Your Guides
Melissa
Melissa is a mother, wife, writer, entrepreneur, and dedicated martial artist—but above all, she’s a warrior who challenges the conventional narrative of aging. Her martial arts journey began in 2012 at the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, where she immersed herself in Chen Style TaiJi (Tai Chi) and Tian Shan Pai Gong Fu (Kung Fu).
In 2019, at the age of 53, Melissa earned her Black Sash—a testament not just to skill but to perseverance and passion. Then, on July 13, 2025—exactly thirteen years from the day her training began—she honored tradition by taking part in a Bai Shi ceremony. In doing so, she was formally accepted as a 13th generation disciple of Chen Style TaiJi under her teacher and mentor, Shifu Billy Greer.
This ceremony marked more than a milestone—it signified Melissa’s transition from devoted student to rightful inheritor of the art, and her adoption into the lineage’s living legacy.
Billy
Billy is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong teacher. Alongside his wife Nancy, he co-owns the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, a center dedicated to martial arts education, health, and personal growth.
With roots in combat sports dating back to 1973, and starting his first teaching job a year later, Billy is a highly accomplished martial artist and instructor. He holds the rare distinction of being officially accepted as a disciple and inheritor in two distinct lineages. He is an Indoor Disciple of Grandmaster Willy Lin, a trailblazer who introduced Tian Shan Pai GongFu to the United States, and an In-chamber Disciple of Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei, a direct descendant of the founder of Chen Style TaiJi—the oldest known form of Tai Chi.
Both of Billy’s esteemed teachers have maintained exceptional health and vitality well into their 70s and 80s, a testament to their lifelong training and a source of inspiration for the Younger Body and Mind Platform.