About the Author:

"Sensei" Bill Viola Jr. is a bestselling author, producer, and creator of the CommonSensei® self-help book series. His innovative trademarks include the award-winning Sensei Says® life skills curriculum and Black Belt in Life® personal growth courses.  He is a former USA Karate National Champion (All-American) and 1998 World Champion martial artist.  As an internationally renowned coach and promoter, he’s worked with Olympians and professional athletes across a spectrum of sports. 

He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999 with a B.A. in Political Science. After college he moved to Studio City, California to break into the entertainment business and earned acceptance into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio (AFTRA).  The “Hollywood” experience inspired him to establish his own production company, Kumite Classic Entertainment.  His signature “Kumite” brand has been synonymous with martial arts and fitness excellence for over twenty years.

As a combat sports historian, he helped establish the “Birth of MMA” exhibit (2011) at Heinz History Center, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute.  Kumite Classic published his critically acclaimed Godfathers of MMA (2014), a passion project chronicling his father’s [Bill Viola Sr.] journey as the co-founder of mixed martial arts a decade before the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).  It peaked at #1 on Amazon sports charts with its commemorative re-release (2017). Viola’s book was inspiration for the SHOWTIME documentary film Tough Guys (2017) where he served as an associate producer on the project alongside a star-studded lineup of executive producers including Academy Award Nominated Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me) and Oscar winning writer Ross Kaufmann (Born in Brothels). Viola a made a cameo (playing a 1970s version of his father) in the film, and is currently developing a screenplay for a major motion picture adaptation of Tough Guys.

Viola was the recipient of the 2011 “Willie Stargell Pittsburgh MVP Award” for community service and honored in Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 under 40” class of 2016.  His philanthropy includes establishing the first collegiate scholarship organization for karate champions (1999) and founding the popular “KICK 5K” kick-a-thon for Parkinson’s disease research. He also serves alongside his daughter as an advocate for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.                

He is currently president of Kumite Classic and owner of Allegheny Shotokan Karate, the gold standard for martial arts in Western Pennsylvania. On September 23rd 2019, Pittsburgh City Council proclaimed “Sensei Viola Day” for the region to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the dojo.  The school, founded by his father in 1969, is led by three generations of Viola black belts who carry on tradition, a legacy that includes Viola’s son (William IV) and daughter (Gabby).

More info: 724.640.2111 | bill@kumiteclassic.com | www.billviolajr.com