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Proclamation congratulating Allegheny Shotokan Karate upon the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
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WHEREAS, founded in 1969 at East Allegheny High School by Bill Viola, Sr., Allegheny Shotokan Karate, or Viola Karate as it is more commonly known, is celebrating its 50th anniversary of martial arts in Allegheny County and western Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, the family-owned and operated dojo has had three generations of Violas to carry on the legacy that Bill Viola, Sr. created; and at the age of 71, he still teaches a black belt class every Monday; and
WHEREAS, a decade before the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Shihan Bill Viola was recognized by the Senator John Heinz History Center in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution as the co-creator of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA); and
WHEREAS, in 2011, the Western PA Sports Museum established a permanent exhibit to honor Shihan Bill Viola as one of the founding fathers of the sport; his life was subject of the Amazon #1 selling book Godfathers of MMA which inspired the documentary film Tough Guys; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Viola family story was published in the book, Who’s Who in the Martial Arts-Legends of American Karate; and
WHEREAS, over the years, Shihan Bill Viola has utilized his karate school to instill important lessons in his students: respect, discipline, focus and confidence;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Allegheny County Council Member Bob Macey, do hereby honor and congratulate Allegheny Shotokan Karate upon the occasion of its 50th Anniversary, and I thank them for not only serving our communities but using its notoriety as an internationally-known and recognized martial arts school to further benefit charities in our community for generations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto caused the Seal of the County of Allegheny to be affixed this 24th day of September 2019.