I’ll Be Back…

Pittsburgh martial artist Bill Viola Jr. teams up with Arnold Schwarzenegger—again!

From left to right: Bill Viola Jr., Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cameron Klos. Photo by Jenn Viola.

It took nearly 30 years, but Pittsburgh martial arts promoter Bill Viola Jr. recently reunited with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Arnold Sports Festival that took place in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 29–March 3. The festival featured more than 20,000 athletes from 80+ nations in world-class competitions. Over the past three decades, the Arnold Sports Festival has evolved into the world’s largest multi-sport competition and expo. Pittsburgh native Sensei Bill Viola Jr. has been there since martial arts was introduced in the 1990s, and this year things came full circle.

Viola was a director for combat sports at this year’s festival, overseeing some of the top sport karate athletes in America. A group from his Pittsburgh dojo traveled to compete, including his son (Will) and daughter (Gabby) who both took top honors in their divisions. However, it was a 22-year-old alum of Norwin High School who stole the show. Cameron Klos, one of Viola’s most promising black belts, was able to win the Overall Grand Championship in kata (forms) and kumite (sparring), a feat that earned him a one-on-one live performance just for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Klos says, “I never dreamed that Arnold would be my personal judge. The entire place stopped, and all eyes and cameras were on me. It was surreal.” Arnold called Cameron, “A true champion and inspiration to youth.”

I never dreamed that Arnold would be my personal judge. The entire place stopped, and all eyes and cameras were on me. It was surreal.” Arnold called Cameron, “A true champion and inspiration to youth.”

It was déjà vu for Sensei Bill who had the same encounter with Arnold over 25 years ago. In 1998, Viola first met Arnold Schwarzenegger after the Allegheny Shotokan Karate competition team was honored as #1 in the United States. His team performed on the Veterans Memorial stage in Columbus, Ohio, for Schwarzenegger.

Backstage, Viola expressed his dream to bring a similar concept to Pittsburgh, and Arnold encouraged him to create his own production company, Kumite Classic Entertainment, in 1999. Viola writes about this experience in his bestselling book “CommonSensei,” a life skills memoir he wrote last year.

Over the last two decades, Viola’s Kumite Classic and Pittsburgh Fitness Expo would become the largest multisport convention in Western Pennsylvania, hosting 100,000 square feet of action sports at the Monroeville Expo Mart, Monroeville Convention Center, and the Downtown Hilton (now Wyndham Grand). The Kumite became the mecca for martial arts with a “who’s who” guest list of Olympians and professional athletes, showcasing everyone from Lynn Swann and Franco Harris to Kurt Angle and Royce Gracie.

Viola was recently appointed chairman of WAKO USA Tatami (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) and is currently in negotiations to bring USA Kickboxing to the Arnold Sports Festival in 2025. It is the only U.S. organization in the sport of kickboxing to have International Olympic Committee and American Olympic Committee recognition. The athletes compete at the highest of levels, qualifying in national championship tournaments to earn their spots on the team to compete internationally at the Pan-American Championships, World Games and the World Combat Games. WAKO USA serves as the gateway to the Olympics.

Schwarzenegger and Viola in 1998. Photo by Jenn Viola.