Mark has studied, practised and taught Holistic/Health and Martial Arts for 30 years. He trained in the Kyokushinkai style of karate in the late 60�s and took in his First Dan Black Belt in 1974.

He initially trained with Mr. Len Veall of Kyokushinkai, at a martial arts collective in St. John�s Wood, London in 1968, and with Mr. Steve Sophoclese from 1971 to 1975. He later trained with Mr. Jim Self of Wado Ryu, Mr Tony Christian of Go-Ju Ryu and Dr. David Scott of the Liverpool Uechi Ryu school.

Mark became interested in Chi Kun (respiratory therapy) and Tai Chi Ch�uan and during the mid 70�s began training in the Yang short form with Billy Chan, a Chinese Cockney.

He focused on Wu Te, Martial excellence which describes the healing and strengthening tradition and developed his own system Budo-Chi (A Martial Arts Way of Healing and Strengthening).

He worked for many years as a peace movement organizer, against the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the 60�s, with the Committee of 100, and later worked as a full time voluntary worker for the Simon Community with the homeless and rootless in London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Exeter.

He later trained as a professional social worker and counsellor from 1970 and felt that Budo-Chi, which blends hard and soft elements from karate and Tai Chi Ch�uan practice, could aid the release of stress and increase of energy.

He has taught widely in public, clinical and student groups at Liverpool, York, Northumbria and Newcastle Universities, throughout the UK and at various settings in the USA over five years.

After arriving in America in 1988, he stayed with relatives in Wyoming and found himself teaching on the Wind River Reservation at Fort Washakie with Native Americans from the Arapahoe and Shoshone Nations.

There were widespread problems with alcohol combined with endemic racism. He was based in Riverton, Wyoming, working in many settings including a Hospital for Human Development, where he was employed as a Tai Chi Instructor and Recreational Therapist.

There was an adult and adolescent group and an array of problems ranging from chemical dependency, delinquency, Bulimia and mental health. It was here that he discovered the Trade Winds, Chinese Restaurant, run by Tom Ma.

Tom was from Tai Pai, China and some forty years ago had trained for some years with the Grand Master Chen Man Ching. Chen developed the Yang short, form, from the long, in 1947 and died in 1975.

Mark has previously initiated the setting up of classes for young offenders in both the UK and USA, has taught his Budo Chi to Senior Citizens at Age Concern, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Grey Panther groups in Wyoming USA.

His work in the UK has been covered by several TV programmes, including �Look North� and has had articles published in the regional papers, �The Evening Chronicle and The Journal�.

Involvement in the penal system began at Wyoming Honour Farm Open Prison working with high risk offenders, and later with stress management sessions at H.Wing, HM Prison, Durham, England.

The therapeutic application of martial arts energy was also used successfully with mental health patients, drug and alcohol abuse patients and staff at Pine Ridge Hospital for Human Development, Lander, Wyoming and Parkwood House, Newcastle upon Tyne. He has also taught people with physical handicap ranging from Spina Bifida to Poliomelitis.

Work was undertaken in �Coping with Cancer� and he taught one to one with Mel Robson world class strongman who was suffering from terminal cancer, and who after being told that he had less than six months to live, lived for a further five years.

Research showed that cancer cells have difficulty thriving in oxygen, and in a psychology of joyful self-belief that connects to the universal mind, Buddha nature of Tao. Christians might say the Kingdom of Heaven, the spiritual dimension is powerful root source of life regeneration.

Mark worked with a Consultant Radiologist, Dr, Simon England in this area, who showed how Western. Medicine complimented the Chinese holistic model and vice versa.

Overcoming the dualism of mind/body split and Juda/Christian guilt of Western culture is a huge step in the direction of self healing. The key areas in favour of the holistic work is belief in being your own agent for personal change, the power of breath, with mind intent, Chi Kun, and simple belief in connection to the grace of the Highest Power.

Mel�s unmatched feats included blowing up meteorological air balloons, and bursting hot water bottles and milk bottles with the power of his lungs. He also resisted being strangled by two strong men on either side pulling on a rope around his neck.

After returning from America in the early 90�s Mark worked for some time with the Educational Development Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, with a plan of offering Budo-Chi and Tai Chi Ch�uan to the pupils and teachers in Newcastle�s primary and secondary schools. Some twelve months was spent on this project, with a number of schools having successful workshops and introductions.

Mark has undertaken further academic studies with an MA in the History of Ideas and a PhD research project at the University of Durham. It is Mark�s belief that if you follow a path, there is a sequence of linked progression that takes place unconsciously.

In Japanese martial arts, scholastic work, study and research were considered inseparable. They were part of the �Excellences� of an evolved being.

The saying is �Bun Bu Itchi� meaning �Pen and Sword in accord�, without being aware of this at the time he went from 30 years of teaching and training in martial/holistic arts, to post-graduate research.

He is currently teaching, and researching a book based on his martial/holistic arts experience �Moving Through the Water�.