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 When Professor Cerio was with us, we could easily get answers to the various martial arts questions we asked him. However, since his death (October 7, 1998), we have to investigate on our own to draw appropriate conclusions.
I propose hereunder a few avenues of reflection. The next paragraphs will focus on Kenpo katas Nick Cerio created.
Professor Cerio respected the main elements of old katas. There are exercises to work on muscle tone and body position, techniques of self defence adapted to our environment; as well as a "feel" of the old katas. This "feel" is intended to support the practitioner's inner evolution and maintain his physical and mental balance.
If the katas of Pr. Cerio are complex in nature, this complexity is drawn from the old katas and targets inner work. At the opposite, physical applications and movements of self defence are simple. As Professor Cerio often said: if there are too many techniques to remember, there are too many choices, meaning there is a risk of hesitation. The techniques found inside the katas are thus short and effective.
Students familiar with the concept of "hidden movements" will realize, by giving further study to the practice, that the Nick Cerio katas enclose an amalgam of directions, definitions and even interpretations in most of their applications. Each translation, each movement has a direction, easily visible, but hidden to the lay person.
Professor Cerio decided to keep the number of katas in his system low. One kata per degree (kyu), per step. Moreover, he determined a pre-established sequence of kata training. To skip a kata to learn one from a more advanced rank would be a serious error for the student who sincerely seeks to incorporate/understand this martial art.
Despite the untimely departure of Pr. Cerio, his work was already completed. By reverence, but also to succeed in finding answers by ourselves, it is of prime importance to practice Nick Cerio's Kenpo katas in the spirit of its creator, i.e. by respecting the emotion and the movements this Grand Master left us. Practicing without modifying the katas helps us preserve the integrity of his work, the wealth of his heritage.
Click here to see "CIRCLE OF THE TIGER" carried out by Professor Cerio.
(Flash 5, 311 kb file)
Many so-called Masters created new styles with new katas. However, few of them followed the accepted practices for the construction of a kata. Of course, Professor Cerio did not start from scratch. He built his katas on very solid bases inspired by various styles such as Kyokushinkaï, Shito Ryu, Shorin Ryu, as well as Sil Lum Kung Fu. Among all his innovations , Professor Cerio had a preferred kata: the "Circle of the Tiger". He said that his entire Kenpo style was based on this kata, i.e. it contains all the bases of his system, whether they are visible or not. This in a language, a succession of signs, intended also to express and preserve his knowledge. This is why, if we practice a kata in the spirit of its creator, we will be able to discover the message that he bequeathed us.
Regis Poirier
Studios Unis |
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