Jamual Parks

Jamual Parks is a wrestling coach, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappler, and former Oklahoma State University (OSU) wrestler (2007-2012). During his time at OSU, Parks became one of OSU’s winningest wrestlers and earned NCAA All-American status. He also received a bachelor’s degree in education. During five years of incarceration, Parks completed Baylor University’s Prison Entrepreneurship Program, earning a diploma from Baylor and helping others to complete the program once he graduated. Later, Parks served as an instructor at the skills training academy ForgeNow, where he was also a student.

Parks was born in El Paso, Tex., in 1988 into a single parent household consisting of his mother and older sister. His parents divorced before he was born and his father, who served in the military, was unable to be a part of Parks’s life. His family moved nearly 20 times before he turned 15, and Parks was mostly raised by his sister during that time. Martial arts, especially wrestling, became his outlet. Parks had a natural feel for wrestling and the sport helped him learn how to work hard and come back after a setback.

Parks is looking forward to using his life experiences to show others that there is always a silver lining, but sometimes it takes some searching to find it. Parks would like to serve as a guide to people who may have lived through similar traumas as they embark on their paths to recovery, restoration, and success.