About Mark Lawler

Professor Mark Lawler is a ninth degree black belt in Kenpo Karate. He began his training in 1978 at American Karate Studio in Wilmington, Delaware, where he taught for 12 years under Pat Caputo. He also competed actively in the 1980s into the early 90s. Mark was a personal student of Joe Palanzo from the time of Ed Parker's death until 2003; he also has trained with Kenpo Masters Frank Trejo and Huk Planas.

Since that time, Mark has trained extensively in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing and Kickboxing, Bando and Escrima.

Mark has owned and operated Lawler's Kenpo Karate in Kennett Square, PA since 1992. A well known representative of Kenpo, Mark has taught many seminars in the eastern USA and Canada, formerly for the WKKA, independently, and now as an executive board member of the International Kenpo Brotherhood.

From 1995 to 2003, Mark served as Chief Arbitrator for the Worldwide Kenpo Karate Association as well as Co Captain of the WKKA National Demo Team.

In 1999, Mark was a consultant to former St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil on the use of Martial Arts based drills to enhance the performance of Pro football players.

Since 1999, Professor Lawler has been with West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he teaches in the Department of Kinesiology. His classes include Strength Training and Personal Self Defense. Mark's knowledge of Martial Arts, weight training and fitness have made him a sought after personal trainer.

An accomplished guitarist, Mark recorded an instrumental guitar album titled Zero Hour in London, England for AVN Records in 1990. His band MELTDOWN was featured on local radio and in the Netherlands in the late 1980s. Mark continues to perform and record with his band in the Philadelphia area.