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May, 1999
I've said to all students before and want to emphasize for newer students again: the single best thing you can do for your training is to attend our Grandmaster's workshop on May 28th - 30th. This intensive workshop includes chi development, and practical techniques for health and martial arts, and will benefit beginners, experienced, young and old alike. Most longer-term students have already signed up for this workshop, but newer students may not realize how fortunate we are to have our Grandmaster coming to Charlotte for the first time. Grandmaster DeMaria (Ma For Ren) has over 45 years of experience in chi kung, meditation, tai chi, and several martial arts. He is the adopted son of our late Great Grandmaster Ch'ang Dung Sheng, and he has studied under many other renowned masters as well. Grandmaster DeMaria is indisputably a leading expert and one of the most experienced teachers of these arts today. He has never come here before and he may not be able to return for a long time to come, so don't miss out on this tremendous opportunity. Grandmaster's Workshop Lunch Tickets are on sale at the counter. Grandmaster has asked that the lunch breaks for each day of the workshop from May 28th - 30th be a meditative part of our training rather than social breaks. Unless you have no alternative, plan on staying each day for lunch. Color-coded tickets for lunch each day are $5 each. You may buy a ticket for any or all of the workshop days, or bring your own vegetarian lunch. You will not be able to order from the menu during the workshop. The deadline to buy lunch tickets is the Wednesday (May 26th) before the workshop. Banquet Dinner to Honor Grandmaster is scheduled for Friday evening, May 28th following the first day of the three-day workshop. All students are invited whether or not you are attending the workshop. This banquet will be a deluxe catered event similar to our last Chinese New Year dinner. You'll get an opportunity to know Grandmaster on a more personal level, and it should be a fun evening for everyone. The price of $30 includes a gourmet buffet, a bottle of sake on each table, unlimited tea and soft drinks, and a contribution for gifts to Grandmaster and Master Peck who will be assisting him. The dinner is open to family members. Seating is limited and tickets are being sold at the front counter on a first-come-first-served basis. We wish for everyone to be there, but there isn't enough room to seat everyone, so if you want to be there don't wait to buy your tickets! The deadline to buy tickets is Saturday, May 21st.
Tai Chi and Chinese Martial Arts Tournament All members, and students of tai chi, Shaolin, shuai chioa, and hsing-I are encouraged to attend the CACMA (Carolinas Association of Chinese Martial Arts) tournament on Saturday, June 5th. This all-day event features competitions and demonstrations in tai chi, and kungfu including forms, sparring, push hands, weapons and more. Competitive divisions are based on level of experience, age and size, so anyone who wants to compete can do so on an equal footing. Tournament competition is not for everyone; students are not required to do so, but you may find it to be a valuable training experience. All students are encouraged to participate, so even if you don't compete, PLEASE GO WATCH AND SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. You'll learn a lot, you'll be able to cheer the team, and YOU are the best advertisement for The Peaceful Dragon, so wear your school shirt!
Feng Shui Feng Shui class is scheduled to begin in late June or early July. Demand has been so high for this popular course taught by the inscrutable and engaging Juanita Munoz, that we're offering it once again. We'll publish dates, times and cost in the June newsletter.
Summer Camp Summer Camp at The Peaceful Dragon is being offered for the first time! You can choose from three intensive camps: two sessions of Kickboxing For Kids (June 22nd - 24th and July 20th - 22nd), and one session of Young Dragons Martial Arts Camp (July 13th - 15th.) The camps will run each day from 1:30 - 4:30pm, led by Peaceful Dragon instructors. Kickboxing For Kids activities will include classes in this hot aerobic fitness style, as well as games and videos with health, fitness and martial arts themes. The Young Dragons Martial Arts activities will include classes in kungfu, tai chi and yoga, and similar games and videos with martial arts themes. All sessions are open for children and teens aged 6 - 14, no experience needed. The costs is just $119 per session ($99 if you're already a Peaceful Dragon student or member.) Take two, or all three if you like, and save 20% on each camp. This is a good opportunity for your child - and you - to find out if he or she would like to become a student taking regular ongoing classes.
Self-Defense Classes Self-Defense classes will be available this summer, offered as six-week courses or intensive workshops on practical self-defense. Geared for both men and women, these classes are for those who want or need essential basic defensive skills but don't have the time or desire to train in our ongoing traditional martial arts classes. Schedule details and prices will be published in the June newsletter.
Summer Kick-Boxing Special Let your middle school, high school and college kids and friends know about our tremendous Kickboxing Fitness Summer Special: just $99 for unlimited kickboxing fitness classes from June 1st - August 1st! At this low price, everyone can stay in shape and look great this summer while having fun and even learning some valuable self-defense skills. You must show a student ID card or other verification that you are a student to get this great discount (not available to current students, please.)
Lectures and Demonstrations Lectures and Demonstrations are available from our group of volunteers. They can speak to organizations and demonstrate tai chi or other arts offered at The Peaceful Dragon. Recently they have done presentations at Borders Books, several nursing homes, and various businesses, and they've gotten an overwhelmingly positive response. If you'd like them to do a presentation at your place of business, or for church or other groups, schedule it with Sifu Sbarge.
Present for Sifu A reminder to students who gave Sifu the New Year's gift of painting his house: the paint work is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 8th and 9th, weather permitting. Raincheck date is the following weekend. Of course anybody who is interested in helping is welcome - especially if you know something about painting.
Cleaning and Maintenance Day
When: Sunday, May 23rd , noon - 4pm.
Monthly Discussion Group Speaking of which, wu-de is the subject for our May discussion group. Sifu feels that this is such an important topic that the discussion has been scheduled in place of Monday night tai chi May 10th from 6:30 - 7:45pm. If you want to understand why we keep talking about it, come to the discussion of this basic martial issue.
Pakua Workshop The Pakua Workshop led by Master Park Bok Nam will be on Saturday, July 31st. Master Park is one of the world's leading experts on the Chinese internal martial art of Pakua Chang, and author of The Fundamentals of Pakua Vols. I and II, will lead an all-day workshop on Pakua chi kung and self-defense principles. The workshop is open to the public, beginners and advanced alike. This intensive workshop will run from 11am - 5pm at The Peaceful Dragon. Mark your calendar, Saturday, July 31st. The cost for everyone is $100 pre-paid, or $120 at the door. Sifu highly recommends this workshop to everyone, so register now at the counter.
Tai Chi Retreat The First Annual Peaceful Dragon Tai Chi Retreat is set to go! Scheduled for Friday, September 10th - Monday, September 13th, it will be held at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. This vacation is guaranteed to rejuvenate your spirit! Peaceful Dragon students pay only $299; the cost to members is $399, and for the public $499. For additional information, look on our website under Special Events, or stop by The Peaceful Dragon. Remember, these prices include food and lodging.
Attendance Computer The attendance computer is workingHE ATTENDANCE COMPUTER IS WORKING and it is very important that you sign in for every class you take. We understand it's slow, but we've got to know who's coming to which classes to avoid over-crowding. Please take the time to sign in before or after class, or anytime the same day or evening.
To contact The Peaceful Dragon: Call: (704)-544-1012
Write: The Peaceful Dragon E-mail: comments and suggestions to staff@thepeacefuldragon.com |
I want to thank everyone who participated in last month's World Tai Chi
Day, and our own Mind and Body Fitness Festival. As you know, our
mission is to preserve and pass on the best of Asian culture, and your
participation and volunteer efforts in such events helps us to make more
people aware of what we offer at The Peaceful Dragon.