Mattijs discovered the corrupting power of the human mind and went in search of methods to develop integrity. His search began at the Vrije Hogeschool in Driebergen, where he was confronted with the discrepancy between his cerebral tendencies and his actual actions: a sharp mind can be persuasive even without sincere coherence with one’s actions.

While studying Comparative Art Science at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, he became further aware of how distant thinking can be from reality. This insight was deepened at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where an overly intellectual approach to art made the gap between mind and body even more visible.

In Aikido, Taiji Quan and Qigong, Mattijs discovered disciplines that focus on the harmony between mind and body. This integration is the basis for coherence, which manifests itself not only in the efficiency of the techniques, but also in the development of qualities such as focus, overview, flexibility, decisiveness, perseverance, integrity and correct manners.

In 2005, he started teaching Taiji and Qigong. He founded Studio MENG in The Hague, where he teaches and organizes workshops and seminars focused on personal development.

His observation of a lack of integrity in politics and business led him to focus his field of work on influential leaders. He believed that when, for example, a CEO becomes more in touch with the integrity of mind and body, it can also have positive effects on broader issues such as sustainability. To that end, he founded Elementair werk (Elementary work) in 2015. Since then, he has been training companies and organizations, where integrity, well-being and embodied leadership are becoming increasingly important.

Mattijs stands out for his background: not business or public administration, but 25+ years of study and training in classical arts of change. He combines this with insights from his university and art education and a broad cultural interest. With a clear cognitive foundation, humor and an acute sense for spaceholding, he convinces even the most skeptical participants, supported by his deeply lived and substantial physical practice.

Mattijs and his partner live in Indonesia for the larger part of the year , where they train full-time at Lotus Nei Gong International. The curriculum includes internal and external martial arts (such as Shaolin Gong Fu, Taiji Quan and Hsing Yi), Chinese yoga (Dao Yin, Qigong), health science, meditation, philosophy and psychology.

In addition to his work, Mattijs is a passionate film buff. He loves horseback riding and enjoying sunlight.

Mattijs trained intensively in Qigong, Taiji Quan and meditation with Inge Maassen, Reinoud Eleveld, Juan Li and Masahiro Ouchi (Universal Healing Tao). He trained Yi Quan with Peter den Dekker (Dynamics of Standing Still). He followed his Aikido training with Francisca van Leeuwen (Seishin Seii).
Currently he is training full time with Damo Mitchell (Lotus Nei Gong).

“I want to help the individuals, teams, and organizations that make a difference stand firmly on their own two feet. I want them to feel their backbone, get their blood flowing, and breathe deeply. It fills me with joy to see people emerge—radiant, strong, and full of energy—beyond their mechanical functions. To achieve this, I bring people into motion, both physically and mentally: experiential, down-to-earth, and with humor.”