Martial Arts
Beginnings
Mark Jones has over 40 years of martial arts experience, and is still constantly exploring and learning on a daily basis. As a child, he bought a book called “Combat Judo,” from which he used to practice throws on his unfortunate little brother. His father would never let him take lessons, but in 1971, in his second year of college, he joined the Kent State Karate Club, and studied Isshin-Ryu Okinawan karate under Sensei Ron Mohr. At that time, he was also introduced to Zazen meditation. By 1973, he had become fascinated with Eastern philosophy, reading all the classics of Taoism, Chan and other modalities of Buddhism and Japanese Zen, and the following year, began the study of Shaolin kung fu, paqua chang (baguazhang) and chi-kung (qigong) with Sifu Wei-Chen Ni, also in Kent, and attended kung fu workshops given by students of Kung Fu Master Feeman Ong. After having moved to Youngstown, Ohio in 1975, Mark studied Poekoelan Tjimindie Indonesian Kung fu with Mas Bill Dobich, a top student of the late Guru Willy Wetzel.
New York
After moving to New York, Mark became intrigued with the Chinese Internal Arts, and in the early 1990’s, began studying with Richard Satlow, a senior disciple of B.P. Chan, and with Mr. Chan himself. Chan was one of the highest level martial artists, philosophers and human beings of the 20th century – a humble, Zen master who actually lived what he preached and taught by example. Mark studied with him for 7 years until his death, and much later, in 2024 was a major contributor to Ron Lambert’s book “Celebrating the Legacy of B.P. Chan.” The following year, he served on a panel about Chan at the Tai Chi and Qigong Festival in Warwick, NY. In addition to his study with Richard Satlow for 14 years, Mark studied and practiced with several other of Chan’s original senior students in Long Island, the Bronx, Woodstock, NY and in Florida. Aside from Chan’s branch of kung fu, he also attended workshops with Alex Dong, Fong Ha and Mantak Chia.
Teaching and Writing
For several decades, Mark has taught privately and given workshops in numerous states and countries from New York to Florida to Ohio, to Thailand, Brazil and Cuba. He is working on a forthcoming book called “The Principles of Body Mechanics,” after he discovered that the internal arts teaches how the body was designed to operate safely, without getting injured, and how to most efficiently maximize strength and balance. The one factor that unites all movement are “The Principles,” which are immutably dictated by nature, and which most practitioners seem to be oddly unaware of. Mark has also been published in such journals as Tai Chi Magazine, Inside Kung Fu, Blackbelt, and has written several essays on the subject of martial arts.
The Arts that Mark Practices and Teaches are as Follows:
Chi-Kung (Qigong) – “Working the vital breath,” a series of exercises which are considered to be “the mother of the martial arts,” as well as for possessing therapeutic healing value. They include standing, sitting, lying down and walking meditation postures and transitions, body strengthening, stretching, visualization, healing sounds for internal organs, cancer healing and prevention, tui-na acupressure massage, and systems that include I-chuan (Yiquan), Chi-kung, Nei-kung, Tung-kung, Ching-kung, Tai-chi ruler, Tai-chi Chi-kung, Longevity breathing and reverse breathing, ligament strengthening, Yi Yin Jing Muscle and Tendon Changing exercise and 5 Animals Frolic.
Tai-Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) – “Grand Ultimate Fist,” a self-defense system that retreats, neutralizes and advances against an opponent. The body is trained to be like steel wrapped in cotton, and facilitates the opponent to defeat himself. It includes forms, 2 person self-defense and sensitivity exercises, fighting forms and energy awareness. Benefits include improved balance, learning how to avoid injury, how to relax, and to overcome stress. Mark practices the traditional Yang Family long form, short form, san-shou fighting form, the old frame Chen Erlu and Laojia Paotui Cannonfist forms, Tung Ying Ch’ieh’s fast form and san-shou, push hands, Chen advance-retreat, chi-na grappling, silk-reeling exercises and 7 stars exercise. Weapons include the Shaolin sword form of the 8 Immortals, and tai-chi staff.
Paqua-Chang (Baguazhang) – “Eight Trigram Palm Boxing,” a walking, weaving circular art that neutralizes the opponent and advances. This extremely complex art includes mud walking with scissor legs footwork, while walking, twisting, turning and maintaining 3 folds of the body. Mark practices the dragon-claw style which includes standing Chi-kung sets, circle walking, inner meditative palms, the 8 outer palms, push hands, fighting applications and chi-na grappling.
Hsing-Yi Chuan (Xingyiquan) – “Mind Form Boxing,” a very direct, explosive art which diverts the opponent and advances in a straight line direction. Mark practices the 5 elements, 12 animals, advance – retreat, linking form, chi-kung standing meditation, 2 person exercises, fighting applications and chi-na grappling.
