Peaceful Dragon students Helen Gassen and Charles Butler participated in the Performing Arts category of the Western Regional Division of the Senior Games - and they took First Place!

What was their performance? The Tai Chi Broadsword. Nice job, Helen and Charles - you're an inspiration for all of us.

Congratulations to all of the Young Dragons who have had regular attendance and demonstrated good wu-de to earn the following patches and awards. See your names on the Peaceful Dragon Scroll outside Studio B. Patches and certificates will be awarded in class - date to be announced. Special thanks to parents who have chosen The Peaceful Dragon and assured their children's regular attendance.

TIGER - 3 months: Ben Bridges, Dillon Brout, Dustin Brout, Jessica Gregory, Matthew Wright

DRAGON - 6 months: Lee Barclift, Michael Barclift, Drew Dole, Ted Gellar, Kiko Mawougbe, Christopher Totman, Ashley Walker, Austin Yearwood

S.W.O.R.D. - 1 year/ 7 years old and older, Students With Outstanding Respect and Dedication: Rachel Hooper, Missy Ilardo, Jesse Lindorf, Josh Lindorf, Christopher Lok, Anne Nguyen, Kathy Nguyen, Tanya Nguyen, Lena Skalaban, Graham Williams, Katie Wright

Our Young Dragons Martial Arts Program has grown since its inception in August, 1998, to 32 active students, 4 - 15 years old. The 10 classes offered each week are age appropriate to develop the abilities of 4 - 6, 7 - 11, and 12 - 15 year old students. Instruction includes traditional Shaolin, Yoga, Kung Fu and meditation. Classes at The Peaceful Dragon have been voted "Best Martial Arts" by Charlotte Best Magazine. The parents who bring their children to class talk about the ambience here; the dedication of the instructors, and the non-violent approach to martial arts. Contact Wes Adams, Cultural Center manager, 704/504-8866 to find out more about the Young Dragons programs for children.

FBI Enlightened to Asian Ways and Culture
Sifu Sbarge was asked by the North Carolina headquarters of the FBI to give a lecture on Asian culture and history. Each month, several dozen regional FBI agents and staff members attend a lecture given by an expert on a specific cultural group. The purpose of this lecture series is to help agents and staff better understand the diverse populations with whom they deal on a daily basis. Sifu Sbarge felt honored to be asked to give such a lecture, and he was awarded a special commemorative plaque by the FBI in appreciation of his contributions to their efforts.

Sifu and Debra to go on Training Trip
A good teacher always remains a student, and in an effort to be a good teacher, Sifu Sbarge will be a student intensively for nearly 10 days in June. First, he will be training with Grandmaster Frank DeMaria at the newly reopened American Center for Chinese Studies main school in New York.

While in New York, he and his wife Debra will visit Chuang Yen Monastery for a special ceremony with Sa Ja Twai Li, the spiritual leader of one of the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Sa Ja Twai Li is regarded as the second highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism, immediately after the Dalai Lama. Due to Debra's close friendship with Bao Lin, a devoted nun within this sect, special arrangements have been made for Sifu and Debra to attend a lecture by Sa Ja Twai Li at Columbia University in Manhattan. Following the lecture they will have a private meeting with Sa Ja for special guidance and blessings. Both Debra and Sifu feel fortunate and honored to have this opportunity.

Sifu Sbarge's Super Drink Recipe
So many people have asked Sifu about his morning health drink (one student dubbed it "Sifu Sludge") that he's decided to put the recipe in the newsletter for anyone interested. He, Debra and their three dogs, drink this natural high-energy drink every morning. In addition, Sifu and Debra round off their nutritional boost with an anti-oxidant blend and vitamin B blend, and a nightly shot of The Peaceful Dragon herbal kungfu tonic. Finally, both Sifu and Debra follow a primarily vegetarian diet consisting of raw or lightly cooked fresh vegetables, fruits and grainsäand just enough junk food to maintain some sanity.

SIFU SLUDGE: Serves One

In a blender mix:
Large glass orange juice, or any fruit juice
A banana
1 Tbs Green Barley powder
1 tsp Spirulina (blue-green algae) powder
1 Tbs brewer's yeast
1 tsp soy lecithin
1 tsp wheat germ oil
2 Tbs whey powder
6 or 7 raw pecans
2 Tbs raw Chinese pumpkin seeds
2 Tbs raw sunflower seeds

The Green Barley powder and Spirulina powder are sold at The Peaceful Dragon by the pound at less than half the price you'd pay in any health food store. the other items are available at GNC (get a gold card) and Harris Teeter.

Note that this is not a weight-loss drink. It is an energy and immune system booster. Sifu welcomes suggestions or comments from any nutrition experts. He also encourages you to adjust the recipe to suit your own tastes and budget, but he (and his father!) have fine-tuned the recipe with more than twenty years of experimentation and research. Enjoy in good health!

We have organized our volunteer efforts into ten committees, each focusing on a different area of need to better manage the wonderful energy that students contribute to running, maintaining and improving The Peaceful Dragon. This effort is also meant to extend a welcoming hand to newer or less involved students. If you have not yet filled out and turned in a Volunteer Committee Sign-up Sheet, please pick one up at the front office or in the main studio, fill it out, and drop it in Wes' mail box in the front office as soon as possible. These sheets are important. We absolutely need one from every student. We don't want to bug people, but if you have not filled out one of these forms, you will be asked about it sooner or later. If you identify an area where you would just be willing to help, and someone calls you to do that even once in the next year, your contribution however large or small will be appreciated. And you may give someone who's been doing that thing every day or week or month, a much needed break. We'll even thank you in advance! And a very warm thank you to all of you volunteers who have been keeping The Peaceful Dragon going, and making it the wonderful facility we all enjoy and benefit so much from!

Anyone can share their Peaceful Dragon Experience in this newsletter by submitting it - in 400 words or less - to Wes or George or me in person, or to my email, bmk@carolina.rr.com. We'd love to hear from you. - Editor

As of the writing of this newsletter (end of May), we have raised just about half of our goal. We still need to raise more than $2000 by the end of this month to reach our goal. We think we can do it. We've extended the deadline for ordering t-shirts, pants, and pictures - so place your orders today. And keep putting your spare change in the jar on the counter, or make larger donations for which you will be recognized.

The new carpets should last several years. Once this fundraiser is over, we want to once again focus our efforts and resources on continued improvements such as better training equipment and expanded programs for everyone.

Plans for this event have come together as the newsletter was being written.

The Peaceful Dragon, in a further effort to raise money to buy new carpet, will host a Yard Sale at the Belle Johnson Community Center in Pineville, on Saturday, July 1st, from 10 am - 3 pm. The large pavilion has been reserved for this event.

If you want to participate, see Shawn or Lynn Adams. Proceeds from your unwanted, donated items will go into the carpet fund. We need helpers to price, sticker, and transport items to the pavilion the morning of July 1st, and assist with set up, and clean up afterwards. Refreshments will also be available.

"I am convinced that human nature is basically gentle, not aggressive. And every one of us has a responsibility to act as if all our thoughts, words, and deeds matter. For, really, they do. Our lives have both purpose and meaning."
- From Ethics for the New Millennium, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama