Instructors 2027

In this, our 29th event, in addition to our usual high level instructors we have invited some special new guests to join us for the weekend. We have a total of 12 instructors joining us, 8 for the full week’s duration and an additional 3 as weekend guests, including Bob Lowey, one of the creators of Tai Chi Caledonia. As a bonus we are repeating, by popular demand, the early morning Baguazhang session each day from Sunday through Thursday, to be led once again by  Sergio Uzzo and Simona Longeri.

As usual we consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to host a selection of high quality teachers, from all over Europe as well as Mexico, USA and Canada,  offering an interesting and varied range of workshops, something which we believe offers valuable educational material for all tastes and approaches to these arts.

Nini Melvin

Nini Melvin is the founding director of Meridians – Pathways to The Heart, in Northampton, Massachusetts where she teaches Shiatsu and Qigong (in person and online), and has a private practice. She has trained shiatsu teachers and practitioners locally and internationally since 1985, and has begun her fifth decade of practicing shiatsu.

Nini created a nature-based healing art, HUMANATURE, blending Shiatsu, Chinese Medicine and Philosophy, Dance and Qigong. She teaches Asian Healing theories and perspectives through embodied movement experiences, including the meridians, the five elemental phases and the Time-of-Day Cycle. Nini created a book, HUMANATURE – Pathways to Personal and Planetary Healing, and a five-element divination deck of cards to guide people on a healing journey through the elements.

Nini has a Master’s degree in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia, and taught movement and shiatsu at Omega Institute in New York. She received her shiatsu training at the Ohashi Institute in NYC from 1981-1985, and was a senior instructor through 1994. She trained students and teachers internationally, and wrote curriculums for the Institute. Nini has been influenced by many shiatsu teachers, including Waturu Ohashi, Pauline Sasaki, Patrizia Stefanini, Kikko Matsumoto, Pamela Ferguson, Ron DiKooning, Michelle Shumann, and Pamela Hannay. She is an AOBTA Certified Instructor.

She has studied Chinese medicine with Dianne Connelly, Jeffrey Yuen, Thea Elijah, Nikki Bilton, and Chris Marano and Qigong with Master Li Jun Feng, Daisy Lee, Lee Holden, Terri Nash and Lorelei Chang, and Body Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.

www.ninimelvin.com

Eline Kieft

Dr. Eline Kieft is a Qi Gong teacher and shamanic mentor whose work weaves movement with nature connection, ritual, archetypes and expanded ways of knowing. An anthropologist and lifelong movement practitioner, she is particularly interested in how embodied practice can help us cultivate energy and awareness, deepen self-knowledge and become more fully alive and at home in ourselves and the world.

Trained by Lee Holden, who worked closely with Mantak Chia to bring Qi Gong principles into a Western context, Eline integrates medical, energetic and spiritual approaches to movement

Living with a rheumatoid condition has deepened her commitment to Qi Gong as essential daily care, while her background in dance, anthropology and shamanic practice opens the door to imaginative and consciousness-expanding possibilities.

Eline is the founder of Wild Soul, where she teaches movement as a pathway into embodied consciousness and connection through her international online Qi Studio, courses, mentoring, workshops and retreats. Simple, practical tools help participants navigate life with confidence and joy and cultivate meaningful relationships with self, others and the wider world around. She is the author of Dancing in the Muddy Temple, which explores embodied empowerment and soulful change. Her unique and down-to-earth approach brings ancient practices into conversation with contemporary life to celebrate body, nature and the mystery.

Whether you seek gentle support, deeper self-care or a pathway  into embodied spirituality, Eline’s teaching provides a grounded, heart-led space to reconnect with your instinctive wisdom and the larger field of life. 

https://www.elinekieft.com/qi-gong

https://elinekieft.substack.com/

Gianfranco Pace

Born on 15th June, 1969 in Catania (Italy) Master Gianfranco Pace started studying Chen style Taijiquan when he was a teenager under the guidance of M. Shi Rong Hua, who instructed him with a ‘family’ sort of teaching. After about ten years of learning from him, in 1998 he travelled through China seeking the effective qualities of Taijiquan. Under the advice of his teacher, in 2001 he went to Chenjagou, cradle of Taijiquan, to study with M. Chen Xiao Xing, living in his home. On his return to Italy, he attended the seminars of several Masters of the 19th generation of the Chen family.

