Sensei Mark Tyson, Yondan

In September of 1983. one of my uncles happen to visit one morning and asked me if i would like to go watch him compete in the Australian Kyokushin Knockdown Championships being held at the Sydney Opera House. I said ok. That uncle was Sensei Jim Phillips who was trained by Hanshi John Taylor (9th Dan).

Hanshi John Taylor & Sensei Mark

After watching the Full Contact Tournament and seeing Sensei Jim winning his division, i decided to visit the Honbu Dojo the next day and enquire about classes.

My first impression of the Honbu Dojo at that time was the standard and dedication of the students training, and the "attitude" of all i met.

Hanshi Taylor ran (and still does) a very tight dojo, his students were expected to train at a very high level, which they (we) did, night after night.

The standard and level of training at Honbu is very demanding. The pace of the class was very fast, and the amount of techniques in each class would easily amount into the thousands, and i'm not even talking about the 100's of Pushups, Situps and Squats. I could tell you about the 14,000 kicks in one class, but thats another story.

Is was obvious that this place was special, even for a novice like me, i could see how good the students were, their fighting spirit was an example of what one could achieve if dedicated.

Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays I would train in Hanshi John Taylor's classes going through Kihon, Idogeko and Kata. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday I would train with Sensei Jim Phillips working on Stamina and Power, Sparring, Kickpads, Bagwork etc. This was to continue for 5 years. In this time close friend and longtime training partner Keith Bosler assisted me greatly in my Training and for that i am very Thankfull.

December 1987 - Shodan Grading

In 1987 i graded and recieved my Shodan completing it on a grueling hot summers day with a dojo full of students and took 5 and half hrs grading time which also included the tough 40 Man Kumite test. I still remember my last fight which was against Sensei Phillips, ahhh the memories!

In 1988 I relocated from Sydney to Tamworth where my wifes family are located and started The Tamworth Kyokushin Karate Club.

In the years from 1990 through to 2007, i also trained and fought in many Kickboxing & Muay Thai bouts. I have ventured and gained much experience in refining my fighting / competition skills in competing in these style of competition, which has contributed well to my knockdown, which was my principle concern.

I have had the good fortune to have trained many talented karate-ka's who have also been successfull in Knockdown, Kickboxing, Muay Thai & Boxing.

November 1991 - 5th World Tournament

I was very fortunate to be able to compete at the 5th World Kyokushin Karate Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

in 1991 i made the final 64 fighters out of 250, as this was the last World Tournament ever held as one organisation (IKO), I was able to compete in front of Sosai Mas Oyama for the first time as well as the fact that i was also in the same tournament as some of my influences such as Michael Thompson (GB), Andy Hug (SW), Kenji Madori (JP), Akira Masuda (JP), Kenji Yamaki (JP) & Hokori Kurosawa (JP).

I was lucky to be the very 1st fighter at the 5th World Tournament to score a full Ippon knockout (Jodan Mawashigeri) on my 1st opponent (Fiji). I also scored an Ippon by defeating my 2nd opponent (Costa Rica) with Gedan geri's.

I was the Self-Defense Co-ordinator for Oxley High School for 7 years ( 1988 - 1994 ) & also instructed the Self-Defense Curriculum for Rosary College for 2 years ( 1988 - 1990.Since becoming an Instructor i have had the good fortune to win 8 NSW Kyokushin Championships, 3 AKKA National Kyokushin Karate Titles & 3 IRKA Ring Karate Australian Championships.

On the 1st of Feburary 2006 I re- established the new Mark Tyson Dojo!

COMMENCED TRAINING September 1983 - Bondi Junction Dojo

TOURNAMENT AND FIGHT RECORD / Gradings:

1984 - Lesuire Coast Open - 3rd Place
1984 - Illawarra Mercury - 1st Place
1985 - NSW Open - 1st Place (5th Kyu)
1986 - NSW Open - 1st Place (3rd Kyu)
1987 - NSW Open - 2nd Place
1987 - Graded Shodan
1987 - National Championships - Quater Finalist
1988 - NSW Open - 1st Place
1989 - NSW Open - 1st Place
1989 - National Championships - Quater Finalist
1990 - NSW Open - 1st Place
1991 - Graded Nidan
1991 - NSW Open - 1st Place
1991 - World Kyokushin Karate Japan 1st KO of Tournament
1991 - National Championships - Quater Finalist
1992 - NSW Open - 1st Place
1992 - National AKKA Kyokushin Shobu Championships - 1st Place
1992 - National Championships - 2nd Place
1994 - South Pacific Championships - 3rd Place
1994 - Graded Sandan
1996 - National AKKA Kyokushin Shobu Championships - 1st Place.
1997 - National Championships - 1st Place
2003 - National Championships - 3rd Place
2009 - National AKKA Kyokushin Veterans Championships - 2nd Place
2009 - Graded: Yondan, Sept 11th 2009

INTERNATIONAL BOUTS

1989 - Trans Tasman Cup Challenge, Aust vs NZ 2nd Place
1991 - 5th World Kyokushin Karate Championships -Japan : final 64
1992 - Singapore Open
1993 - Muay Thai Bout - Japan
1994 - South Pacific Kyokushin Championships (QLD) - 3rd Place
95/96 - South Pacific Muay Thai - New Zealand ( Auckland )

INTERNATIONAL RING KARATE BOUTS

1995 - IRKA Australian Welterweight Champion
1996 - IRKA Australian Superwelter weight Champion
1997 - IRKA Australian Superwelter weight Champion

KICKBOXING / MUAYTHAI

World Kickboxing Association - NSW Superwelterweight Champion
World Kickboxing Association - QLD Superwelterweight Champion

KARATE - 120 / KICKBOXING - 33 / MUAY THAI - 12

View Sensei Marks Trophies, Click here.