Grandmaster Ernie Lieb
(1940-2006)

It is with deepest regret that we report that Professor Cerio's teacher, Grandmaster Ernie Lieb, died tragically in a train crash while in Germany on Friday, September 22, 2007.  He was 66 years old.  Having started his  Martial Arts career in 1956, Grandmaster Lieb quickly made a name for himself on the tournament scene with a very successful fighting career.  Soon national magazines were doing feature articles on this Martial Arts legend, and in 1973, he was voted into Black Belt magazines Hall of Fame as Man of the Year.  It was in the prior year, 1972, that Grandmaster Lieb took 13 of his top black belts and formed one of the first true American Martial Arts systems, aptly named the American Karate System.  Over the years the A.K.S. steadily grew in numbers and in 2004, the European and World Karate Associations accepted the A.K.S. as a full fledged member. It is the only style of American Karate that has been accepted and has received this recognition.  In 2005, Grandmaster Lieb was an honored guest of Nick Cerio's Kenpo at the Professor Nick Cerio Legacy Memorial.  Nick Cerio's Kenpo honored Grandmaster Lieb with a Plaque thanking him for the teachings he gave to Professor Cerio that in turn were passed on to a new generation.  Everyone who attended the Legacy Memorial quickly fell in love with Grandmaster Lieb's outgoing character and charisma.  His art of telling stories has few rivals.  Nick Cerio's Kenpo sends our deepest condolences to Grandmaster Lieb's family and the members of the American Karate System.  His loss will be felt the world over.