Instructor Team

Our current instructor roster including assistants to senior instructors across all our Shaolin programs. Our school is substantially greater with their dedication and compassion for teaching and positively influencing the lives of many.

Master Dao

35th Generation Shaolin Disciple and Chief Instructor

Master Dao's given Shaolin name is Shi Chang Dao (释常道). He is a 35th generation traditional Shaolin disciple with a verifiable lineage that goes back over 1,500 years. For many years Master Dao trained under the careful guidance of Master Shi Guo Song, an authentic and famous Shaolin Monk from Shaolin Temple, China. One day his master accepted him as a disciple and supported his venture to help spread Shaolin arts and culture for the benefit of others. Master Dao opened his own school in the downtown Toronto area in 2007 and has had the priviledge to teach Shaolin philosophy and martial arts to thousands of people across various disciplines including Meditation, Chan/Zen Philosophy, Shaolin Qigong, Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Tai Chi / Gentle Fist, Shaolin style sanda /Chinese boxing, and self-defense.

Click here for more about Shi Chang Dao

Rosemary “Ro” Stehlik

Womens Self-Defence Intermediate Instructor
Shaolin Kung Fu Level Intermediate Instructor
Shaolin Qi Gong Intermediate Instructor

Rose is a lead instructor of Shaolin martial arts kung fu and Women’s Self Defence at STQI Toronto. Her journey into the Shaolin arts began when she attended the Shaolin Warriors performance at the Sony Centre in 2012 where she met Dao Shi and subsequently joined his school. Since then she has been intensely training in Shaolin kung fu, gentle kung fu, and qi gong. She has performed regularly at various events around Toronto including Chinatown Festival and T&T Waterfront Nightmarket. In 2014 she joined the Shaolin Canada team and competed in the 10th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival in China and was chosen among 2000 athletes to initiate the games in the opening ceremony. In 2018, Ro became a lead instructor at the Toronto East extension school.

Luka

Shaolin Kids Kung Fu Intermediate Instructor

Luka has been with STQI Toronto since 2014 and has trained under the mentorship of Dao Shi to become our most experienced children kung fu teachers. He has performed and competed in various events around the Toronto GTA including the Canadian National Traditional Kung Fu Championships, Chinatown Festival, and Chinese New Year BIA. He is a valuable member of our instructor team.

Izab Riding

Shaolin Kids Kung Fu Intermediate Instructor

Izab began her Shaolin kung fu training at STQI Toronto in early 2014. She is one of our most experienced children kung fu teachers and performs regularly with the team around Toronto including Chinatown Festival and OCTCM.

Daniel Theriault

Shaolin Qi Gong Intermediate Instructor

Daniel has been practicing qi gong at STQI Toronto under the mentorship of Dao Shi since early 2012. As one of the most senior and advanced qi gong students, he brings great ability, enthusiasm, and experience to our instructor team. He leads and intructs all the sunrise qigong classes on weekday mornings.

Steven Shapiro

Gentle Shaolin Kung Fu Intermediate Instructor

Steven has been practicing Gentle Kung Fu and Shaolin Qi Gong at STQI Toronto under the mentorship of Dao Shi since early 2014. He is also a practitioner and study of advanced Shaolin Qi Gong and Gentle Kung Fu techniques. He clearly demonstrates smoothness and qi gong application in Gentle Kung Fu. He has performed in numerous public events around Toronto including the Chinatown Festival, Chinese New Year BIA, and T&T Waterfront Nightmarket.

Andrew Cheng

Shaolin Kung Fu Intermediate Instructor

Andrew has been with STQI since early 2015 and has is one of our greatest examples of strive and perseverance. In just a year he developed the skills to perform regularly with the STQI Toronto team and also qualified for the instructor program. His demonstrates great passion in passing on his teachings.

Ozzy Llave

Preschool Kung Fu Intermediate Instructor
Shaolin Kids Kung Fu Assistant

Ozzy has been training with great strive since 2015 and has helped to develop the preschool kids program into a fun and engaging program. In 2018 he joined Shaolin Team Canada and brought back a silver medal from the Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival in China.

Paul MacLean

Shaolin Kung Fu Intermdiate Instructor
Shaolin Kids Kung Fu Intermediate Instructor

Paul has been practicing under the mentorship of Dao Shi since early 2013. He brings great positivity and enthusiasm for teaching and is a great addition to our instructor team. In early 2019, Paul became the lead instructor for the Mississauga East extension school.

Michelle Zhao

Preschool Kids Kung Fu Instructor

Michelle joined STQI Toronto in 2015 and under the mentor ship of Dao Shi. She has helped instruct children at the Shaolin kung fu camps as well as performing in local events such as University Settlement and Chinatown Festival.

Colleen Hale-Hodgson

Shaolin Kung Fu Instructor

Colleen has been with STQI since 2015 and training under the guidance of Dao Shi. In 2018 she made it onto Shaolin Team Canada and competed in hand and weapons forms in China. She performs regularly with the STQI team and in events such as the China Town Festival.

James MacKay

Shaolin Kids Kung Fu Instructor

James has a deep passion for Shaolin kung fu martial arts and joined the downtown school in 2016. He has risen steadily into the top ranks of martial arts instructors for children.

Ciela Kauffman

Preschool Kids Kung Fu Instructor

Ciela joined STQI Toronto in 2015 and under the mentorship of Dao Shi for over 3 years. She is very dedicated to her practice of kung fu and often performs with the performance team such as University Settlement and Chinatown Festival.

AmelyZhou

Er Hu Director and Teacher

Amely Zhou is a young Canadian musician trained in both Eastern and Western traditions. She began her music studies at an early age at the Shenzhen Arts School. In 2005, she was recognized as one of the school’s most outstanding music students. In 2007, after her immigration to Canada, she joined the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, where she is currently the orchestra’s bow-string section assistant principal. She regularly performs with the orchestra, helping to promote Chinese orchestral music in Canada. In 2010, she co-founded the Chinese-Western fusion instrumental band “Spire.” Utilizing both Eastern and Western musical elements, she arranges music for the band and performs with the band on a regular basis. In 2010, Amely achieved a First Award at the Kiwanis Music Festival for her erhu solo performance. Amely also won the 2013 York University Concerto Competition, and performed with the York University Symphony Orchestra as an erhu soloist.