Tina Faulkner head shot

Tina Faulkner

After what seemed like years of trying to copy her father in his practice of martial arts, Tina finally began her training in Gong Fu at her father’s school aged seven. By the age of twelve Tina was helping with the teaching in the kid’s classes. It was also around this age that Tina started her practice in Taijiquan and Qi Gong. Not only did Tina have the benefit of growing up with an exceptional teacher at home, she also benefited from participating in workshops of Qi Gong taught by visiting instructors.

At the age of 20 Tina went to study the Daoyin Yangsheng Gong system at its home, the Beijing Sports University in China. During this time Tina entered 2 international competitions of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong, winning gold medals in both.

Whilst studying for her diploma in Daoyin at the University she continued her study of Taijiquan privately with other teachers. Most notably with the national treasure Master Shi Ming at the Purple Bamboo Park. Unknown to her at the time, Master Shi Ming was made popular outside of China for his incredible abilities after he was shown on the Bill Moyers documentaries, Healing and the Mind. Shi Ming is also author of Mind Over Matter.

After her return to the UK, Tina has continued to teach Taijiquan and Qi Gong. Her teaching spread from private groups and gyms to teaching in the healthcare and oil industries. She has also been invited to teach a number of times in America and Europe. During this time Tina has continued her studies, returning to China on a number of occasions. Since the passing of Master Shi Ming, Tina now goes to study Taijiquan with Master Chen Li Sheng on Wudang Mountain.

Tina Faulkner taught at Caledonia in 2012

 
Roger Jahnke head shot

Roger Jahnke

Roger Jahnke, O.M.D., has dedicated his professional life to sharing the powerful ancient healing traditions of China. He is the director and chief instructor of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, Santa Barbara, California; and a cofounder and recent chairperson of the board of the National Qigong Association.

With almost 30 years of clinical practice as a physician of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and eight research tours to China, Dr. Jahnke has emerged as a key spokesperson for Tai Chi (Taiji) and Qigong (Chi Kung) and is a master teacher of these arts. He has studied hundreds of forms of Qigong with master teachers and visited numerous hospitals, institutes, training centers, temples, and sacred sites in China, focusing on the cultivation of Qi (Chi).

Dr. Jahnke has presented at major conferences on advances in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) throughout the United States. He has lectured on self-healing and emerging trends in health care and medicine to numerous hospital systems and health care associations, including the HealthCare Forum; the Catholic Health Association; the American Medical Association; the National Wellness Institute, Stevens Point, Wisconsin; and the American College of Healthcare Executives, Chicago, Illinois. He is a contributing author to numerous books on health promotion methodologies for both clinical providers and health care administrators.

Dr. Jahnke's first book. The Healer Within: The Four Essential Self-Care Methods For Creating Optimal Health, published by Harper San Francisco in 1997, delivered the Qigong and Taiji revolution to a broad and general audience in the Americas and the European community. In 2002, Roger's second book, The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi, published by Contemporary Books, a division of McGraw-Hill, distills the best and most important lessons gleaned from master Qigong teachers, with guidelines for tailoring a self-healing regimen for any age or medical condition.


Qigong, Tai Chi, Taiji, Chi - Feel The Qi¨

Roger Jahnke taught at Caledonia in 2006 2012

 
Nils Klug head shot

Nils Klug

Nils Klug has studied Tai Chi Chuan since 1988 and has been teaching since 1990. In the same year, Nils began studying with Grand Master William C. C. Chen, and became his certified instructor in 1993, the same year he founded his own Tai Chi Chuan school in Hannover, Germany. In addition to his personal training with eminent instructors such as William C. C. Chen & Dr Tao Ping Siang. Nils has been an active promoter of tai chi chuan through his annual Push Hands Meeting, the largest push hands meeting in Europe, and his regular teaching in Europe, where he also served as President of the Taijiquan & Qigong Federation for Europe.

http://push-hands.de/en/

Tai Chi Studio Hannover

Nils Klug taught at Caledonia in 2005 2009 2011 2012

 
Bob Lowey head shot

Bob Lowey

Bob Lowey, who was a co-founder of Tai Chi Caledonia, began his Martial Arts training in the late 1960’s studying Judo and Karate and, from the mid-1970’s be studied Wang Kung Shou Tao, attained Instructor status in 1979. Bob opened his first Taiji class in East Kilbride in September 1985. He is a regular and popular figure in the European Taiji community where he has been teaching at major events for over 20 years.


