Tough Guys (book)

Last updated
Tough Guys
Author Bill Viola Jr, Dr. Fred Adams [1] [2]
Country United States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Mixed Martial Arts
Published2017
Publisher Kumite Classic Entertainment [3]
Media typePrint, Kindle [4]
Pages447
ISBN 978-0-9961633-0-9

Tough Guys is non-fiction mixed martial arts book inspired by CV Productions Inc., and the Tough Guy Contest. [1] [2] [5] The book was written by Bill Viola Jr., and Dr. Fred Adams and published by Kumite Classic Entertainment in 2017. [6] [7] [8] [9] It was the basis for the 2017 film Tough Guys which made its network television debut on Showtime. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Contents

Background

Tough Guys was originally published under the title Godfathers of MMA (2014). [1] [2] [15] The Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, discovered the book and subsequently established a permanent exhibit to recognize Pittsburgh as the birthplace of modern sport of MMA in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. [3] [16] [17] [18]

New York based MinusL Productions secured the rights to produce a documentary film about the history of MMA and used the book as the basis for the film named Tough Guys co-starring Bill Viola Sr., the author's father. [12] Tough Guys made its world premiere June 15, 2017 at the AFI Docs Film Festival in Washington, D.C. [19] [20]

The book was updated and rebranded as Tough Guys (2017) and published the same day as the network television debut of Tough Guys on Showtime. [2] [21] The re-released commemorative edition peaked at No. 1 on the Amazon individual sports charts September, 2017. [5] [6] [22] [17] [18]

Summary

The book is a noted MMA resource and historical reference for early competition. [5] [23] [24] [25] Tough Guys documents mixed martial arts in the late 1970s-1980s. [26] [27] In 1979, Bill Viola Sr. and Frank Caliguri established CV Productions Inc. and created a new sport that combined martial arts, boxing, wrestling, jujutsu and various forms of combat sports. The “anything goes” Tough Guy Contest [12] [20] [8] introduced regulated mixed martial arts competition to America and launched the first MMA league, later rebranded as “Super Fighters.” [27] [28] [15]

Tough Guys chronicles mixed martial arts a decade before the term became popular or the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was created. [12] [23] [29] It details the Toughman (boxing) vs Tough Guy (MMA) controversy, the death of Ronald Miller and the Tough Guy Law which outlawed mixed martial arts in 1983. [24] [30] Tough Guys documents the sports early history and legal issues with the Pennsylvania State Legislature and Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. [27] [24] It concludes with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania outlawing mixed martial arts. [24] [31]

Related Research Articles

Mixed martial arts Full contact combat sport

Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports and martial arts from around the world. The first documented use of the term mixed martial arts was in a review of UFC 1 by television critic Howard Rosenberg in 1993. The question of who actually coined the term is subject to debate.

Frank Shamrock American mixed martial arts fighter

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John McCarthy (referee) American mixed martial arts referee

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CV Productions, Inc., is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based mixed martial arts company, founded in 1979. It is considered the first MMA based company in the United States and responsible for creating the blueprint for modern mixed martial arts competition. The company promoted the first regulated league of mixed martial arts style competitions beginning in 1980 with the intention of creating a new mainstream sport. The league events pitted combatants from all fighting disciplines including boxers, kick boxers, martial artists, wrestlers, grapplers, and all around “tough guys.” Competitors could win by opponent’s submission, knockout or judges' decision. The competitions were promoted as “Anything Goes - striking, throwing, grappling, punching, kicking, ground fighting, and more.” The shows were immediately dubbed by the media as “Organized, Legalized, Street Fighting,” a phrase coined by KDKA TV's Dave Durian.

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Bill Viola (martial artist) Martial artist

William Viola II is an entrepreneur, martial arts instructor, and mixed martial arts pioneer credited by some as the co-creator of the sport of MMA. In 1979, he co-founded CV Productions, Inc., the first mixed martial arts company in America and the Tough Guy Contest. His life is the subject of the book Godfathers of MMA and the film Tough Guys.

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation MMA Federation

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) was founded on 29 February 2012 as the international governing body for amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Registered as a non-profit organisation under Swedish law, IMMAF serves as a democratic hub for national MMA federations and supports the growth of regulation and sport safety globally by aiding countries in the formation of federations where none exist. IMMAF launched with support of market leader, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The UFC is among promotions sanctioned by federations under the IMMAF umbrella in countries that include Brazil and Sweden.

Bill Viola Jr American martial artist

William “Bill” Viola Jr. is an international martial arts champion, promoter and author. He is the producer and founder of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based Kumite Classic.

Kumite Classic Entertainment American sports production company

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.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 632, often referred to as the Tough Guy Law, became a legislative act that outlawed the sport of mixed martial arts. The Tough Guy Law was the first legal precedent for MMA in the United States, approved November 3, 1983.

