February, 2001

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Happy Year of the Snake! This is the time to shed your old skin and start anew. Here at The Peaceful Dragon we're implementing lots of changes, including improvements to our classes and class schedules. The Pakua classes have gotten off to a great start with lots of enthusiastic students joining, and were working to tailor our other classes to the needs and levels of students as much as possible. I hope this will be your best year of training yet!

Student Membership Drive Kicks In
The strength and financial stability of our cultural center is dependent upon you, our students and members. Were fortunate to have a solid core of hard-working students who are committed to their training and to our center. Unfortunately, our total number of students has dropped recently partly due to the cancellation of our kickboxing fitness classes and partly due to lack of focus on class promotions. Our top priority is to get our student membership numbers back up and ultimately reach our goal of consistently teaching 300 students. We are currently hovering at around 220 students.

Next month in your newsletter you will be sent three gift certificates to give to friends or family offering them a free month of classes and a free uniform. Word-of-mouth and referrals is our number one way of growing. Most of our students have only positive things to say about their Peaceful Dragon training, and a large percentage of people who try our classes choose to continue training. Start thinking now about people who you think might enjoy and benefit from classes at The Peaceful Dragon

Date Correction
Last month you received the 2001 schedule of workshops, seminars and special events. The day-long meditation session was incorrectly listed for March 18th it should be March 25th.

Master Park Bok Nam Pakua Workshop, Saturday, February 3rd 11am-5pm
New Pakua classes have gotten off to a good start, and to recognize this rare opportunity Master Park is giving a day-long workshop on chi-kung and internal martial arts basic theory and application. Pre-registered price is $100, only $80 for Peaceful Dragon Pakua students. Add $20 if you wait to register at the door. For an additional $30 there is a special self-defense workshop Friday the 2nd from 7 9pm. Be sure not to miss the FREE lecture Saturday night at 7:30, in which Master Park will discuss all aspects of chi-kung and self-defense. There will be plenty of time for your questions. Both the seminar and lecture are appropriate for beginners and advanced practitioners alike.

Vedanta Workshop, Sunday, February 18th, 1-4pm
If you are interested in cultivating high-level fighting skills, you'll benefit greatly from the speed and efficiency of pakua regardless of which style you now take. If you want to understand the depths of Taoist philosophy, pakua represents the essence of it.

Five-element Nutrition Workshop, Sunday, March 18th 1-5pm
Nutritionist Libby Prim has studied 5-element theory (Wu-Hsing) extensively. She will show you how to cook for optimal health using this theory. You will get specific recipes to incorporate in your own diet, and with a basic understanding of the 5-element theory, youll soon be planning better meals too! Price if you pre-register is $39 for the public, $29 for students and members, and remember to add $10 if you just show up at the door.

Monthly Discussion Group: Diet and Nutrition
The topic for this months student discussion group is Diet and Nutrition. It will be on Tuesday, Feb 6th at 7:45 PM. All students are encouraged to attend. And again for all students trying to follow an optimal diet, Sifu Sbarge highly recommends the book Healing With Whole Foods, available here at The Peaceful Dragon.

Specialized Yoga and Tai Chi Classes
Due to popular demand, our yoga classes have been split into moderate and intensive classes to better suit our students levels and capabilities. The moderate yoga classes will be led by disciples, who have at least five years of training/experience at The Peaceful Dragon. The curriculum for both yoga classes is similar, but the moderate class is less strenuous with more emphasis on stretching and relaxing and less on conditioning and strengthening. Note that these divisions are not beginner versus advanced: One can always attend the moderate classes, and new yoga students are welcome to attend the intensive classes.

To better integrate new students into our Tai Chi Program, we now do designate separate beginners tai chi classes, which will be run by disciple level students. New students will have more opportunity to get a solid grasp of essential tai chi fundamentals before beginning the solo form and more advanced tai chi training. All new tai chi students will be in the beginners class until Sifu Sbarge advances them.

Changes to Class Schedules and Tuition Rates
Hopefully everyone is aware of our changes to our schedules and rates by this time, but if youve been out of the country or something we want to be sure you know about these changes.

1) Weve added Sunday classes. Check the new class schedule!
2) Weve added Pakua classes, dropped kickboxing fitness classes and merged Shaolin and Shuai Chiao together.
3) There are now two choices for tuition: One style is $89 per month, two or more styles is $109 per month. Senior citizens and 4-6 year olds is $69 per month. Yoga and meditation are still included with any other style, and we still offer a 20% family discount.

Congratulations to Newly Promoted Students and Disciples
The following students are official lineage students sanctioned by A.C.C.S. (American Center for Chinese Studies) and our Grandmaster, Frank DeMaria. Requirements are more than one year of continuous training at The Peaceful Dragon with demonstrated good character.

Those with an asterisk are new students promoted this year.

