March, 2003

Message from Master Eric Sbarge
Director and Head Instructor

With the impending war, the sluggish economy, the unrelenting terror alerts and all the personal uncertainties that we each face at any given time, it's all too easy to start feeling gloomy and negative about life. But negative feelings lead to negative actions, which in turn foster more negativity. If you succumb to this negativity you're allowing outside influences to disrupt the positive outlook and lifestyle that's essential for full vitality and optimal enjoyment and success in life.

How can we maintain optimism, or at least equilibrium between positive and negative feelings, when we perceive negative forces around us? The admonishment, "Don't worry, be happy" makes sense in its simplicity but it rarely works for people in real life. Just because the intellect knows that we should be happy doesn't mean that our feelings and emotions will obey.

A happy and positive outlook is only possible when you understand two things: First, that it comes from inside you, regardless of external influences; and second, that it takes discipline and effort to remain positive and joyful. Joy and optimism aren't automatic, nor do they come by wishing for them. They come by actively and constantly working to create conditions in life where they can flourish.

What are some conditions that allow for continued optimism, joy and positive feelings in life? Most important is an active and healthy body. Many people become lethargic and lazy when they feel down, but slacking off on exercise only perpetuates the down feelings.

Then it is necessary to find outlets for creativity. Immersing yourself in various arts let you grow and create even when outside pressures seem intent on restraining and diminishing.

And finally, there must be a renewed commitment to charity. In the midst of a conflagration, for example, if we can save one seedling or tiny animal this sparks something in our genetic disposition that makes us feel positive and hopeful.

Spring is right around the corner. In accord with nature, plants will bloom and newborns of every species will appear despite the wars, recessions and negative influences of mankind. As a creature of nature, allow yourself the positive energy needed so that you, too, can fully bloom.

Special Announcements

Tuition Adjustment Required:
Any students who joined The Peaceful Dragon before January of this year should have seen George Lu, our cultural center manager, by this time to adjust your tuition payment. If you have not done so please see George immediately to take care of your financial responsibility.

Monthly Lecture:
Please make every effort to attend Sifu's monthly lectures because in addition to the value of gaining new insights into the arts you are training in, this is the only regularly scheduled time when all students meet together. The first few minutes before the lecture are devoted to taking care of business matters within the school that do pertain to you, so your participation is vital. Lectures are the first Wednesday of each month, 7:15 - 9pm. You are welcome to bring your food and drink from the tea house.

The lecture march 5th is "Personalizing your training schedule." Coming on April 2nd, "Mindful Living: the Heart of Meditation."

Workshops and Events

Master Park Here in March

Many of you have had the chance to study with Master Park in the past. As you know, our school has a very special relationship with this top international Pakua expert. Those who have not experienced one of his workshops won't want to miss this. Saturday, March 15th, 11am - 5pm, Master Park will conduct a comprehensive workshop open to beginners and experienced practitioners, offering challenging information and applications for all.

The cost is an unbelievably low $100. And for those interested, Master Park will do an intense, special self-defense application seminar Friday, March 14th, 7pm - 9pm for just $30. Take both classes for only $120. As usual, add $20 if you wait until the day of the workshop.

Annual Mind & Body Fitness Festival

Saturday, March 23rd, Noon - 6pm FREE classes, demonstrations, talks and exhibits, with the Carolinas' leading experts in:

Students will want to plan now because this event, which gathers alternative health experts from all over the Carolinas. It's a Peaceful Dragon tradition and always crowded. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer setting up booths, doing demos for the public, talking with the curious, signing up new students, making copies, and so on. It's going to be a wonderful day to showcase our new building and grounds so bring your family and friends and enjoy!

Workshop with Grandmaster

May 16 -18 should by now be set aside for this rare training opportunity. As a Peaceful Dragon student, attending this intensive workshop with your Grandmaster should be a priority, not just because wu-de presumes strong support of your school's Grandmaster, but because these workshops always overwhelm us with new and valuable knowledge that we mine for years to come. Much of it is information that cannot be found in a book.

