User:Markthomasbishop

Mark Bishop is a martial artist from Vancouver, BC, Canada. He is also an actor and recording artist. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1274878/

Bishop started ITF TaeKwon-Do in Williams Lake, BC, Canada on January 22nd, 1985, after being bullied for a year by a group of teens. One of the teens moved in right next door in the summer of 1984, much to Mark's dismay. The teens began harassing Mark's family and fighting Mark at the public pool, at his locker, in First Aid class, in English class, on Mark's front lawn and on the way home from school. Cowardly, the teens would not even make eye contact when they were alone.

After hearing the teens were lifting weights, doing steroids and taking boxing, Mark seen one of the boys with a black eye and decided he needed to learn how to fight. He went to the local Chinese Restaurant, where Kung Fu was being taught above the restaurant. Unfortunately, the teacher had died the previous weekend.

Mark saw an ad for TaeKwon-Do in the local Recreation Guide. He took $50 from his uncle and grandfather, along with his mother to sign up for classes.

With intense training 6 days per wek, 4 to 8 hours per day, Mark reached 1st Degree Black Belt in just under 2 years and 10 months.

Mark was on the BC Team from 1987 until 1997, and made the Canadian Team in 2002(ITF Canada).

Bishop has taught for 27 years and was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt on Sunday March 24th, 2013 in Queens, New York by Master Ruben Suarez, 8th Dan. Bishop went to the 80th International Instructor's Course in Queens, New York taught by Grandmaster Marano, Grandmaster Bos and Grandaster LAN Ung.

Entertainment

Mark Bishop is a union Actor with UBCP. He has been involved with the Film Industry since March, 1990 when he moved from Kamloops, BC to attend a Stunt School. After the course ended, Bishop moved on July 1st, 1990 to Beach Avenue in Vancouver and began getting on set, and meeting Stunt Coordinators on many TV Shows. Bishop bean writing a feature film on a Commodore 64 but eventually wrote this script by hand over 3 years.

Mark auditioned for Sid Kozak at CBC in Vancouver and he told Matk that he had a lot of potential but needed training. He told him to go to Gastown Actors Studio. Unfortunately, Mark couldn't afford it.

March 1991, Bishop moved to Fraser Lake, BC and within a month began working at Fraser Lake Sawmills. One year later he moved to Merritt to stay with his Grandmother. After traveling every weekend to Kelowna, Bishop moved there in 6 weeks.

While in Kelowna, Bishop volunteered at Shaw Cable for 2 years and learned Camera, Audio, Lighting, Diecting, ENG and Editing. He wrote his first TV episode called Boomerang Child. Bishop modeled tuxedos for 4 years in runway shows, did Mannequin Modeling and did print work.

Bishop was a lead actor in The Insomniac's Club, a 2 hour movie by a young Auteur (turned doctor) Mark Dickinson. It played on Shaw Cable for 3 years all across Western Canada.

Bishop also appeared in several commercials on the local TV Station, CHBC.

From 1992 to December 1995, Mark Bishop trained with, was Coached by and taught for Mr. Keith Black at Okanagan Valley TaeKwon-Do in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon.

Bishop attended many IICs with General Choi Hong Hi, founder of TaeKwon-Do. In August 1995, Mark Bishop tested for his 3rd Degree Black Belt with Andre Blake in Lethbridge.

In 1996, Bishop moved to his hometown of Merritt and opened the Merritt TaeKwon-Do Academy.

Bishop was competing in 10 tournaments a year. He was 1995 Canadian Power Board Breaking Champion. In the spring of 1997, Mark Bishop won the Hyperweight Sparring Division at the Westerns in Kelowna, held by Mr. Keith Black. His picture kicking his opponent Jeff Sandford made the front page of the Kelowna Daily News and many newspapers across Western Canada.

Mark fought for the Canadian Olympic Team Coach, Grandmaster K.H. Min from Edmonton, in April, 1997 in Calgary at the WTF Alberta Provincials. He won 2nd, losing to the Canadian Champion. Bishop returned home battered.

May 1997, Bishop traveled to Toronto and fought in the Canadian Championships. He faced off against Jeff Sandford first and was knocked down. He got up, finished te rest of the fight but there was noticeable damage. Kurt Ottesen suggested he head to to local hospital. Bishop walked out of the gym with 2 Ambulance Attendents to a waiting Ambulance and was transported across the street to the Etobicoke Hospital. He was diagnosed withy mild concussion and told not to get hit in the head for a month.

3 weeks later on June 10th, 1997, at 9:00 am, Bishop was working at Aspen Planers Sawmills on Quilchena Avenue when two twenty foot wet 2 x 4's hit him on the very top of the head in quick succession, falling from the chain of the J-Bar, 25 feet below where Bishop was trying to release a bin that was caught. Bishop received 4 stitches on the top of his head, 16 cracked teeth and 11 vertebrae compressed and out of place. (In 2012, Bishop was diagnosed with Spondilolysis, a degenerative spinal disease). Bishop was diagnosed with Fibremyalgia and Myofascial Pain in 2000, yet WCB refused to help Bishop with long-term injury assistance or financial assistance because he tried to do patterns in a tournament. Bishop can do the movements but will throw his ack out in the process and his legs go weak. He can no longer do the splits. WCB did end up paying for the repair and replacement of 16 teeth, yet still claim Bishop wasn't injured enough for them to help. He cannot take labour ung positions.

In Sept 1997, Bishop was to take a 6 week rehabilitation at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. After 2 weeks, they sent him home but he wasn't completely headed and still has effects from the injury in 2013.

He held the BC Provincial Championships on April 18th, 1998.

April 22nd, 1998 Mark's almost live-in girlfriend won $14 million on 6/49.

Starting in 2012, Mark Bishop taught private TaeKwon-Do lessons to Golden Glibe nominee and Oscar nominee actress Mirielle Enos from The Killing, World War Z and Big Love.

Bishop writes music under the name Sanctuary X. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/why-must-we-think-this-way/id189435578?i=189436014