Nick Cerio (NCK)
Nicholas Raymond Cerio was born in Boston on July 9th, 1936. At a young age he started training at the YMCA learning boxing and fighting in the lightweight boxing division. At the age of 22 Cerio began studying Judo under George McCabe after being discharged from the Airforce , But was looking for something more combat based. Cerio met Ted Olson, and began studying Tae Kwon Do and As Cerio was training in Tae Kwon Do, George Pesare Happened to be teaching Karazenpo Goshinjutsu at the same place. Cerio asked to become a student and was accepted and was awarded his Shodan in Kenpo in 1966. That year Professor Cerio opened his first school, Cerio’s Academy of Martial Arts.
He spent much of his time on the tournament circuit, and there he would meet Ed Parker, the founder of American Kenpo, and would become a lifelong friend. Ed Parker introduced Cerio to William Chun Sr., Professor William K.S. Chow’s most accomplished student. After a year of training with Chun in Hawaii, Cerio was granted the privilege to train directly under Professor Chow. Professor Chow awarded Cerio with his 5th dan, And In 1989 Cerio was awarded his "Professor" title by the World Soke Council for his This review deemed him worthy of status above the Dan ranking system and gave him the power to carry on his system with whatever rank he deemed appropriate.
When Nick Cerio began as an instructor, he taught only twelve combinations, and three forms – these were Kata 1, 2, and 3 Within the year, he began to put the rest of his style together The result of this was what we now call Kata numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and an additional fourteen punch defenses for a total of twenty-six. Later, he also incorporated variations of Shotokan forms into his system. He felt their strong stances and transitions were missing from the kenpo forms that he had been taught.
These later became known as Pinan #1
through Pinan #7. Pinan #1 and Pinan
#2 were modified versions of Kyokushin –
Kai Taikyoku #1 and Heian #4, and
Heian #5, and named them Pinan #3, #4,
and #5.
The original Pinans would go through some revisions. The original Pinan #2 which emphasized “power
striking” movement was essentially lost in 1969, and was replaced by a Pinan which contained multiple rising blocks, and identical footwork as in Pinan #1
I have heard some people say that Nick Cerio trained under Ed Parker but this is not the case. In Cerios own words he explains this.
From Inside Kung-Fu magazine
Cerio : Ed Parker was my senior, mentor and coach because he offered great insight and he was a great resource in contributing to the formation of Nick Cerio's Kenpo
“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.”
During the late 1960s Cerio studied Hakkoryu Jujutsu, first receiving his brown belt in 1968 from James Benko and later received his 1st black belt (Shodan) from Larry Garron.
Cerio studied Okinawan weapons and self-defense under Tadashi Yamashita, who in 1970 awarded him a 4th black belt (Yondan) and in 1973, a 5th black belt (Godan).
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
Cerio never learned all of the curricula of Parker’s American Kenpo, however he was awarded a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate (Sandan) by Parker. Parker awarded Cerio a 9th degree black belt (Kudan) in Kenpo Karate in 1983.
Cerio's schools spread throughout the eastern part of the United States and at one point had 65 schools.
Professor Cerio passed away on October 7th, 1998. And was a man known not only for his Great skill and contributions to the Martial Arts world, but also was one of the most caring and sincere people I have ever met. He touched many people’s lives and continues to inspire people still today.
since his passing the NCK Executive Board fell apart and ended with a voluntary disbandment.