This three day workshop is designed for every Peaceful Dragon student younger or older. Focus will be on tai chi applications and chi kung for tai chi students, and for those wanting more rigorous kung-fu training Grandmaster will teach self-defense against knives, guns and other street weapons. In case you were not aware, in addition to being a world-renowned kung-fu expert, Grandmaster is a certified FBI weapons instructor and spent 20 years teaching tactical self-defense to the county police force of New York.

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.

Feng Shui Workshops

Juanita MuÒoz is a long-time friend of The Peaceful Dragon and an expert practitioner of the Chinese art of feng shui. Simply put, positive energies can be enhanced by the arrangement, manipulation and association of objects and nature in certain ways; and negative energies and consequences can be minimized or even avoided. Even our bodies are part of this fascinating and extremely complex dynamic. For the first time in a while, Juanita is sharing her depth of knowledge and strong spiritual presence in a series of workshops this month which will cover both the arcane and the practical. See her ad in this newsletter for times and costs.

All-day Meditation

On Sunday, April 6 from 9am - 5pm, Sifu will lead an extended session of meditation. The meditation is open to all students regardless of your experience. You can take advantage of discussions and explanations on meditation and practice. The price includes lunch. Student early-bird price is just $29 and for the public, $39. After April 4th add $10.

Women's Self-Defense

Scheduled for April 26th, this workshop has never been more timely and necessary. Our own excellent martial artist and certified self-defense instructor Lyn Adams regularly beats the guys in sparring and so definitely has something worthwhile to show you. The workshop is suitable for all ages and always includes a lecture combined with highly effective hands-on practice. The early-bird price is a very reasonable $69 for the public, $59 for members, and $49 for students. After April 24th, add $10.

PD:Why should there be a separate self defense class for women?

LYN:Women have typically had a different role in society. While I agree that there has never been a better time to be a woman, there are plenty of social situations and behaviors that make women more frequent and easier targets than men. My class looks at different scenarios and how to effectively avoid or defend against attack.

PD:Won't the techniques work as well for a man or a woman?

LYN: Yes, but women generally aren't attacked in the same way men are. Typical attacks against women are rear bear hug, choke hold, or being thrown to the ground, just to name a few. A man would do better to practice defense against other kinds of attacks.

PD:I don't want to live my life in fear of being attacked.

LYN: Statistics indicate that 1 in 3 women will be a victim of violence in her lifetime, so the concern is real. However, I don't believe this means living in fear. It's my hope that you will prefer living a confident life and realize the importance of taking control. My class can help you learn to take control.

What's Up?

Gardening Club:
The Peaceful Dragon has formed an organic gardening club for all students and friends of The Peaceful Dragon. Initial efforts have been devoted to building the vegetable and flower beds but future activities will include the planting, maintaining and harvesting of the gardens. Much of the produce will be used by the center, but volunteers will share in the fruits and vegetables of their labor.

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.

Young Dragons

Young Dragons Black Sash Club Forming

Our Young Dragons program is growing, and our efforts to develop the best possible young martial artists are growing, too. Two changes are being made to our program that we feel confident will help our young students reach their full potential.

First, we are changing the class age divisions. Four to six year olds remain the same, but seven to twelve year olds are now merged into the same classes. Thirteen and fourteen year olds will now merge with the adult Shaolin classes, with Thursday and Saturday classes earmarked as special Teen Training classes where teens will have the chance to train among their peers within the structure of the adult classes. Please see the revised class schedule for all changes in Young Dragon class times.

Second, we're pleased to announce the formation of the Young Dragons Black Sash Club. 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. Recommendation will be dependent on: Consistent attendance, steady progress within class, a cooperative and positive attitude, and most importantly the stated desire by the Young Dragon to work to achieve the level of Black Sash.

The benefits of being admitted into the Black Sash Club include: An intensive weekly class taught by Master Eric Sbarge; eligibility to be on our demo team; eligibility to become an assistant to Young Dragons instructors; periodic special social events and special workshops and classes for Black Sash members only; recognition of membership by a custom patch worn on the sash. These changes begin March 1, 2003.

