Keith Vitali’s success in the martial arts can be partially credited to his early cross-country and track days in high school and college. Keith started the 1st grade at the age of five in Rome, Italy. After returning to America, Keith entered the third grade at the age of Seven. Growing up in Columbia, SC, Keith was always the youngest and smallest in each grade level with few friends so he found a love in the simple act of running which led to a Track Scholarship at a college in Charleston, South Carolina.
Keith’s track backgroud would soon pay heavy dividends in his future martial arts career.
Keith met his future karate instructor, John Roper while visiting the University of South Carolina over the summer of his first year in college and fell in love with Tae Kwon Do. After viewing that first karate class, Keith dropped his track scholarship and immediately transferred to the University of South Carolina where he could take up the martial arts.
Keith earned his 1st degree Black Belt in just two years and eventually created the University of South Carolina Karate Club becoming its first president, one of the first collegiate martial arts programs in the country in 1975.
After college, Keith moved to Atlanta GA and operated the Joe Corley American Karate Studios as head instructor. Under Joe Corley’s tutelage, Keith excelled in competition on a regional level then nationally and eventually became the Number–One Rated US National Tournament Champion for three-consecutive years. (1978-1980).
Keith won the middle-weight World-Karate Semi-Contact Championship at the Oakland Coliseum and was also rated the number 5 best fighter in the world in full contact karate in the light-weight division.
Keith was inducted into the prestigious Black Belt Hall of Fame as ‘Fighter of the Year’ in 1981 and was voted by his peers as one of the 10-Best Fighters of All-Time according to Black Belt Magazine.
Keith was also elected the first President of the prestigious South Carolina Karate Hall of Fame, arguably the leading state martial arts Hall of Fame in the nation. Keith and its members were given a Senate Proclamation in 2015 for their collective community service.
Keith and is a published author of four instructional karate books. His first book, “Beginning Karate” sold over 30,000 copies and is used as a textbook at the University Of South Carolina. He also authored, “Karate Kicking,” “Winning Karate Techniques,” and “Tournament Fighting.” Keith is the author of a book dealing with bullying issues entitled, “Bullyproof Your Child.”
Keith’s new children’s illustrated book, “Victor Stops the School Bully” is co-authorized by his grandson, Sam who adds his unique 10-year old perspective and dialogue to the characters in the book making it more contemporary.
As a video producer, Keith made national headlines with his video production company, K.V. Video Productions. His kid’s safety video ‘Self Defense for Kids’ made national headlines across the U.S. Keith appeared on the front page of USA Today as well as being featured in every major newspaper in the US. Keith also appeared on Oprah as a guest expert on kid’s safety.
Keith has appeared on 13 covers of national martial arts magazines which led Keith’s first entry in the film world. A Cannon Films producer spotted Keith on the covers of Karate Illustrated Magazine and Kick Magazine and singed him to star with Sho Kosugi in the successful martial arts film, “Revenge of The Ninja”. Next, Keith got the opportunity to co-star with Benny Urquidez and Jackie Chan in “Meals on Wheels” that was a once in-a-life time opportunity which was filmed in Spain.
Keith appeared in two TV episodes of “Nash Bridges” as a villain and had ‘featured fights scenes’ with both “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Joe Hess.
Keith next teamed up with his good friend, writer/producer Keith Strandberg and starred in “No Retreat, No Surrender 3” with Loren Avedon. In Keith’s next film, he stared in and was the associate producer for “Superfights” with his costar, Brandon Gaines. Keith joined forces again with Keith Strandberg and co-produced “Bloodmoon” starring Gary Daniels. Keith’s next film had him doing double duty, staring in and fight coordinator in “American Kickboxer1” with John Barrett and Brad Morris. Keith next film, had him staring as the villain, Godfather in “The Cut Off,” staring Michael DePasquale Jr.
Keith’s has also written a screenplay on the life of Daniel Boone, entitled, “Boone” and hopes to begin the film’s production in Georgia, Spring 2021.