Below are a few honors that Professor Cerio was awarded
World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Humanitarian Award, 1991
Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award, 1991
"Above Ranking Status" or "Kaichi Yudansha Shihan" on April 22nd, 1989 by the Kokonryu Bujutsu Renmei
Awarded the title "Professor" on April 23rd, 1989, by Professor Thomas Burdine representing the World Soke Council
Awarded a 9th black belt in Kenpo Karate in March, 1983 by Ed Parker
Inside Kung Fu Reader’s Award, 1983
Voted into Hall of Fame, 1983
Featured in Who’s Who in Karate, 1982
Man of the Year Award, Oriental World of Self-Defense, Madison Square Garden, New York, 1980
Instructor of the Year Award, Oriental World of Self-Defense, New York, 1977
Award for Outstanding Demonstration, Boston, 1975
Awarded Life Membership and Award of Merit in Federation of Karate, Quebec, Canada, 1974
Award from Cystic Fibrosis for fund raising efforts, 1974
Letter of Appreciation from U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell for assistance to Warwick, RI, PD, 1971
Citation from American Federation of Police, 1971
Certificate of Appreciation, Warwick Police, for his assistance in their fight against crime, 1971
When Nick Cerio began as an instructor, he taught only twelve combinations, and three forms – these were Kata 1, 2, and 3 Within the year, he began to put the rest of his style together The result of this was what we now call Kata numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and an additional fourteen punch defenses for a total of twenty-six. Later, he also incorporated variations of Shotokan forms into his system. He felt their strong stances and transitions were missing from the kenpo forms that he had been taught.
These later became known as Pinan #1
through Pinan #7. Pinan #1 and Pinan
#2 were modified versions of Kyokushin –
Kai Taikyoku #1 and Heian #4, and
Heian #5, and named them Pinan #3, #4,
and #5.
The original Pinans would go through some revisions. The original Pinan #2 which emphasized “power
striking” movement was essentially lost in 1969, and was replaced by a Pinan which contained multiple rising blocks, and identical footwork as in Pinan #1
I have heard some people say that Nick Cerio trained under Ed Parker but this is not the case. In Cerios own words he explains this.
From Inside Kung-Fu magazine
Cerio : Ed Parker was my senior, mentor and coach because he offered great insight and he was a great resource in contributing to the formation of Nick Cerio's Kenpo
“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.”
During the late 1960s Cerio studied Hakkoryu Jujutsu, first receiving his brown belt in 1968 from James Benko and later received his 1st black belt (Shodan) from Larry Garron.
Cerio studied Okinawan weapons and self-defense under Tadashi Yamashita, who in 1970 awarded him a 4th black belt (Yondan) and in 1973, a 5th black belt (Godan).
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
Cerio never learned all of the curricula of Parker’s American Kenpo, however he was awarded a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate (Sandan) by Parker. Parker awarded Cerio a 9th degree black belt (Kudan) in Kenpo Karate in 1983.
Cerio's schools spread throughout the eastern part of the United States and at one point had 65 schools.
Professor Cerio passed away on October 7th, 1998. And was a man known not only for his Great skill and contributions to the Martial Arts world, but also was one of the most caring and sincere people I have ever met. He touched many people’s lives and continues to inspire people still today.
since his passing the NCK Executive Board fell apart and ended with a voluntary disbandment.
Below are a few honors that Professor Cerio was awarded
World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Humanitarian Award, 1991
Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award, 1991
"Above Ranking Status" or "Kaichi Yudansha Shihan" on April 22nd, 1989 by the Kokonryu Bujutsu Renmei
Awarded the title "Professor" on April 23rd, 1989, by Professor Thomas Burdine representing the World Soke Council
Awarded a 9th black belt in Kenpo Karate in March, 1983 by Ed Parker
Inside Kung Fu Reader’s Award, 1983
Voted into Hall of Fame, 1983
Featured in Who’s Who in Karate, 1982
Man of the Year Award, Oriental World of Self-Defense, Madison Square Garden, New York, 1980
Instructor of the Year Award, Oriental World of Self-Defense, New York, 1977
Award for Outstanding Demonstration, Boston, 1975
Awarded Life Membership and Award of Merit in Federation of Karate, Quebec, Canada, 1974
Award from Cystic Fibrosis for fund raising efforts, 1974
Letter of Appreciation from U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell for assistance to Warwick, RI, PD, 1971
Citation from American Federation of Police, 1971
Certificate of Appreciation, Warwick Police, for his assistance in their fight against crime, 1971