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Adapted from "Inide Kung Fu", July 1997 By Andrew Breen
 Born in July 1936 in Boston, Massachusetts, Professor Nicholas R. Cerio died on October 7, 1998.
Nick Cerio mainly studied and developed Kenpo. It is in this style that he obtained his first black belt, as Professor Cerio studied 14 styles of martial arts and obtained black belts in several of them.
Professor Cerio started boxing at a very young age. He first became interested in martial arts in 1958 when he studied with Judo instructor George McCabe. Then, he trained in Tae Kwon Do with Ted Olson in 1961 and started his to associate with him. In 1962, He joined George Pesare of Rhode Island, who taught him Kajukenbo Kenpo for four years. In 1966, Professor Cerio received his black belt from Pesare and opened his first school.
Professor Cerio heard about a famous instructor teaching Kenpo in Hawaii, Professor William K.S. Chow; and he strongly wished to study with him. At that time, it was usual to test an individual's patience, his honour and his competence before being introduced to the Grand Master. It is only after having trained with William Chun Sr. that Cerio received the permission to meet Professor Chow; and from then on, began one of his four six-week visits to Hawaii.
On August 15, 1967, he received the rank of Shodan from Professor Chow. The Master of Hawaiian Kenpo awarded him with a fifth black belt degree in December 1971. He encouraged Cerio to modify and develop what he had learned. Chow also insisted that Cerio give his name to the end product, since it will become his own version of Kenpo.
Throughout the years, Professor Cerio worked with several other black belts including renowned instructors such as: Larry Garron in Jiu jitsu; James Benko, a Master of Hakko Ryu Jiu jitsu; Ernest Lieb in Chung Do Kwan; Master Fumio Demura in Shito Ryu; Master Tadashi Yamashita in Shorin Ryu; Master Gee Gin Soon in Tai Chi Chuan; Master Gan Fong Chin in Sil Lum Kung Fu; and Master Ed Parker in Chinese Kenpo.
In 1973, Master Gan Fong Chin awarded him his 8th black belt degree and the title of Sifu in Kung Fu, the first of only three black belts awarded by Master Chin. Nick Cerio's Kenpo was officially created in 1974. In 1983, Master Ed Parker gave him a 9th degree black belt in Kenpo. This was a great honour for Professor Cerio as he had the highest regards and respect for Ed Parker. In 1989, Soke Thomas H. Burdine awarded Shihan Cerio the title of Professor. However, Cerio's greatest achievement will take place at the end of 1989 when he his awarded the status of "Above any rank" by the World Council of Sokes. He had finally achieved his goal.
Professor Nicholas R. Cerio is one of the first founders and innovators of Kenpo in America. He has the great ability to establish a relationship with people from beginners to black belt levels. He produced several martial arts champions during his 35 years of teaching. He authored several books and he has to his credit more than a dozen videos in self defence and katas.
Since 1988, the Nick Cerio International Martial Arts Association (NCIMAA) has had great success, and the number of members constantly increases in Canada and United States, including Hawaii. Currently, there are 20 schools of Nick Cerio's Kenpo in the United States and this number is still increasing.
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