In 2003 Gianfranco founded the ITKA, International Taijiquan Kung Fu Association, presenting the entire traditional technical program, enriched by other exercises and his own method of teaching developed from his own practical experience.

His knowledge and abilities have led to him being invited to teach in different countries all around the world. For five consecutive years he has taught in New York, as well as holding seminars in Florida, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Chile, Argentina and Brasil. In the latter four countries he was able to establish ITKA schools for South America.

In 2015 he was appointed by the Italian Federation of Wushu Kung Fu as Master responsible for the entire field of Taijiquan.

In June 2016 he presided over an international seminar together with Gran Master Yang Jun, great grandchild of Yang Cheng Fu, direct descendent of Yang Lu Chan. The theme of the seminar was: ‘Chen style meets Yang style’. In March 2017 he presented another international seminar together with master Zhou ZhongFu (Wu Style) in Genova.

In 2009 he carried out the dream of building a school where it is possible to study and live for long or short periods: the ITKA’s main school is situated close to Catania. This allowed a new project, called ITKA College, to be started and now many people from many countries (even from Scotland), are studying intensively in order to reach a high level in Taijiquan.

Although having been been invited by several exponents of the Chen Style’s XIX generation to represent their school, Master Pace has never accepted these requests in order to continue developing the ITKA System. This a traditional and innovative method recognised in many countries all around the world, and since 2017 even in China, when the Wang Academy invited him to teach along with M. Wang Zhi Xiang and at the Sanya International Camp.

Roberto Benetti

Roberto Benetti has studied Tai Ji Quan, Chen and Yang styles, from 1985, later specializing in Liu He Xin Yi Quan, Lanshou Quan and other Internal Arts. He has been a professional teacher for 25 years, working in Italy and abroad where he regularly delivers seminars and lectures. Since 2006 he has taught TJQ to patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease and collaborates with doctors and specialized operators.

Severin Berz

Severin Berz draws on over 20 years of experience in meditation, bodywork, dance, and martial arts. A specialist in fascia and body awareness, he developed Origami Movement, his own approach to embodied exploration.

He trained in Cheng-style Bagua, Xing Yi, and Liu He Tang Lang with Master Han Yanwu (CN), a student of Liu Jing Ru (CN), and studies Taiji—Wu style with Ghislain de Taillandier (US) and Yang style with Sam Tam (CA). He guides students to refine posture, perception, and energy through subtle awareness and integration.

www.taijiheart.com

Judith van Drooge

Judith was born in 1974 in the Netherlands. Since her 19th birthday Judith has had an interest in meditation and has been busy with ‘Touch for Health’, naturopathy, intuitive development and healing. 

Since turning 25 Judith has practised Tai Chi Chuan. Her main teachers are Luis Molera and Grandmaster William C.C. Chen. Grandmaster Chen is a disciple of Professor Cheng Man Ching. 

She has won more than 60 medals at European Championships and the World Championships in Taiwan. Winning gold in Tui Shou, Pushing Hands fixed and moving step. Also her forms have won her many medals, Taolu (Tai Chi Chuan, hand form), sabre, fan, swords. Which makes her an all-round Tai Chi participant. 

In 2003 Judith founded Tai Chi school ‘Inner Touch Tai Chi’.

 Due to her rich experience she has the insight to make connections between different styles and forms within Tai Chi. This helps you to better understand and investigate the exercises. Judith lets you experience what is meant by ‘mindfulness’. You can often meet Judith at major European Tai Chi events where she is regularly invited as a teacher.

*Judith van Drooge is a qualified Tai Chi Chuan Yang style teacher, certificated by Grandmaster William Chi Cheng Chen who is established in New York, USA. www.williamccchen.com

*She is holder of 2 Duan for Chi Kung authorized by the Health Chi Kung association in Beijing, China.

