Mark Ellwood
ISKA Regional Director of North-East England (Kickboxing)
Mark started amateur boxing at Hull Boys Club at 12 years old. He boxed as a junior for three years, compiling a record of 6-2. A torn cartilage in the right knee stopped him training for a number of years. He started Wado Ryu Karate at 17 years old with John Moreton.
He competed in semi-contact karate, both individually and in team events with some success. During 1984-5, he took an interest in full contact karate. Bouts were starting to appear on the mats at various karate competitions. The combination of boxing and karate really interested him and he started to compete full contact. In those early days bouts were sanctioned by the Professional Karate Association (PKA). Mark passed his 1st Dan Black Belt grade in 1986. The same year he open his own club Tornado Freestyle Karate and Kickboxing.
He continued to compete in semi-contact and full contact. He returned to amateur boxing with Hull Fish Trades Boys club winning eight of ten senior bouts. By 1988 full contact karate was better known as kickboxing. Mark started to compete on the growing professional circuit winning British and Commonwealth titles. Mark has had a long and prestigious career including three world title fights. Unfortunately, the champions he faced were the best of their day, top French fighters Christophe Lartisien and Jean Martin, then Polish star Robert Novak. He had a brief flirtation with professional boxing before returning to kickboxing were he re-started at square one, winning the ISKA British title in front of 2,000 spectators at the Hull Ice Arena in 2007.
ISKA UK management team
- John Blackledge, ISKA UK National Director of Referees and Officials
- Mick Fowles, ISKA UK National Director, Pro Division
- Paul Hennessy, ISKA UK Executive Director
- Russ Williams, ISKA National Director of Wales (Thaiboxing)
- Jagtar Johal, ISKA National Director of England (Kickboxing)
- Gary O’Brien, ISKA National Director of Scotland (Thaiboxing)
- Stuart Davies, ISKA Regional Director of South-West England (Kickboxing)
- Mark Ellwood, ISKA Regional Director of North-East England (Kickboxing)
- Bern Giam, ISKA Regional Director of North-West England (Kickboxing)
