Grandmaster Mark Sheeley began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do in 1971 at age 12, earning his Black Belt at the age of seventeen under Master Paul T. Cho. In the early 1980s, Grandmaster Sheeley began training in American Kenpo, he opened his first dojo in 1984 and in 1987, he began studying exclusively with Professor Nick Cerio. By the mid 1990s,Grandmaster Sheeley had trained hundreds of Black Belts and served as Master Instructor to several Kenpo Jiujitsu Karate schools in New England. During this time, Grandmaster Sheeley won numerous competitions in both open-hand and weapons forms, achieving his first national title in 1991. He was nationally rated in competition for three years in a row and was the first Kenpo stylist to go number one in ranking. He has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame fourteen times, and ten National Champions have trained under him. He received his Shihan title from Professor Nick Cerio in 1993. After the untimely passing of Professor Cerio, Grandmaster Sheeley founded Kensho-Ryu International in 1999, one of the largest martial arts systems on the east coast, and is currently the director of 14 privately owned schools. On June 28th 2008 , Grandmaster Sheeley received his 9th dan.(9th degree blackbelt) and the title of Grandmaster.

Grandmaster Mark Sheeley founded Kensho-Ryu International in 1999 after the passing of Professor Nick Cerio, and holds an 8th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Jiujitsu Karate, a 7th Degree Black Belt in Komushin Ryu Jujitsu, and a 6th Degree Black Belt in Nick Cerio's Kenpo Jiujitsu Karate.

Grandmaster Sheeley continues the training of the Kensho-Ryu school owners, as well as many Black Belts at the Hombu location. He teaches classes for all ages and rank. He conducts seminars at each school in the system, and personally oversees the testing of every Black Belt candidate.