Mark Parra's martial arts journey spans over twenty-five years, with a rich background in four different styles and disciplines. He holds Black Belts in each of these styles, a testament to his dedication and expertise.
Mark's introduction to martial arts began with watching Bruce Lee as Kato in the television series "The Green Hornet." His second encounter was with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez and his family, which led to a lifelong training journey with the Urquidez Brothers. In 1978, Mark trained with the Urquidez Brothers, a journey that would last for his entire life.
Mark is one of only a few elite Black Belts ever bestowed upon by The Jet Center and the Urquidez Family. Ten years later, Mark became the Director of Martial Arts at the Jet Center in Van Nuys, California. He later opened a humble dojo, which he called the "House Of Champions."
Today, the HOC is a spectacular 6,500 sq.ft. facility that caters to everyone from professional athletes to young children. Recently, Mark received the Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and contribution to the martial arts, presented by Master Cecil Peoples.
Mark's journey has continued to evolve, as he currently studies under Arjukanpo Master Vince Palumbo of Adelaide South Australia and Master Anthony Kleeman of Grand Master Cacoy Canete's "Doce Pares" Filipino Fighting Arts of Cebu City, Philippines. He also trains weekly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master Free Taylor and Master Adam Nalbantian.
Currently, Mark is working with World Champions Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham & Ricky "The Mongoose" O'Kane in the art of Muay Thai.
In addition to his martial arts pursuits, Mark has a passion for acting, theater, television, and film. He began studying acting with the best in the business in 1981 and has acted in numerous feature motion pictures and television shows.
Mark has also made a name for himself as a personal trainer, with private clients from the Film, TV, Radio, and Music Industries, including Nicolette Sheridan and Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives.
As a public service to his community, Mark and The House of Champions continue to make headlines, appearing on LA's UPN News for charitable work with children and adults who suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD),and on FOX's Good Day LA for his work against gang violence and students with special needs.
Mark has worked and trained with many professional and amateur fighters, including World Kickboxing Champion Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham, Danny "Hard As" Steel, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Mia "The Knockout" St. John, Hector Lopez, and more.