7 Stars School of Taijiquan

Bob Lowey taught at Caledonia in 2007 2006 2005 2003 2002 2000 2008 2009 2011 2012

 
Gianfranco Pace head shot

Gianfranco Pace

Gianfranco Pace began to practice Taijiquan in his late teens, researching and studying with different masters from around the world. His initial training Taijiquan training was in Chen style with Shi Ronghua, before going to Cheng-du to study the internal kungfu of Sun Lutang, with master Gou Honghai. He also studied in Chenjiagou, the birthplace of Taijiquan, staying at the house of Master Chen Xiaoxin, as his guest.

His huge passion for the practice of Taijiquan, also led him to the in-depth study of its weapons: sword, saber, Gundao, lance, pole and double weapons and, of course, also tui shou and fighting. He has also developed training exercises, to help to improve Taijiquan ability using additional training tools such as the elastic ball or the rolling pin (taiji bang).

Gianfranco has developed his own study method to research the Art of Taijiquan as an effective martial art. During his career, he compared his own experience with that of masters Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxin and Wang Xiang. His has also worked to look at the connections between applying Taijiquan against Street fighting and has developed his own system of Taiji Self Defence (TSD) System, which is the result of his experiments. In recent years Gianfranco has been preparing a technical program useful for students, to train and practice fighting sports and in these last two years his senior young students have competed in sanda, full-contact fighting and boxing.

In the 2009 he has founded his own Taijiquan school, now the basis of the International Taiji Quan Kung Fu Association (I.T.K.A.) . This school was created to develop a traditional Taijiquan teaching place where students come from all around the world to train in a residential boarding school.


www.itkataiji.com/
ITKA Taijiquan - Kung Fu di Chenjiagou - TSD System - Maestro Gianfranco Pace

Gianfranco Pace taught at Caledonia in 2012

 
Ronnie Robinson head shot

Ronnie Robinson

Ronnie Robinson, founder of Tai Chi Caledona has studied taijiquan since 1981 being training in the Cheng Man-Ching tradition, working with a number of instructors including Larry Butler, Michael Tse and Ian Cameron as well as attending workshops with Mike Sigman, Patrick Kelly, Mario Napoli and having worked privately with Tom Brodie MacClue & Tian Lian. He is a professional instructor and active promoter of internal arts through his various roles as Promotions Manager - Tai Chi Union for Great Britain, Secretary - Taijiquan & Qigong Federation for Europe and Editor of Tai Chi Chuan & Internal Arts magazine (UK). Since 1997 he has been a regular teacher at major European events, including the International Push Hands Meeting where he has taught at 10 of its 12 years.

Chiron Tai Chi

Ronnie Robinson taught at Caledonia in 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000 2008 2009 2011 2012

 
SONJA SCHILLO head shot

SONJA SCHILLO

Hooked on dancing and various kinds of sportive activity, in 2000 Sonja Schillo fell in love with Chinese martial arts, with her favourite disciplines being Taijiquan and Baguazhang. Her most impelling teachers are Angela Menzel, Volker Jung, Sha Junjie and Li Bin. Being a close student of the two last mentioned, in 2010 she was accepted as a member into the Sha Guozheng family. Together with Angela Menzel she is teaching at the Tai Chi Schule Göttingen, Germany, focussing on inner arts.


Tai Chi Schule Gšttingen

SONJA SCHILLO taught at Caledonia in 2011 2012

 
Ken Van Sickle head shot

Ken Van Sickle

Ken Van Sickle was shooting arrows and duelling with playmates, using any available stick, at the age of 6, his fascination with things martial persevered, wrestling in high school, Archery competition, (New Jersey intermediate 1st. Place in 1949) and the study of Foil and Sabre fencing.

After returning from military service in Korea in 1954, Ken went to Paris to study Painting, then returned to live in Manhattan permanently. He practiced Karate with Peter Urban from 1960 – 1967, achieving 3rd. degree black belt. Eventually finding Karate unfulfilling he went on a search for an Art with a more philosophical/spiritual base, this search ended the moment he saw Cheng Man Ch’ing.

