Our Story
Vizzio’s Martial Arts and NJ Fu-Jow Pai is a family-run martial arts school, built on generations of discipline, tradition, and respect. Serving northern NJ for over 50 years, the Vizzio name has stood for authentic Kung-Fu training, high standards, and the belief that martial arts is not just something you do, it’s a way of life.
What makes Vizzio’s Martial Arts unique is not just its history, but the people who carry it forward.
The owners of the Pompton Lakes, NJ location (Kitti Vizzio and Johnny) are proud to share their story with the community.
Our story begins over 50 years ago with Sifu Vizzio, who’s journey into martial arts started in Chinatown, New York. There, he trained under world-renowned Grandmaster Wai Hong in Fu-Jow Pai (Tiger Claw) Kung-Fu, learning not only the physical demands of the art, but the deep philosophy behind it, including discipline, humility, and respect.
As his skill and reputation grew, Sifu Vizzio went on to become the undisputed kickboxing champion of the world, earning an extraordinary 17 world title belts across five different weight divisions. Despite his success in the ring, his true passion was always teaching. He opened a school in Union City, NJ with the goal of creating a place where students would be trained properly- physically, mentally, and morally.
From the very beginning, his school was known for its high standards. Training was rigorous, expectations were clear, and shortcuts were never allowed. Students didn’t just learn how to defend themselves, they learned accountability, perseverance, and respect for themselves and others, building a strong sense of community. For Mr. Vizzio, Kung-Fu was never just a hobby, it was and still is a way of life.
The Foundation: Sifu Vizzio
A Family of Martial Artists
Kung-Fu shaped our entire family.
Sifu Vizzio raised 4 children inside the school, and all 4 trained in Kung-Fu from as young as 2 years old. Training was not optional, it was a part of everyday life. The lessons learned on the mat carried into everything else: discipline, resilience, humility and leadership.
As the family grew, the legacy continued into the next generation. The eldest of Sifu Vizzio’s children (Peaches Vizzio) went on to open a Vizzio’s Martial Arts school in Fairfield, NJ nearly 20 years ago, helping expand the family’s presence while maintaining the same traditional values and standards, still open today.
Today, the legacy extends even further. All of Sifu Vizzio’s grandchildren are also students of Kung-Fu, continuing the tradition of training, discipline, and respect that has defined the Vizzio family for generations.
This shared upbringing created a rare continuity, one where tradition is not retold, but lived.
Our Story: Continuing the Legacy in Pompton Lakes
Kung-Fu is also how we found each other.
We met through training, bonded by the discipline and commitment required to succeed on the mat. Training side by side we built a partnership rooted in discipline, respect, and a shared commitment to the art. One of us grew up training from the age of 3, accumulating over 30 years of experience under Mr. Vizzio’s direct instruction. The other trained under both Mr. Vizzio and Peaches Vizzio for nearly 20 years, earning rank through consistency, humility, and dedication, even earning the reputable Vizzio’s Hall of Fame award in 2011.
Today, we are not only instructors and school owners, we are parents. We have two young children who are both already on the mat, learning the same foundational lessons of discipline, respect and confidence that were passed down to us. Kung-Fu is not something we turn on and off; it’s a part of how we raise our family.
We live right here in Pompton Lakes and are proud to be active members of the community. Beyond the Kung-Fu school, we participate in local sports and recreation programs for our son, volunteer our time as coaches and at Lenox Elementary school, and are active parishioners of St. Mary’s church. Being present, involved, and invested in our town is important to us, both as parents and as martial artists.
Opening our own Vizzio’s Martial Arts location in Pompton Lakes, NJ is both an honor and a responsibility. This school represents the next chapter of a family legacy built over 50 years ago- one we are proud to carry forward while building something deeply rooted in the community we call home.
Our Pompton Lakes martial arts school offers traditional Tiger Claw Kung-Fu, Kickboxing, Fitness Training and Yoga for children, teens, and adults throughout Pompton Lakes and surrounding communities. We teach with the same high standards that built the Vizzio name, while creating a welcoming, family-oriented environment where students can grow with confidence.