Debra Sbarge, Janet Hill, Tina Dickens, Becky Thorne, Tom Brien, Lisa Brien, Stuart Edmondson, Andy Foster, Charles Butler, Patricia Butlerv Jason Bernard, Stephanie Thomas, Helen Gassen, Kathleen Crowe, David Crowe, Hella Zettler, Martin Do, Samuel Ilardo, Michael Fomil, Robert Runge, Rachel Penningtonv Mildred Lewis, Marc Thorner, Lisa Phipps, James Phipps, Edric Yearwoodv Matt Lail, Kathy Nguyen, Anne Nguyen, Tanya Nguyen, Missy Ilardo, Steve Reinhardt, Kimberly Edwards, Anthony Iannone, Stephani Iannone, Danny Lucey, Shawn Hammond, Vincent Stubbs, Rachael Hooper, Thomas Kindberg, Margaret Green, Katie Wright, Enrique Sanchez, Joyce Severson Woodward, Lawence Boblas, Christopher Lokv Marcia Ilardo, Ching Hsiao, Mike Barclift, Michael Barclift, Lee Barclift, Dale Guadagna, Melanie Snider, Curley Thatch, Geoffrey Bragg, Tom Galphin

*Nick Rodono, *Deborah Nelms, *Victore Hammett, *David Block, *Karen Cox, *Celia Houston, *Chris Covington, *Donald Clise, *Andres Borja, *Toby Howe, *Kathi Weaver, *Dan Weaver, *Vara Reese, *James Gray, *David Womack, *Rebecca Grey, *Drew Dole, *Austin Yearwood, *Suzanne Redman, *Terry Lorenz, *Wayne Tvedt, *Fernando Alnas, *Beth Fitzner, *Kathleen Blanchard, *Jack Binford, *Matthew Wright, *Alice Nolen, *Ron Kadan, *Calvin Hunter, *Edward Ortiz, *Marie Kadan, *Michael Hinchliffe, *Karen McMillan, *Christina O'Donnell, *Christine Lorenz, *Manuel Espinel, *Steve Hopkins, *Mac Hamilton, *Billie Brown, *J. Eric Kindberg, *Gary McGee, *James Adams

The following students have been promoted to disciple level. Requirements are five or more years of continuous training at The Peaceful Dragon, with demonstrated good character and good Wu-de. Those with an asterisk are new disciples promoted this year.

Sherry Lu, Leonard Roberts, Aaron Arden, Wesley Adams, Eric Mullis, *Nelson Highley, *Janet Athey, *Michael Ballantyne, *Hank Kadel, *Beth Rudowske, *Suzy Newman, *Jesse Newman-Lindorf, *Josh Newman-Lindorf, *Jeremy Block, *Lynn Adams, *George Lu

Volunteering
So easy to forget, or ignore; so important to our personal growth and to the future of The Peaceful Dragon.

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Sometimes old friends drift apart. There was a time when our group paddled 50-plus days a year and we were family in the same way that we are at The Peaceful Dragon. But age, injuries, illnesses, jobs, a new summer place in the mountains and drought all came up, and suddenly it was over a year since we had seen each other.

So we planned to get together the Saturday before Christmas weekend, have dinner and then take in Juanitas Feng Shui lecture at The Peaceful Dragon. It was a nice evening, and as we were splitting up, Betty, one of my friends told me, Nelson, you are looking good! I did some kind of Aw Shucks thing. No, Nelson, you are looking really good!

Unfortunately, we were on our way home and I had little chance to mine for details. But it got me to thinking and looking back over the five plus years I have been studying with Sifu Sbarge. Here are a few of the good things:

- I am 31 pounds lighter than when I started. I have weighed more and weighed less but this is the net loss. The essential difference is that this is me, not something I have imposed on myself.

- I couldnt even get through the three Brush Knee and Twist Step postures in Part One when I was first taught them. Now I do it, or Slant Flight -- down to my mailbox, about 125 yards -- 2 or 3 times a week!

- Four years ago, when I sprained my ankle, two doctors told me to resign myself to using a cane for the rest of my life. It took me 11 months but my ankle is completely healed. I am still on arthritis medications but I am taking about a fifth of what I was five years ago.

- Meditation had changed me in ways that I find difficult to explain except to say that they are good ones.

My friend was right. I am in pretty good shape, better than I have been in some years and it is mostly due to my studies at The Peaceful Dragon. Its somehow special when a friend notices it, though. Yet, nice as that is, my introspection has also shown me this isn't why I study Tai Chi. Call them pleasant side effects, but these are not my main reasons to continue, any more than the times when I just want to cry because I am so tired of the pain, are reasons to quit.

No, what keeps me at this is the fact that I am taking charge, taking mindful responsibility, for increasing parts of my life. I have a long way to go, but this is what is really exciting for me and its been good to look back over the past few years and see how far I have come. Thanks, Betty.

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Several students shared their experiences this year, and certainly provided insights and enjoyment for many others. Will you be the next to fill this column? Length can be up to 400 words and the editor will be happy to help spruce up your creation. Give your copy to Wes or Michael, or email bmk@carolina.rr.com

Remember that we place orders from NOW Herbs and Vitamins company on the first of every month. Take advantage of 20% off their already low prices for highest quality supplements found only in the best health food stores.

Know yourself. Do your best. Dont overdo it. Make a little progress every day.

-Master Jou Tsung Hwa

To contact The Peaceful Dragon:

Call: (704)-544-1012

Write: The Peaceful Dragon
8324 Pineville-Matthews Road No.509
McMullen Creek Market
Charlotte, NC 28226

E-mail: comments and suggestions to staff@thepeacefuldragon.com