Mark first started training in Shotokan Karate in 1989. This lasted for two years before the club ceased training, only for him to return to Karate in his University days a few years later in 1994. In January 1997 when in preparation for his Black Belt, he discovered Jiu Jitsu and thus his introduction to ground fighting.
He initially stopped training in Karate and his focus became Jiu Jitsu, where he trained for the next two years. His working career took him on the move but his passion for grappling was born. Struggling to find a club that could offer good stand up as well as ground fighting he wandered between Traditional Karate, Jiu Jitsu and Judo.
Upon moving to New Zealand in 2000, he sampled various arts before discovering Kiaido Ryu Martial Arts (KRMA), Instructed by Glen Tarrant early in 2001. KRMA offered him a comprehensive stand up as well as structured grappling syllabus, and with the introduction to John Will the same year, it all came together.
He returned to England in 2004, where he took the opportunity to train for a few months with Roger Gracie in London before returning to New Zealand mid 2005, to continue training with KRMA and what is now known as Submission Martial Arts. He obtained his Black Belt in KRMA in June 2006 followed closely in the same year by a Blue Belt in BJJ awarded by John Will. His main focus now is the continuous development of BJJ and MMA.

In November 2009 Mark was awarded his BJJ Purple Belt By John Will at a seminar session in Auckland.