe for Everyone But Themselves". MEL Magazine. May 14, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Showtime documentary proves Pittsburgh-area early mixed martial arts fighters were 'Tough Guys'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  25. ↑ Viola, Bill Jr.; Adams, Fred (November 5, 2014). Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of an American Sport. CV Productions. ISBN 9780996163309 – via Google Books.
  26. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-03-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ↑ Viola, Bill Jr. (August 22, 2017). Tough Guys. CV Productions. ISBN 9780996163323 – via Google Books.
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-03-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ↑ Viola, Bill Jr. (July 28, 2020). CommonSensei: Goal Pagoda. Kumite Classic Entertainment. ISBN 9780996163354 – via Google Books.
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