*Judith is a nationally recognized Martial Arts Teacher qualified by the government from The Netherlands sports federation NOC/NSF.

www.inner-touch.nl

Sergio Uzzo and Simona Longeri

Sergio started his martial arts studies with with Master Yang Lin Sheng: Tai Ji (Chen Style), Xing Yi Quan, Yi Quan, Ba Gua Zhang. Then he studied Cheng Ming Style (Wang Shujin School), Tai Ji, Xing Yi Quan, Ba gua Zhang and Qi Gong with Master Paolo Magagnato. During the same period he studied also GM. Guo Guizhi’s Da Cheng Quan – Yi Quan. Studying directly under the direction of GM. Whang Fu Lai and GM. Huang Su Chun Sergio gained the international certification for Tai ji and Qi Gong of Cheng Ming School. During these years he also had the opportunity to study Taikiken with GM Michio Shimada Sensei. In 2016 he began his Sun Family Ba Gua Zhang studies with Master Luigi Zanini.

Simona started her martial arts studies in 1999 with Liu He Ba Fa Quan under Master John Shadow. After further studies with Prof. Li Xiaoming she became an instructor of Therapeutic Qi Gong.
In 2002 she began studying Xing Yi Quan, Bagua Zhang and Yi Quan with M. Yang Linsheng and Liu Chunyan,  going on to study Chen Style Taiji Quan with M. Xiaowang and M. Zhu Tiancai.
In 2006 she started to study Taiji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, Bagua Zhang and Yi Quan of Cheng Ming style (created by Wang Shujin) with M. Paolo Magnato.
Simona gained 1st place in Tui Shou and 4th place in Tai Ji form at the international tournament in Taiwan in 2012. Today she is a Martial Arts, Yoga, and Pilates teacher.

Wang Ning

Ning has more years of calligraphy experience than he would like to say.

He has presented a number of workshops at previous Tai Chi Caledonias which have always been very well received. 

Bob Lowey

Bob has been involved with Chinese Martial Arts from 1972 attaining Instructor status in 1979.

He is the Principal Instructor and Founder of the 7 Stars School of Taijiquan (Est 1986), Founder & Director of Qigong Teachers Association UK Teacher Training and has been involved with the initiation and management of many other organisations including: the Scottish Festival of Martial Arts, the Ayr Festival of Martial Arts, Tai Chi Union for Great Britain and of course, Tai Chi Caledonia.

He is 15th Generation Disciple to Master You Xuande, Wudang Xuanwu Pai, Hubei Province, China and regular contributor to numerous workshops, demonstrations and lectures throughout the UK and Europe.

Gerrit Snellenburg

Gerrit has been a soundhealer for almost 10 years now. He had been giving Reiki sessions for years when he discovered the singing bowls at a Buddhist Temple in the Netherlands. He fell in love with these bowls right away and began his education in  them  in the Netherlands. He then travelled to Nepal and Tibet to discover the huge power of them.  

Gerrit now gives sound massage, soundbaths, and adds sound to yoga nidra and yin yoga sessions as well as to Qigong.

Zeng Xiang Bo

Zeng Xiang Bo is a Taiwanese Tai Chi instructor specialising in Push Hands and the practical applications of Tai Chi forms. His Tai Chi lineage can be traced to Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing (CMC).

With many years of experience in Tai Chi and partner training, Xiang Bo sees Tai Chi as more than simply practising movements. His teaching explores how the movements and principles of Tai Chi can be understood and expressed through partner practice and practical application.

For Xiang Bo, Push Hands is not simply about competition or winning. It is a way of learning through interaction—listening to a partner, adapting to change, and discovering how softness, structure and timing can be used without relying on force.

He has taught Tai Chi and martial arts workshops and seminars across Europe and the United States. In 2019, he was interviewed by Kung Fu Magazine in the United States.

His workshops welcome practitioners of different ages, backgrounds and levels of experience, offering an open and supportive environment in which students can explore Tai Chi principles together and develop a deeper understanding of the art.