American-Te® History
Check out our History of LCMA page to learn more about the school.
American-Te® is an eclectic grouping of the traditional styles from Japan, Okinawa, China and the Philippines.
Read about the important people who influenced our style and learn some of the history of the martial arts.
Guerrini/ Hagman/ Robyn (American-Te®)
Shihan Steve Schatvet (Shotokan/ Kenpo/ Jiu-Jitsu)
Professor Thomas Sotis (AMOK!/ Analytical Combat)
Shihan Evan Pantazi (Kyusho International™)
Shihan Vincent Guerrini (American-Te®) *instructor bio
Professor Nick Cerio (Nick Cerio's Kenpo)
Shihan Steve Schatvet
In 1974 Steve Schatvet began training in Japanese Karate at Massapoag Martial Arts under Donald Murnane and his son Brian Murnane. In 1978 Schatvet received his 1st Degree (Shodan) black belt in Shotokan from the Murnanes. As one of the top students at their school, Schatvet took over many of the teaching responsibilities. Around 1980 the school split and Steve began his own school, taking with him his top students, Steve Giampa, and Vinnie Guerrini.
In the early 1980’s Steve Schatvet began training with Professor Nick Cerio of Nick Cerio’s Kenpo. Schatvet, and his students spent many years training with Professor Cerio and eventually in 1990, Schatvet received his 5th Degree (Godan) black belt in Nick Cerio’s Kenpo. In 1990, Schatvet left the Cerio organization to focus on his own school.
In the mid-to-late 80’s Steve Schatvet brought friend Kenny Wagner to the school to begin training some of his black belt students in various Boxing / Kickboxing techniques. Schatvet’s students Michael Hebert, Marshall Wolff, John Hagman, and Paul Curtin spread many of these techniques through the system.
In 1990, Steve Schatvet began training with another former student of Professor Cerio, Thomas Sotis. Sotis’s kickboxing, Filipino stickfighting, and Kenpo background allowed him to create the system Analytical Combat. Schatvet also trained briefly with Filipino stickfighting under Thomas Sotis, but left much of the training to his student, Gregory Morgan.
In 1992, Steve Schatvet began training with Robert McKittrick, who held a 6th Degree (Rokudan) black belt in Isshin-ryu and in the basics of Okinawa Karate. Dr. Bob McKittrick taught Schatvet and his student Vinnie Geurrini much about foundation in stance, relaxation, posture, and ultimate focus on nerve striking and knockout techniques.
In 1995 Steve Schatvet began his training with his current instructor Peter DeBlasio Jr. (Dong Family International Tai Chi Chuan Association) in the Chinese art of Tai Chi Chuan attended seminars and classes with DeBlaiso and his instructor Grand Master Dong Zeng Chen.
In 2000, Steve Schatvet received his 7th Degree (Shichidan) black belt in Analytical Combat, under Professor Thomas Sotis.
Professor Thomas Sotis
Thomas Sotis began formal Martial Arts training when he was 11 studying Kenpo / Kobudo supplemented with Ju-jitsu, Judo, Boxing, Kung fu, and Tae Kwon Do.
By 1978 Sotis was more focused on Kickboxing than anything else to which he eventually became the 1980 WPKO Lt. Middleweight Kickboxing Champion.
In 1981, living in Los Angeles, Sotis began studying Kali while working security and as a bounty hunter.
Returning to the east coast, Sotis continued his Kenpo training with Gene Coutu and opened his first school.
While teaching, Sotis was introduced to Kuntao and studied under Frank Masiello, where he began to see the blade translations that were available in this art.
Tom Sotis began teaching his own street combat system called Analytical Combat to various schools through seminars and camps.
In 1992 Thomas Sotis founded the International Blade Fighter’s Guild with Guru Steve Perrin.
In 1994, Thomas Sotis, Steve Perrin, Dave Faldasz, KC Faldasz, Greg Alland, and Dave Gould (Lameco Escrima) traveled to the Philippines to study under Grand Tuhon Nene Tortal. Sotis’s time in the Philippines allowed him study Pikiti-tirsia Daga, to gain the status of Professor in Dagaso-Tirsia and membership to the Dogeaters fraternity by 1996.
Professor Thomas Sotis continues his study of bladework under Dave Gould (Lameco Escrima) and under Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje in the Philippines.
Professor Thomas Sotis currently teaches AMOK!, his own system of knifefighting along with Kuntao / Silat, Pikiti-Tirsia Daga, and Dagaso Tirsia.
