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Nicholas Raymond Cerio was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 9, 1936 and died on October 7, 1998.

In 1989 he was given the title of professor by the World Council of Sokes.^[1] He founded a branch of kenpo known as Nick Cerio’s Kenpo which he built up to an organization of more than 65 schools in the United States, Canada, Europe and South Africa.^[1]

Contents 1 Martial Arts Training and Lineage 1.1 Early Training 1.1.1 William Kwai Sun Chow 1.1.2 Edmund Parker 1.1.3 Hakkoryu Jiujutsu 1.1.4 Tadashi Yamashita 1.1.5 Gan Fong Chin 1.2 Nick Cerio’s Kenpo 1.3 Influence 2 Sources 3 Footnotes

[edit] Martial Arts Training and Lineage

[edit] Early Training

Cerio grew up in Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island and became interested in boxing as a teenager.

Cerio began martial arts training under George McCabe after being exposed to judo in the Air Force. In 1961 Cerio worked with Ted Olson in Tae Kwon Do. Cerio spoke highly of Olson and was sorry when Olsen stopped teaching for personal reasons.^[2] He then studied Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu under George Pesare and received his first black belt from him in 1966.^{[citation needed]} Cerio opened his first martial arts school, Cerio’s Academy of Martial Arts. Through his participation in karate tournaments he came in contact with Edmund Parker. Through Parker, Cerio requested to study under William Kwai Sun Chow of Hawaii.

[edit] William Kwai Sun Chow

Cerio met with William Chun, Sr. (Chow’s senior student). Cerio was granted permission to study with Chow. Cerio visited Hawaii for two weeks to live and study with Chow. Chow awarded Cerio a 5th degree black belt in Cerio's Kenpo in 1970.^{[citation needed]} Cerio often commented this periods influence on him. ^[3]

[edit] Edmund Parker

Cerio considered Ed Parker his senior, mentor and coach but did not actually enter into training under him:

“Ed Parker was never my instructor, but more like my coach. He was my senior because we came from the same kenpo family. I used a lot of Ed Parker’s ideas in my system.”(Liedke, Inside Kung-Fu)

Cerio never learned all of the curricula of Parker’s American Kenpo, however he was awarded a 3rd degree black belt (Sandan) by Parker.^{[citation needed]} Parker awarded Cerio a 9th degree black belt (Kudan) in Kenpo Karate in 1983.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Hakkoryu Jiujutsu

During the late 1960s Cerio studied Hakkoryu Jiujutsu, first receiving his brown belt in 1968 from James Benko and later received his 1st black belt (Shodan) from Larry Garron.^[2]

[edit] Tadashi Yamashita

Cerio studied Okinawan weapons and self-defense under Tadashi Yamashita, ^[4] who in 1970 awarded him a 4th black belt (Yondan) and in 1973, a 5th black belt (Godan).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Gan Fong Chin

Cerio studied Sil Lum kung fu under Gan Fong Chin during the early 1970s and Chin awarded him an 8th black belt (Hachidan) and title of Sifu in August 1973.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Nick Cerio’s Kenpo

Cerio modifed what he had learned from Chow and added many things from judo, jiujutsu, boxing and kung fu. He added many kata to his system, both open-hand and weapon. Cerio incorporated Shotokan and Kyokushinkai forms into his system. He felt their strong stances and transitions were missing from the kenpo forms developed by Edmund Parker.(Breen)

[edit] Influence

Cerio can be credited with both expanding and helping to popularize kenpo in the United States, most specifically on the east coast. His focus on the art rather than capitalizing on the commercial opportunities was in keeping with Chow’s attitude. Cerio once stated that “I shall close my doors rather than sell my soul.” (Leidke, TaeKwonDo Times). He was the instructor of Fred Villari who founded the system of Shaolin Kempo Karate.

[edit] Sources

• John Corcoran, Emil Farkas, Martial Arts Traditions, History, People, W.H. Smith, 1981. LCC 82-11940
• Nick Cerio, Nancy Cerio. Nick Cerio's Kenpo, Library of Congress catalog card no. TX 1-401-371, 1984, second printing 1998[1][2]
• Klouvatos, George. "Nick Cerio's Kenpo The Man and His Style" Oriental Fighting Arts, April 1975: 24-31
• Breen, Andrew. "Professor Nick Cerio, Evolution Of A Kenpo Master" Inside Kung Fu, July 1997: 40-45, 102-103
• Liedke, Bob. "Nick Cerio, Kenpo's Forgotten Leader" Inside Kung Fu, October 1989: 43-46
• Liedke, Bob. "Portrait of a Kenpo Master Instructor Profile Interview" TaeKwonDo Times, November 1987: 54-57

[edit] Footnotes