It's not the years...it's the hours that make the difference.

Instructor Mark Dong started his martial arts training at the age of 14 at a local YMCA learning Shotokan karate.

Later, while attending Texas State – San Marcos, he started training in Kajukenbo Karate under Grand Master Dann Baker (9th Dan). Mark trained hard and soon became the Vice President of the Karate Club and became an Assistant Coach of the Texas State – San Marcos Karate Team.

Mark came back to Houston, Texas and continued his Kajukenbo training with Sifu Jason Hunt (5th Dan) where he earned his 2nd Dan Black Belt.

In 2005, Mark studied Paul Mill’s American Kenpo Karate International (AKKI) with Mr. Terry McCord (3rd Dan) and obtained the rank of purple belt.

Later, in 2007, Mark began training in Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu under Sifu Whit McClendon (6th Dan) at Jade Mountain Martial Arts in Katy, Texas. After countless hours of training, Mark became one of Sifu McClendon’s top assistant instructors and is Sifu McClendon’s 1st black sash and highest ranked student.

During his kung fu training, Mark trained with other top notched kung fu instructors. Among those are Master Arthur D’Agostino, Master Blue Siytangco, and Sifu Israel Flores. While training in kung fu, Mark also has trained in jiu jitsu and has trained with 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Founder Eddie Bravo. Mark has also trained with W. Hock Hochheim and is one of Hock’s Instructors. Mark has been certified by Hock in Unarmed Combatives, Knife, and Stick Combatives.

Then, one day Mark attended an Introduction to Krav Maga seminar with Eyal Yanilov, the Chief Instructor of the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF), which made him pursue his interest in Krav Maga.

Mark started his training in Krav Maga shortly afterwards under Instructor Larry Escher. After a lot of hard work and dedication, Larry recommended that Mark become an instructor and attend the intense Civilian Instructor’s Course (CIC).

Upon successfully completing the course, Mark became a Certified Instructor under the watchful eyes of Gabi Noah and Avi Moyal.

Later, Eyal Yanilov certified Mark under Krav Maga Global (KMG) where Eyal Yanilov is the founding member of that organization. Eyal, Gabi, and Avi are three of the four masters in the world for the IKMF and KMG and Mark is certified by them.

Mark continues to train and teach Krav Maga as well as teaching and learning other martial arts as well.

"If you believe in yourself, ANYTHING is possible!"

—Si Hing Mark Dong