Sifu Mark Appleford has been studying Martial Arts for over 23 years.  He first started out learning Kung Fu in the Highlands of Scotland; this was his first step on his martial arts career that has taken him all over the world in his study of these fascinating and scientific arts.  He has studied in China, USA, Thailand, and Australia.  He also lived in Hong Kong for one year in his search for authentic internal arts. 

Sifu Mark's has studied a variety of arts, among these arts are Jeet Kun Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Thai Boxing, Bagua, Hsing I, Wing Chun.  He has also been lucky enough to study with some fo the most widely distinguished and some less recognized Masters.  All of these masters displayed very similar qualities and were very good human beings.  Mark describes himself as a martial arts spotter.  He likes to research the arts to deepen his understanding and teaching ability.  And can spend many hours training and discussing the arts.

He first met Sifu Wong through his elder Kung Fu Brother Darryl when he had arranged a Chi Kung course for Sifu in Edinburgh in 2001.  Darryl needed someone to drive Sifu around in Edinburgh and Mark volunteered.  It was not very often you get unlimited access to Shaolin Grandmaster.  Marks first experience of the Chi Kung was nothing short of amazing.  It was this experience that led Mark to go to Malaysia and study Kung Fu with Sifu; this was an intense and expanding time and was Mark's first step in Shaolin Wanham.  Mark's time with Sifu and Wanham has changed his life in many ways for the better.

Sifu Mark is currently studying Chinese Medicine and is a Tui Na (Chinese Therapeutic Massage) and Chi Kung Therapist.  This to fulfill the concept of the scholar-warrior, a practitioner of Chinese Arts who is well rounded in the warrior and scholar arts.

He was made an instructor in 2004 and is Sifu's senior student in Scotland.  He is currently teaching classes in Chi Kung and Kung Fu in Edinburgh.