When Grandmaster DeMaria's book on Chang Style Tai Chi came out in the mid-1980s I got the first autographed copy of it. This was because I volunteered to rent a truck and drive down to the seedy shipping piers on Manhattan's Lower West Side to pick up the books when they arrived from the Taiwan printer. I had to wait hours, suffer through filling out numerous documents and forms and make two separate payoffs to the dock workers before anyone would even bother to go look for the container that housed the dozens of cartons of books.

When I finally returned in the wee hours of the night with the books, Grandmaster was very appreciative and signed one for me. He signed, "If your kungfu is as good as your Wu-de you will be successful."

I practice my kungfu and don't worry too much if it's good or not, but I care a lot about maintaining proper Wu-de. I strive daily to make sure my Wu-de is good. I realized early on that the favor of my teacher was a direct result of my adherence to good Wu-de, and that the depth of kungfu training I would receive was a direct result of the favor of my teacher.

As a teacher today I respect and value each of my students and vow to teach each student openly and fairly. But there are many levels to the teachings of kungfu, and my greatest efforts to instill the deepest levels will naturally go to the students whom I favor most. These students, without exception, are the ones with good Wu-de.

Wu-de Student Discussion Group
On Tuesday, January 2, our first day back after the holiday break, we will hold our monthly student discussion group at 7:45 p.m. immediately following tai chi class (remember these discussions are held the first Tuesday of each month.)

This month's topic is Wu-de, perhaps the single most important topic for any student of any Eastern discipline or art form. Sifu hopes that every Peaceful Dragon student who is able will attend this discussion group. Next month's topic on Feb. 6th will be Diet and Nutrition. Note: Peaceful Dragon members who are not students are welcome to attend these discussion groups.

New Year's Celebration
New Year's dinner celebration sure to be memorable - This year's annual student New Year's Dinner Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, January 27th, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. right here at The Peaceful Dragon. As in the past, this catered affair will feature lots of great food followed by student promotions and awards ceremonies, and partying and dancing till the wee hours. We repeat important announcements for your benefit - and the banquet has been the blow-out event of the year more than once!

All students are encouraged to come as part of the Chinese tradition of welcoming in the new year and bringing good fortune to our center and all its members. But mainly come because it's a great time and one of the few times you can socialize with all of your fellow students together. Family and guests are welcome. Adults $30, children 10 and under $15. Tea and soft drinks are included - bring your own favorite wine or spirits. Please purchase your tickets now at the tea house counter to reserve your seats. Seating is limited so buy your tickets early!

New Pakua Classes
New pakua internal kungfu classes start this month - If you are taking tai chi for health and stress reduction, pakua, with its sophisticated breathing, chi kung and circle walking, is a perfect complement to it.

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.

What is pakua internal kungfu? Along with tai chi and hsing-I, it is an ancient Chinese internal martial art based on natural principles whose purpose is to promote longevity and enhanced mental and physical power. We are now offering rare classes in authentic lineage pakua, passed on both by Grandmaster DeMaria and the very detailed and complete system of Master Park Bok Nam as handed down by Master Lu Shui Tian. Sifu Sbarge, who continues to train with DeMaria and Park, is certified by both of these masters to teach their pakua methods. Like tai chi and hsing-I, pakua is suitable for people of all ages and health conditions. And as with all the arts we teach here, the rewards are great if you train diligently and sincerely.

Workshop with Master Park
Saturday, February 3rd 11am-5 p.m. Master Park Bok Nam offers another workshop - to inaugurate our new classes with a day-long study of chi-kung and internal martial arts basic theory and application. Pre-registered early-bird price is $100, $80 for Peaceful Dragon pakua students, all add $20 if you wait to register at the door. And while this is another terrific offering by itself, there is also a FREE lecture that night, 7:30 p.m., in which this world-renowned master will discuss all aspects of chi kung and self-defense. There will be plenty of time for your questions. Both the seminar and the lecture are appropriate for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

Cooking Workshop
Sunday, January 14th 1-5 p.m. Can't Cook, Won't Clean? If you think this describes most men, you're in for a delightful change of pace when Geoff Bragg, chef at The Pewter Rose teaches his techniques for scrumptious "Asian Fusion" cooking. Pre-registerd early-bird price $29 for students and members, $39 for the public - add $10 if you walk in. And don't forget the FREE lecture January 6th! Geoff's last one was one of the most popular ever! Why shouldn't the best cooking be the cooking you've learned to do yourself and share with others?