Shihan Evan Pantazi
Evan Pantazi began Judo in 1975, but was led towards Wing Chun for its sensitivity and striking not found in the art Judo
Pantazi found Kenpo to be less regimented and natural than the other technical arts as it increased his coordination and stamina
Later Pantazi sought softer styles like Tai Chi, Ba Qua, Jujitsu, Aikido, and later, in 1984 the healing arts Tui Na and Chi Gong (both of which he is a certified therapist)
In 1985 Pantazi began studying Wu Shu under Rich Branden, as well as Tai Chi Chuan/ Tong Bei/ Ba Gua (Bo Sim Mak)
Evan Pantazi studied a variety of Jujitsu styles since 1990, including Small Circle Jujitsu with Wally Jay, Leon Jay, and Ed Melaugh since 1992
In 1993 Evan Pantazi was awarded his 4th Degree (Yondan) black belt in Kenpo under Professor Nick Cerio.
In 1999 Pantazi was awarded the title of Shihan (master) by Uechi-ryu’s George Mattson.
In 2001, Pantazi received his 7th Degree (Shichidan) black belt from George A. Dillman in Kyusho Jitsu.
Master Evan Pantazi now heads Kyusho International™, an elite sytem in Pressure Points for healing and combat. Along with the other founders, Master Jim Corn, Master Gary Rooks, and Master Mark Kline, Evan Patazi has brought Kyusho to over 38 counties around the world. In addition to Kyusho, Master Pantazi continues his training in Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu, Ryukyu Kempo, Liu Ha Ba Fa Chuan, Sil Lum Kung Fu, Modern Arnis, Kobudo, and Praying Mantis
Professor Nick Cerio
Nicholas Raymond Cerio was born July 9, 1936 in Boston, MA.
In 1946, at the age of 10, Cerio moved to the Federal Hill District of Providence, RI where he began boxing. Cerio continued boxing while in the Air Force until he discovered the art of Judo in 1958.
Upon leaving the Air Force, Cerio furthered his Judo studies in Judo under George McCabe at a Providence YMCA
In 1961, Cerio met Ted Olsen and began studying Tae Kwon Do until 1962.
In 1962 he was introduced to Sensei George Pesare, a practitioner of Karazenpo Goshinjutsu, a form of Okinawan Kempo. Cerio received his 1st Degee (Shodan) black belt under George Pesare in 1966 and opened his first Kenpo karate school called Cerio's Academy of Martial Arts.
As Cerio increased his knowledge of Kempo he also began to frequent the tournament circuits, where he met Master Edmund Parker. Parker later introduced him to one of his instructors, Professor William Kwai Sun Chow.
While visiting Hawaii, Nick Cerio began studying under Master William Chun Sr., a student of Chow, in 1966 and received his 1st Degree (Shodan) black belt in Chinese Kempo in August of 1966. In one year, Cerio earned the right to train with Chow himself and on August 15, 1967 he earned his 1st Degree (Shodan) black belt and the title of Sensei.
Professor Chow trained Cerio for the next three years and encouraged him to develop his own style of Kenpo.
Through tournament competition he met and began training under James Benko (Hakkoryu Jiu-jitsu), Larry Garron (Hakkoryu Jiu-jitsu), Fumio Demura (Shito-ryu), Gee Gin Soon (Tai Chi Chuan), and Ernest Lieb (Chung Do Kwan). Master Lieb would later introduce Cerio to Master Tadashi Yamashita (Shorin-ryu).
In 1969, Cerio received his 3rd Degree (Sandan) black belt from Master Parker.
In 1970, Cerio recieved his 4th Degree (Yondan) black belt from Master Yamashita in Shorin-ryu.
In 1971 Cerio received his 5th Degree (Godan) from Professor Chow in Chinese Kenpo.
Meeting Master Gan Fong Chin (Sil Lum Kung Fu) in the early 1970's, Cerio studied hard and in August 1973 he received his 8th Degree (Hachidan) black belt in Karate and also the title of Sifu in Sil Lum Kung Fu.
In September 1973 Cerio tested and received his 5th Degree (Godan) black belt from both Master Yamasita and Master Lieb.
In 1974, Cerio founded Nick Cerio's Kenpo combining his knowledge of Chinese, Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean arts.
In 1983, Cerio receieved his 9th Degree (kudan) black belt in American Kempo Karate by Master Ed Parker and also the title of Shihan (master).
Through the 80's Cerio, taught all over Rhode Island and Massachusetts teaching often at the Learning Center. He strongly influenced Shihan Steve Schatvet, Sensei Vinnie Guerrini, Sensei Mike Hebert, and Sensei Marshall Wolff throughout the 1980's. He also taught Analytical Combat's Professor Thomas Sotis, and Kyusho Jitsu's Shihan Evan Pantazi.
On Aril 22, 1989 Nick Cerio received the title of Professor under Soke Thomas H. Burdine and thereby named himself 10th Degree (Jundan) black belt in Nick Cerio's Kenpo under the power of the World Soke Council.
Professor Nick Cerio passed away on October 7, 1998