The Tough Guy Contest, founded in 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by CV Productions, Inc., introduced regulated mixed martial arts competition in the United States and established the first MMA league.

Allegheny Shotokan Karate is a Western Pennsylvania-based martial arts school established in 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The dojo was founded by Bill Viola Sr., who the Heinz History Center references as a co-creator of the modern sport of mixed martial arts. The school is currently located in Irwin, Pennsylvania, North Huntingdon Township and operates under the name "Viola Karate."

Mixed martial arts in the United States

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the United States.

Tough Guys is a 2017 documentary film that explores the development of mixed martial arts as a mainstream sporting event in the United States from 1979-1983. The principal characters are Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri, who founded CV Productions together. The film made its debut at the AFI Film Festival of 2017. Its first network television showing premiered on Showtime, September 15, 2017. Filming took place at 18 locations throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida including Allegheny Shotokan Karate and Denny's restaurant.

Suphisara Konlak, best known professionally as Loma Lookboonmee, is a Thai martial artist who has competed in Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts. In boxing she has fought under the names Kanda Por Muangpetch and Kanda Kokietgym. She is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, being the first Thai fighter to sign with the organization.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "40 Under 40: 2016". October 19, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Guth, Jonathan. "'Tough Guys' book an inspiring read". heraldstandard.com.
  3. 1 2 Madarasz, Anne. "Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum". journals.psu.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  4. ↑ "Amazon listing". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  5. 1 2 3 Trombola, Nick. Martial arts master. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (September 27, 2019).
  6. 1 2 "Forging a Path for Half a Century". Black Belt Magazine. September 12, 2019.
  7. ↑ Bowen, Jessie.(2017). Who’s Who in the Martial Arts. Elite Publication. ISBN 9871974413218
  8. 1 2 "Alumni Updates: Winter 2018". Pitt Magazine.
  9. ↑ "/ccpa/". TribLIVE.com.
  10. ↑ "Showtime's 'Tough Guys' documentary explores MMA's early roots in 1980s Pittsburgh". September 13, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Tough Guys". June 15, 2017 – via IMDb.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Chiappetta, Mike (September 15, 2017). "'Tough Guys' documentary sheds welcome light on forgotten MMA tourney that pre-dates UFC 1". MMA Fighting.
  13. ↑ Guerry, Matthew. Book Review: “Godfathers of MMA” WHIRL Magazine. (8/24/2016)
  14. ↑ "/ccpa/". TribLIVE.com.
  15. 1 2 "How Pennsylvania's Tough Guy Contest Gave Birth to Modern Day MMA". June 16, 2020.
  16. ↑ Golden Gloves. Senator John Heinz History Center
  17. 1 2 "City Council meeting minutes" (PDF). www.alleghenycounty.us. 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  18. 1 2 "WHIRL Magazine: December 2017". Issuu.
  19. ↑ Page-Kirby, Kristen. "AFI Docs is your ticket to 3 world-premiere films" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  20. 1 2 McNary, Dave (June 13, 2017). "Morgan Spurlock to Exec Produce MMA Origins Documentary 'Tough Guys' (EXCLUSIVE)".
  21. ↑ "Showtime documentary proves Pittsburgh-area early mixed martial arts fighters were 'Tough Guys'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  22. ↑ "Tough Guys MMA Book reaches #1 on Amazon best sellers list". September 19, 2017.
  23. 1 2 "From Pittsburgh roots, MMA, UFC have grown to staggering heights". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Two Pittsburgh Tough Guys Made MMA Safe for Everyone But Themselves". MEL Magazine. May 14, 2019.
  25. ↑ "The Early Years of MMA Were a 'No-Holds-Barred Freakshow' That Couldn't Be More Different From…". MEL Magazine. July 7, 2018.
  26. ↑ "The Zuffa myth and UFC auteur theory". ESPN.com. August 24, 2010.
  27. 1 2 3 Nash, John S. (May 23, 2012). "Before Fighting Was Ultimate It Was Super". Bloody Elbow.
  28. ↑ Blinebury, Fran. "No Holds Barred as the Super Brawlers Take Over the Civic Center." Philadelphia Journal: Jun 13, 1980, 27.
  29. ↑ Gross, Josh. Ali vs Inoki - The Forgotten Fight that Inspired MMA ISBN   9781942952190
  30. ↑ Benagh, Jim (May 18, 1981). "Toughman Boxing Brings Controversy (Published 1981)" – via NYTimes.com.
  31. ↑ "MMA's Forgotten Forefathers" (PDF). toughguycontest.com. 2013. Retrieved 2020-12-01.

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