Hello, I would like to clear a few things up. First, I feel it's important to establish some crediabilty to answer these questions with a little background. People should know something about the individual who is passing on the information in regards to someone's personal history and reputation. So, here goes. Hanshi Craig Seavey is the co-head of NCK and is in charge of all the schools in the U.S. He was appointed by Nick Cerio's brother, the late Frank Cerio after Mr. Cerio's passing. Craig has been my close friend for over three decades, I made my first black belt in kenpo under his tutledge and we still train together today. Cerio joined Mr. Parker's IKKA around 1966 and became the Rhode Island State Director. Mr. Parker also did a forward in one of Mr. Cerio's early books. They became close friends during this time. Mr. Parker also gave Mr. Cerio an 'intro' to meet Master Bill Chun Sr. who in turn gave an 'intro' for Mr. Cerio to meet Prof. Chow. It was well known that for a period of time they (Cerio & Parker) trained together (Cerio used to take a young black belt student with him to these sessions by the name of Frederick Villari), this information came directly from Cerio to myself in the early 90's. Mr. Parker did indeed promote Mr. Cerio, and it was not 'honorary' either, to the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt in "Kenpo Karate", not Ed Parker's Kenpo system. The term, Kenpo Karate, was used rather generically to describe related arts by Mr. Parker. Cerio used to do the same thing only he used "American Kenpo". This was not to be confused with Ed Parker's AK but was what Cerio's original instructor, Mr. George Pesare had called the art he brought to New England circa. 1960. If you trained in his curriculum, he would certify you in NCK but if you studied with him and you were from his original system that Gm. Pesare taught him prior to the advent of NCK, he would rank you in 'American Kenpo' but not NCK. I believe he got this idea from Mr. Parker. Again, this was not only told to me by Professor Cerio but I have seen the original and the copy of his 9th dan certificate signed by Mr. Parker as the instructor who promoted him, NOT a witness. The certificate is completely legit and verfiable. This certificate was given to Craig Seavey with others by Frank Cerio after Professor Cerio's death. I was with Craig the week he got the originals. We were just looking at Cerio's certificates not too long ago at Craig's Framingham school on Waverly St. They are clearly posted on the wall in the reception area as you enter the main dojo. KenpoJoe Rebelo (noted historian and MT member), Sensei Matt Barnes (another noted historian and MT member) and myself have all been at Craig's school and observed the Cerio certificates. This may also be confirmed by NCK historian and webmaster of the NCK site, Shihan John James. As far as the differences in the systems go, Nick Cerio answered this himself in a Q&A in his monthly news letters back in the 90's when someone asked the same question. I still have the newsletter but I'm not at my school right now so I will go by memory and also add whatever knowledge I have on the subject. Prof. Cerio stated that although distinctly different, they are also similiar in many ways sharing a common lineage to Prof. Chow and the Hawaiian derived kenpo systems. Both styles share a 'circulartory' nucleus and have the trademark 'rapid fire' handstriking and low line kicks. NCK techniques, however, are distinguished by ground work and follow ups because Cerio's original black belt was in Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu, a direct subsystem of Kajukenbo. NCK also has the Korean inspired kicking techniques from Cerio's background in Karazenpo and TKD. Cerio stated that although some of his forms were either his own creations or inspired by Karazenpo forms he also used katas and pinans from the traditional karate styles, favoring Shotokan, 'some', but not all, he modified to fit his perspective of the art. He even adopted the Chinese set 'Lin Wan Kune' from Sil Lum Pai Kung Fu. Mr. Parker's first four forms were influenced by Kung Fu stylist Jimmy Woo and the rest were Mr. Parker's own creations. If anyone has any questions of the authenticity of Prof. Cerio's 9th dan from Mr. Parker just e-mail Shihan John James or call Hanshi Craig Seavey by phone at his Framingham, Massachusetts dojo for confirmation. *Also Cerio was not a 9th degree at the time of his promotion from Parker, he was an 8th under Gan Fong Chin with the title of Sifu. We also have this cetificate as well. All I ask is I'm given the benefit of the doubt that my information is accurate and is open for anyone's confirmation if they wish to follow up on what I stated. I stand by this post. Thank you. Respectfully submitted, Prof. Joe Shuras