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Mark Houston Dog Brother Gathering
Mark Houston Pankration Finishing Move.
Mark Houston Grappling
Mark Houston MMA wind

Teachers / Coaches

  • Sifu Mark O'Dell in White Tiger Kenpo

  • Long time private student of Punong Guro Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny: Guiding Force of the Dog Brothers and Head Instructor of DBMA (Dog Brothers Martial Arts), in DBMA

  • Sifu Lester Griffin, original Dog Brother and UFC judge, in Stick Fighting

  • “Smoken” Joe Sarkissian, 3 time title holder, in kickboxing

  • Lorenzo Rodriguez, 1970s kickboxing champ, in kickboxing

  • Bart Vale, founder of Shootfighting and 10th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo, in Shootfighting

           

Certifications

  • Certified Personal Trainer through 24 Hour Fitness (2005)

  • ISSA (International Sports Science Association) (2005)

  • NCSF (National Council of Strength and Fitness) (2005)

  • NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) (2005)

  • APEX (Nutrition and Fitness group) (2005)

  • Licensed EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)

  • CPR, first aid and AED Certified

  • NSCA Certified Strength and Condition Specialist (2020-Present)

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Seminars Hosted and/or Attended

  • Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny, Co-Founder and Guiding Force of the Dog Brothers

  • Sifu Lester Griffin, original Dog Brother and UFC judge

  • Mike Nagano, 5th degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo

  • “Superfoot” Bill Wallace, 1970s kickboxing champ and contributing columnist to Black Belt Magazine

  • Grandmaster James Ibrao, first Kenpo Black Belt under Ed Parker

  • Great Grandmaster Al Tracy, founder of the Tracy Kenpo

  • Bart Vale, 10th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and founder of Shootfighting

  • Attended seminars by Dan Severn, “Judo” Gene LeBell and Gokor Chivichyan during Black Belt Magazines 1st Annual Martial Art Convention (2001)

  • Josh Barnett Grappling Clinic, Heavy weight MMA champion (2009)

  • Great Grandmaster and founder of Bok Fu Do (2010)

  • Kenny Johnson, wrestling coach and trainer to several UFC champions (2011)

  • Grandmaster Art Gonzalez, Knife fighting (2012)

  • Thomas “Gong Fu Dog” Holtmann in Chinese Gong Fu and BJJ (2014)

  • DBMA Summer Camp (2014)

  • DBMA Association East Coast Training Camp – Marc Denny, Eric Knaus, Benjamin Rittiner (2016, 2017)

  • DBMA Seminar, Charlottesville, Virginia (2017)

  • DBMA Winter Camp, CA (2017)

  • Bryan "Guide Dog" Stoops in FMA (2018)

  • Mark “Beowulf” Houston in FCSF (2018)

  • Eric “Top Dog” Knaus in RCSF (2018)

  • Benjamin “Lonely Dog” Rittiner in RCSF (2018)

  • Taught Grey Wolf Kickboxing (2024)

Mark Houston Kickboxing Competition
Mark Houston Dog Brother Gathering
Mark Houston Form Demonstration
Mark Houston Grey Wolf Fighting Method Stick Fighting Seminar
Mark Houston Volunteer Mountain Rescue Unit

Notable Students

  • Christian “Catch Dog” Aguilar – 4th Degree White Tiger Kenpo Black Belt, Catch Wrestling, Full Dog Brother, Outstanding Student of 2010, Outstanding Participant for 2013, BJJ Purple Belt

  • David Aranda – 2nd White Tiger Kenpo Black Belt, BJJ, Dog Brothers participant, Outstanding Student (2008), Outstanding Participant for 2011

  • Britney Minder – Boxing, (1-0) (2005)

  • Keisha Guilin – Battle of the Badges, (1-0), (2014)

  • Mario “Beast Hound” Ramirez – White Tiger Kenpo Blue Belt, Kickboxing (2 – 1), Full Dog Brother, Outstanding Participant for 2014

  • “Dog” George Ramirez – White Tiger Kenpo Green Belt, Catch Wrestling, Kickboxing, Dog Brothers participant, BJJ Purple Belt, Outstanding Participant for 2014, Fought at the Battle of the Badges (2018)

  • Joseph “C-Badger Dog” DeBraux – White Tiger Kenpo Green Belt, Dog Brothers participant

  • Rodrick Bush – 1st White Tiger Kenpo Black Belt, BJJ Purple Belt, Dog Brothers participant, Outstanding Student for 2009

  • Greg Lisk – 3rd White Tiger Kenpo Black Belt, TTM Head Instructor, Dog Brothers participant, Fought at The Battle of the Badges (1 – 0) (2018)

  • Steven Espinoza – 2nd White Tiger Kenpo Black Belt

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Education

  • Associates in Science (2012)

  • Associates in Art (2012)

  • Bachelor’s in Kinesiology with a Minor in Neuroscience (2019)

  • Currently pursuing a doctorate in Physical Therapy

 

Other

  • Active member of volunteer Mountain Search and Rescue Unit (since 2011)

  • The Tough Mudder, 12mi obstacle course, Big Bear (2011)

  • Mission Inn Half Marathon (2011)

  • Las Vegas Urban Adventure Race (2012)

  • The Tough Mudder, Vail Lake (2012, 2015)

Mark Houston Profile Picture
Kickboxing Belt

Guro / Sifu Mark “Beowulf” Houston

TTM Co-Founder / Primary Instructor

5th Degree Black Belt in White Tiger Kenpo

 

Background

  • Training / Teaching White Tiger Kenpo since 1998

  • Co-Founder of THE TRAINING MAT (2007)

  • Became Full Dog Brother and given name “Beowulf” (2010)

  • Awarded Green Arm Band in Thai Boxing (2010)

  • Achieved Black Belt in White Tiger Kenpo (2012)

  • Given the title of “Guro” in DBMA (Dog Brothers Martial Arts) by Punong Guro Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny (2013)

  • Board of Directors: Dog Brothers Martial Arts Instructor Association, Curriculum Director (2014)

  • Featured in Kali Tudo 4 by PG Guro Marc Denny (2015)

  • Awarded Blue Belt in BJJ (2023)

  • Awarded 5th Degree in White Tiger Kenpo (2024)

 

Fights / Competitions

  • International Chinese Koushu Championships, San Francisco (2001)

  • Bok Fu Do Invitational, San Francisco (2002)

  • Long Beach International, Kenpo forms and self-defense techniques (2004)

  • The Desert Rat, Kenpo (2004)

  • Amateur kickboxing, Team Quest, Murrieta (Record: 5-0) (2005, 2006))

  • King of Catch (2007)

  • Turkey Tapout, Upland (2008)

  • Grappling X, Pancration at the Armory, San Bernardino (2009)

  • Grappling X, Long Beach (2009, 2012)

  • Soboba MMA (1-0) (2015)

  • Battle of the Badges, Kickboxing (1-0) (2016)

  • Regular participant at Dog Brothers Gatherings.  Averaging 8 to 10 full contact stick fights every year since 2006

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