He began study with Cheng Man Ch'ing at 211 Canal Street, New York in 1967, attending classes three or four days a week, studying Solo form, Sword form, Push hands and Fencing, He became an instructor in 1971.
In 1972 the Professor gave special classes to a small group of students he chose to be certified as teachers, Ken underwent intensive training in solo form and sword form, He continued to study with Cheng Man Ch’ing until he returned to Taiwan in 1975.

Ken has been teaching Tai Chi since 1980 and conducting workshops is the U.S. and Europe since 1992, he teaches form, push hands, sword form, fencing and Chi Gung, having a special feel for Tai Chi Sword, it has become his specialty. Ken teaches with the method and in the spirit of Cheng Man Ch’ing.


sinobarr

Ken Van Sickle taught at Caledonia in 2005 2004 2012

 
Jan Silberstorff head shot

Jan Silberstorff

JAN SILBERSTORFF received his official taijiquan training license from the PR of China in 1989 to teach taijiquan in China. In 1993 he became the first western medallist in the official tournament of Chenjiagou, birthplace of Taijiquan. Jan became an indoor student and family disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang in 1994, and together they founded the Chen Xiaowang World Taijiquan Association. Jan became the leader of the German section, which is now the largest organization of its kind. Jan is fluent in Chinese, where he lived for many years, studying with GM Chen Xiaowang, following GM Chen to his current home in Australia. In 1998 he was invited to be the first westerner to perform in the official Singapore State Wushu Masters Event, which was broadcast all over Asia.
Jan has published many articles, 3 books, several DVDs, and has produced 2 TV series about taijiquan. As a member of the 20th generation of the Chen family, Jan currently teaches in 15 countries around the world.

ursprünglichen Taijiquan

Jan Silberstorff taught at Caledonia in 2004 2003 2008 2012

 
Gary Wragg head shot

Gary Wragg

Gary Wragg practised boxing and judo as a teenager, then Wing Tsun & Escrima before beginnning his Taijiquan studies in 1973 with Gerda Geddes, John Kells (1977-79) and Seow Poon Shing (1979-1983) before settling with Wu Kwong Yu from 1983 to the present day. He heads the Wu’s Style Tai Chi Academy in London and is the senior representative of the Wu Family Clan in the UK & Europe, is a founder member of the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain, where he has served as Chairman and developed their Judge’s Training Programmes.

GARY WRAGGÕS STUDIO

Gary Wragg taught at Caledonia in 2012

 
Luigi Zanini head shot

Luigi Zanini

Luigi Zanini studied traditional Chinese martial arts with Sifu Stefano Bellomi at the 'Shaolin Kungfu Institute' from 1977 until 1989. The curriculum included Shaolin, Tang Lang, Tam Tui, Hakka Kuen, Baguazhang and Taijiquan systems, bare hand, weapons and two persons training. He was Italian champion in 1988, an international judge at competitions and received advanced instruction under Sifu Aldo Ballarin in Milano (Baguazhang). In 1990 he continued his Neijia journey with Master Wang Quiang from Shanghai (Dachengquan - Baguazhang), Sifu Loriano Belluomini in Lucca (Baguazhang) and Yves Kieffer in Arona (Xingyiquan, Daoyinfa). After these and other experiences (Wing Chun, Kali), he opened his own school 'Ziran Baguazhang' and taught in Italy and abroad, beceing a regular teacher at'Rencontres Jasnieres' in France, 'Tai Chi Caledonia' in UK and other international meetings. He trained also in the United States in 1998 and 1999, where he met Master Jou Tsung Hwa. In 2003 he got a diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine under the “Nanjing Academy of TCM” (China), teaching medical and martial Qigong for seven years at Shiatsu schools and in Italian hospitals. As a professional journalist, he directed “Tian Tan – News magazine for alternative health” for two years, wrote many articles on martial arts in Italian and European magazines. He co-authored two books, “The complete guide to Kungfu” and “Kungfu” with Yves Kieffer. Since 2007 he opened his online blog on traditional internal Chinese martial arts, Ziran Neigong Quan, and started an informal way of teaching: in the parks, under all weather conditions. He continues his journey in the martial arts (Krav Maga, Brazilian Jujitsu) and holds seminars in Europe (Sweden, Croatia, Scotland, Switzerland, Tyrol, etc), where Ziran Baguazhang groups are growing.

ZIRAN NEIGONG QUAN

Luigi Zanini taught at Caledonia in 2003 2002 2000 2012