Mark is the founder of the Chiltern Academy of Martial Arts.
Martial arts has been a lifelong passion for Mark, and the dream of creating his own academy dates back to his teens. This vision came to fruition in 2018 when he established the Academy, starting with zero students. Today, the Academy proudly trains over 200 students.
Mark began his martial arts journey in 1972 with judo, achieving his first black belt in 1978. He went on to win the BJC National Championships and competed for the national team. In addition to judo, he holds black belts in Jeet Kune Do, Shotokan Karate, Irish Stick Fighting, and Dacayana Kali, and he also teaches Tai Chi.
As a Wing Chun instructor, Sifu Mark continues his training under Master Clive Potter, a first-generation student of the legendary Wong Shun Leung with over 50 years experience. Mark has previously studied under Alan Orr, Tom Maslen, and Aiden Tierney.
Mark is also a highly accomplished powerlifter, having won the World Drug-Free Championships multiple times and held several world records, two of which still stand. In 2013, he was inducted into the Irish Drug-Free Powerlifting Association Hall of Fame. He has coached the Irish team on multiple occasions, helping them achieve 2nd place in the Four Nations Championship in 2017.