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April-May, 2003
Message from Master Eric Sbarge
Director and Head Instructor
So often in martial arts, as with life in general, bonds
among people are broken and loyalties are lost. I therefore
feel extremely fortunate that we at The Peaceful Dragon have
maintained a strong bond with our Grandmaster and his
organization, the American Center for Chinese Studies.
Students are expected to remain loyal to their teachers, but
they often don't. I remain as loyal as ever to Grandmaster
DeMaria. Teachers also need to remain loyal to students and
never stop teaching, but they often don't. I'm pleased to
be able to say that our Grandmaster remains as dedicated to
teaching us as ever.
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The fact that Grandmaster, who never travels, is again
willing to come down to North Carolina to train us says a
lot about his character and a lot about what he sees in our
character here at The Peaceful Dragon. As in the past, I
hope you'll do all you can to make his stay enjoyable and
memorable and to make him feel like the family that he is.
Attend his workshop, attend the dinner in his honor,
participate in the demo for him, and most important take
advantage of the knowledge and insight that only a real
grandmaster can give you. You'll carry it with you forever.
Special Announcements
Newsletter Is Now Bi-Monthly
With this issue, our newsletter will come out every two
months. This will conserve our limited resources and also
eliminate some of the repetitive material. We'll continue
to place newsletters in Studio A for one week before mailing
out those that were not picked up. Each student is
encouraged to pick up your copy of the newsletter to further
help reduce costs.
NOW Vitamins and Food Supplements
The Peaceful Dragon has been offering this top quality line
of health products to students at 20% off for at least a
couple of years. Sifu and Debra researched the available
product lines to find what they believe is a valuable
benefit for those seeking to maximize their health in a
stressful world. Catalogs for 2003 are available but we
can't afford to mail them. Instead they will be placed next
to the newsletters in studio A. Please take one, they're
free. We think you'll find these products superior to
anything you use now. Please see Debra or Ozzy at the front
counter for more information and to place orders.
Workshops and Events
Grandmaster DeMaria to Teach Again at The Peaceful Dragon
If there is any way humanly possible, this is the
one event of the year to find a way to afford. Talk to Sifu
about a budget if necessary. Those interested in the
special self-defense techniques against guns and knives will
want to buy the weapon set in advance.
The 3-day workshop runs May 16-19. Click
here for details.
Self-Defense for Women
Saturday, April 26, 10am 6pm.
This will be an expanded day-long workshop. Lynn is an
experienced instructor and very knowledgeable about this
subject. She presents troubling but necessary information
in an accessible way and teaches direct, effective
techniques that anyone can learn. You'll learn how to
recognize and avoid bad situations as well as get out of one
the best way. Cost for the public $79, students, just $59.
Sign up before April 20 and save $10.
Tibetan Meditation Workshop
On Sunday, June 22, 1-5 pm, Geshe Dakpa Topgyal,
a Tibetan Buddhist Monk, will discuss
the practice of Shamatha meditation. The purpose of this
meditation is to achieve deeper levels of understanding and
wisdom, and help free the mind from disturbing emotions so
as to foster inner peace, harmony and balance.
Workshop topics include meditation in general, physical
postures, ways to withdraw mental focus from the external
and bring it inward, calming the mind, and then retaining
pure awareness. There will also be periods of meditation and
time for questions.
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal is a graduate of the great Drepung
Loseling Monastery, and teacher in residence of Charleston
Tibetan Society. This is your opportunity to gain a new tool
for your spiritual growth.
Early-bird price is $49 for the public, $39 for Peaceful
Dragon students; after June 18 add $10. Geshe Dakpa will
give a free lecture the night before on Tibetan Buddhism.
For Young Dragons, Grandmaster will for the first time hold a
special one-hour class tailored to their needs and capabilities.
This is a super opportunity that no Young Dragon should miss out
on. Prices and schedule, etc, will be announced soon.
International Cuisine Dinner Series
The series continues Wednesday, May 7, 7 pm
with a sumptuous Southeast Asia Dinner.
Chef Geoff Bragg will prepare cuisine from Thailand, Laos,
Cambodia and Vietnam. The food from this region can prove to
be a strange marrying of flavors and techniques. Much of the
recent history of these peoples has been dominated by the
French, and their influence can be seen in the cuisine.
Especially along the coast where open-air cafes reminiscent
of Paris can still be found in abundance. The daily fare
relies heavily on fresh herbs and vegetables for flavor as
much of the population is still too poor to eat meat with
any regularity. This has resulted in a unique vegetarian
repertoire full of unique flavors and textures.