Vedanta Workshop
Sunday, February 18th 1-4 p.m. Vedanta Workshop follows the FREE Saturday lecture and allows "hands on" experience and application of the philosophy and spiritual practice that underlie Yoga and Ayurvedic medical disciplines that Michael Blate, founder of the G-Jo Institute, will talk about. Hear about it, then try it. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Pre-registered early-bird price $39 for students and members, $49 for the public, and of course add $10 if you're just walking in the door.

Changes in Classes and Schedule
This is a repeat for those who may somehow have missed the announcement last month. A new class schedule has been set to begin January 1, 2001. Sifu Sbarge believes that this new schedule will be welcomed by most students, though a handful may unavoidably be disappointed, which he regrets.

The biggest change is the addition of pakua internal kungfu classes, and the deletion of kickboxing fitness classes. Pakua (which was described in more detail in last month's newsletter) is of great benefit to all students of any age and many of our current students are looking forward to adding pakua classes to their curriculum. Students currently taking Hsing-I kungfu, which no longer appears on the schedule, can continue their Hsing-I training in the pakua classes. Our kickboxing fitness students have dropped off in number significantly over the past year, demonstrating a lack of popular interest in that program. A handful of kickboxing students have discussed continuing informal kickboxing fitness classes, and if this occurs we will include information on this in the next newsletter.

Additionally, many tai chi and shaolin kungfu classes have been extended from one hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. And finally, shuai chiao kungfu and shaolin have been merged so students can work on either or both during those class times. *If you are interested in changing your curriculum, or have questions on schedules and pricing, please see our staff.

Pakua Books are Essential Reading
Master Park Bok Nam's books, Fundamentals of Pakua, Vols. I and II are the most comprehensive and detailed texts on pakua available. If you are considering training in pakua we highly recommend that you at least read Volume One, and if you already are planning to take the pakua classes or attend Master Park's seminar then Volume One should be considered mandatory reading and Volume Two essential reading . Both volumes have excellent accompanying videotapes.

The books and videos are available for sale at The Peaceful Dragon.

Thanks, Shoppers
A special thanks to all of you Peaceful Dragon students and members who did some of your holiday gift shopping at The Peaceful Dragon. We hope you found some good sales and values, and we remind everyone that your patronage in our tea house is what allows us to keep our cultural center doors open.

Membership Drive
DON'T KEEP THIS QUIET! We're having a Membership Drive. Tell your parents, tell your friends, because if you refer somebody and they sign up, YOU get one month of classes FREE, and the new student gets half off their first month. Refer one person a month, and you could take classes all year for free!! Of course, you don't have to be a young dragonäthis opportunity is open to ANY current student. Are you still reading this? Go forth and refer!

Volunteering
Quarterly Cleaning and Maintenance Day Our quarterly cleaning and maintenance day has been set for Sunday, Jan. 28th, the day after the New Year's Dinner. We will need lots of volunteers to help with the cleanup after the party anyway so this is a logical day for our full cleaning. Please try to help out any time between the hours of 12 noon and 5 p.m.

Dragon Classified Ads
Your ad in this space - cheap, effective. See Wes or George.

I have been a smoker for over 30 years, and have tried many times to quit - without much success. A couple of weeks before Shi Guo Lin's workshop, I began thinking that it would be a good opportunity to try to stop again.

My last cigarette was right before I walked into The Peaceful Dragon for the weekend workshop. As the hours went by, I really wanted to smoke. I decided to ask Master Guo Lin what advice he would give for me to stop. I tried asking him but the language barrier prevented our communication; so I imagined him saying to me "Don't do it. Do something else instead."

That's what I've been doing. Instead of smoking, I go to The Peaceful Dragon for yoga, tai chi and meditation, tea, and the lectures. Thank you all for providing such a wonderful center where I can come anytime, participate in so many activities, and always feel better when I leave.

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

My wish: ... to live in a time like the present, in a place like this one, with friends like the ones I have now,
... and be myself.

-Harvey Jackins

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