Volunteering

If your name is not on a list; if your hand is not helping to make a difference; if you are just letting the time go by...you are missing an important part of traditional martial arts training and many opportunities to grow your wu-de.

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.)

NOW Vitamins and Health Supplements
Ask at the front counter about NOW brand vitamins and health supplements, available to students at a big discount. These are among the best products on the market, carefully researched and offered as a benefit for Peaceful Dragon students.

Feng Shui with Juanita MuÒoz

March 29th from 9:00am till 12:00pm
*Introduction To The Ancient Chinese Wisdom of Feng Shui ‚ students $69.

March 29th from 2:00pm till 5:00pm
*East Mansion System of Feng Shui ‚ students pay just $89.

March 30th ‚ 12:00 noon till 2:00 pm
*Introduction To Pendulums and Dowsing Rods ‚ students $35.

Wellness Products
* Skin
* Smile
* Spa
* Health
Order on line at www.gr8looks.com/carlosvargas. Call 704-363-7792 or see Carlos "the waiter" at The Peaceful Dragon.

Good Training Equipment for Sale
The Peaceful Dragon is selling the red water-filled heavy bags in Studio B to raise money for new hanging heavy bags for our outdoor training area. Perfect for home use, these freestanding bags work in your garage, basement or back yard. Just $40 each for adult bags, $30 for kids bags, first come first served.

Massages!
Debbie Nelms is offering one-hour massage therapy for Peaceful Dragon students only at the on-going special price of $65. Call 704-564-2179 to schedule your session.

Private class with a disciple or senior student
If you want to participate or teach in this program, please contact George: george@thepeacefuldragon.com

Movie Nights
First Friday night of every month at 9:30pm, right here at The Peaceful Dragon. Please contact George or Geoff for more details.

Audiobooks of the Carolinas
Audio Book Rental & Sales
Located in the StoneCrest Shopping Center on Rea Road
www.audiobooksnc.com
(704)341-0794
Order through the online catalog. Pickup and drop off at the Peaceful Dragon. Members have free pickup and drop-off.

Roommate wanted
To share a new house with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, located 1.5 miles from The Peaceful Dragon. Competition sized pool table, digital cable, Road Runner, great neighborhood. $450/month + the utilities. Contact George: george@thepeacefuldragon.com for more info.

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

The Heart of Practice
By Michael Ballantyne

The day-long taiji retreat, held on Saturday February 22nd, was worth every penny.

We began the day with a sitting meditation, followed by the basic warm-up sets and traditional qigong. There followed some extended form practice, a little weapons practice, some new moves, new push-hands patterns and a look at defensive techniques derived from "Plunging Hammer" out of our taiji form. And of course there were water breaks and an excellent lunch and dinner prepared by Geoff Bragg.

When I was a new student, I sometimes felt that training was too repetitive. I was able to have this feeling in spite of the fact that I could not even do basic things correctly. As my practice has matured I have realized that the heart of practice is the mind. Forms don't matter. New techniques don't matter. At best, they lead good students to a deeper understanding of basics. At worst, they distract students into the belief that new and more means progress.

My progress has been slow, but now the normal frustration I have sometimes felt is tempered with humor, realizing that my mind is the gate through which I must pass. I can eventually do almost anything I decide to work on. A one day taiji workshop is an ideal opportunity to discover just a little bit more how to walk through the gate. It is long enough to require extended focus and short enough to keep beginners from being overwhelmed. Sifu has repeatedly observed that time is going to go by anyway. This is Zen enough to require more than a nod of agreement.

Mind is the heart of practice. Going by is the nature of our world. Patience and faith are attributes that sustain practice. The next workshop - or the next regular class - will give us another wonderful chance to use the available time singe-mindedly and practice what is in front of us. I encourage every student to seek the silence of time going by, the basic mind of focused effort and the joy of accomplishment represented in taking one breath, taking one taiji step, making one taiji life.

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

Words to Light Your Path

Cross the bridge, open the door.

Joy and optimism aren't automatic, nor do they come by wishing for them. They come by actively and constantly working to create conditions in life where they can flourish.