Reservations are required.
Cost is $30. Specially selected
regional wines are also available. Call 704-504-8866 to
make a reservation, or see the front desk.
What's Up?
Sifu's Lecture Series Well-Received
Coming up:
Thursday, May 8, 7:30pm: Diet and Nutrition
Wednesday, June 4, 7:30pm: Medical Qigong
Many students have attended these lectures so far, and
gained valuable insight into subjects that have both
immediate application and long-term deeper meaning in their
lives. The recent lecture and discussion that followed are
a good example of this. Due to the amount of interest,
Sifu's notes on Personalizing Your Training Schedule for
Maximum Results are reprinted here.
General Points:
- Set personal goals. How can you find the
best program to achieve your goals if you aren't clear about your goals?
- Recognize that goals change. Periodically reassess them.
- Focus only on those activities that best help you reach your goals.
- Establish a realistic training schedule that takes
into account not just your goals, but also your lifestyle.
- Appreciate what you can achieve - don't bemoan what you can't.
- Remember that the practice is the achievement.
Specifics of Practice:
- Make qigong/breathing the foundation of your practice.
- Ten focused minutes are better than 60 unfocused.
- A little practice daily is better than a lot periodically.
- Balance between what you like and what you need:
strength, endurance, flexibility, focus, concentration, harmony.
- Practice lifestyle enhancements.
- Practice mindfulness at all times.
- Adjust your practice to your state of mind
and body, to the seasons, to your work or outside activities.
- Study classics and commentaries on theory and principles.
- Periodically push yourself with intensive training sessions.
- Accept setbacks, frustration, laziness, etc. as normal...but
overcome them as quickly as possible.
Gardening Club Blooms
The Garden Club will meet the first and third Sunday of
every month at 12:15pm in the tea room. Group gardening
activities will be scheduled for Saturday and Sunday
afternoons from noon until 3pm. If you are never free
during those times but want to participate, you can arrange
to do so at other times. We will figure out a way to let
all members know what needs to be done and share that with
you.
If you would like to be a member of the garden club, please add
your name, phone number and email to the Garden signup sheet on
the Volunteer Board near the restrooms. You will be contacted
with further details regarding gardening work and activities.
Flowers, Bulbs and Bushes Wanted! Now or any time during the year
that you're thinning plants or changing your landscape and you
have extra perennial flowers, bulbs, bushes or trees please bring
them in to help landscape The Peaceful Dragon.
Pond Repair Day
Saturday, April 19, 10:30am 2:30pm.
The liner for the large back garden pond
needs to be repaired and the pond surround
rebuilt. This will be labor intensive - we need
as many people to help as possible because the work
is heavy and cannot be done with only a few.
Bring gloves and a shovel. This vital work will
preserve the integrity of the pond and the beauty
of our landscaping. If it rains,
the reschedule date is Saturday, April 26.
Young Dragons
Congratulations to recently promoted Young Dragons!
• 4-6 years old: Arren Sevigny and Andrew Weaver, yellow sash
Emi LeNeaver, white sash
• 7-12 years old: Macie Imholt, yellow sash; Nicole LeNearve,
Jarreth Brown and Timothy Brown, white sash
Test dates May and June will be posted later.
Your instructor will let you know whose turn it is for testing.
Introduced in the last newsletter The Black Sash Club is
open to 7-12 year olds who have achieved the rank of Yellow
Sash or higher - only with the recommendation of the Young
Dragon instructors. Attendance, hard work, attitude
and desire will be important measures.
Dragon Classified Ads
The Attorney is In!
J. Eric Kindberg, Attorney at Law
Real Estate Closings, Deeds, Notes,
Mortgages, Contract for Deed
(Land Contracts), land trusts, tax free
exchanges, foreclosures, etc. Incorporations, LLC, Sub-S, contracts,
Partnerships, stock buy-out, business law.
Office: 704-665-6363
1101 Tyvola Rd., Suite 202
(Tyvola @ South Blvd.)
Your ad can be here too! Forty words for $10. Got a lot to say?
Up to forty more words, add $5.
My Peaceful Dragon Experience
Share your experience with us. What does The Peaceful Dragon mean
to you? How has it affected your life? Many students have had
wonderful stories to tell...doesn't yours belong here too? Leave
your copy with George or email the editor,
bmk@carolina.rr.com
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