www.ThePeacefulDragon.com April 2017 704-504-8866

Inside

Upcoming Events Students of the Month

Peaceful Dragon School News Disciple’s Forum

Did You Know? Students Ask Master Sbarge

Children’s Program News Classifieds

New Students and Promotions

2014 and 2015 Winner of TWO Charlotte Observer Reader Awards! Best Martial Arts Studio

Best Yoga Studio Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThePeacefulDragon

At a Glance…

What The Peaceful Dragon Offers

Adult Programs

Tai Chi

Kung Fu

Zen Meditation

Yoga

Asian Culture and Philosophy

Children’s Programs

Kung Fu and Leadership Classes

Other Services

Seminars and Presentations

School Field Trips

Community Demonstrations

Corporate Team Building

Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Yoga and More

The Peaceful Dragon For the Contemporary Mind, Body and Spirit

April Holidays! National Kite Month

1st April Fool’s Day 16th Easter 7th No Housework Day 19th National Garlic Day 11th Nat’l Submarine Day 25th East Meets West Day 12th Big Wind Day 30th Nat’l Honesty Day

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Message from Master Eric Sbarge

When I began martial arts training as a teenager, I only knew of one reason to train in martial arts: To learn self-defense and become a proficient fighter. Today, self-defense is often way down on the list of priorities for learning martial arts. Here at The Peaceful Dragon the number one reason adults join is for stress management, with weight loss and fitness a close second, and spiritual growth right up there. In fact, many new students don’t even realize that one of the martial arts we teach – tai chi – is even a martial art since its reputation seems to be more for health

and wellness. While I think it’s completely appropriate for people who come to the martial arts later in life to focus on health and wellness or spiritual awakening, I think for younger people it is really beneficial to set the goal of becoming strong and proficient in the fighting aspects of these arts, too. Protection and the ability to defend yourself of course are obvious benefits, but that’s not why I recommend working to become a strong fighter. Rather, when you train to fight you are forced to confront any number of doubts and fears. Your ego’s influence over you becomes obvious, and you readily see how attachment and preservation of self is a driving force within us. Zen awakening demands that we relinquish our attachments, and Zen-based martial arts are among the most effective practices for supporting our path toward awakening. Being willing to put your life on the line, or at least to risk bodily injury, necessitates a certain detachment that will serve you well in any of life’s many challenges and will lead you closer to the “emptiness” that is the goal of complete non-attachment. So yes, enjoy the greater health, fitness and stress managements from your training – but don’t be afraid of the “martial” part of your martial arts. And if you are afraid, all the more reason to take part!

“The warrior learns of the spiritual realm by dwelling on the cutting edge of the sword, standing at the edge of the fire pit, venturing right up to the edge of starvation if necessary. Vibrant and intense living is the warrior's form of worship.”

― Stephen K. Hayes

If you are not a current student of The Peaceful Dragon, there are many ways to

improve your mind, body and spirit through the programs available at The

Peaceful Dragon. Visit www.ThePeacefulDragon.com and click on Adult Classes

or Children’s Classes. You can then register for a Free Semi-Private, No-

Obligation Introductory Class and an Introductory Tour.

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Upcoming Events

Children’s Promotion Ceremony Saturday, April 1

st, 11am

Makeup Promotion Thursday, April 20th

, 5:30pm

Congratulations to all of our promoting Young Dragons! Please be sure to have your promotion application filled out one week ahead of your chosen promotion date. Note: There will be no children’s classes on the day of promotion.

10-Week Shuai Chiao (Chinese Grappling) Course Begins Wednesday, April 12

th, 8pm

This is open to all Jr. Mastery students green sash and above, and all teen and adult

mastery students. We need a minimum of eight students to hold the course, so if you are interested please be there.

Parents Night Out Friday, April 21

st, 6:30-9pm

This month’s Parents Night Out will be The Great Escape! Prepare to learn the skills of a world-renowned escape artist. Some artists escape from buildings and handcuffs, but we will teach you how to escape from many different holds and grabs. Skills that will be taught that night are how to escape from many different holds, the awareness to know your surroundings, how to get to safety fast, and the confidence to handle any situation you encounter. There is no charge since these events are included in your Activity Fee. However, you must sign up no later than Thursday, April 20th so we can properly staff for the event. There will be a $20 late fee if you register after the deadline.

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Quarterly Cleanup and Spring Landscaping Day Saturday, April 22

nd, 9am-2pm

Please join us as we work to make the kwoon shine! We will have tasks

both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting!), so if you plan on

working outside, you may want to bring gardening gloves. Even if you just

have 5-10 minutes to help, we still appreciate every bit!

Our updated 2017 Special Events Calendar is available at http://thepeacefuldragon.com/specialevents.shtml.

Mark your planning calendar now!

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

7th Kim O’Grady 16th Harsheen Hora

9th Brenda Rizzo 18th Carrie Chun Beaver

12th Don Kodzai 18th Jacob Finney

14th Andy Barber 21st Dale Saufley

14th Gabriel Jugan 21st Hurditya Katta

15th Nancy Lonsbury 22nd Jose Cardoza

16th Zoe Newell 26th Angela Mack

16th Addison Mixon 28th Frank Farro

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Equipment Needed for Classes

Adults

Shaolin All Blocks: Full Sparring Equipment

Shaolin Block C/D: Full Staff

Tai Chi Block C/D: ¾ Staff Kids

8-12 year olds: Green Sash and Above: Full Staff

4-12 year olds: White Sash and Above: Short Sticks

Monthly Classes, Seminars

and Discussion Groups

Mastery Roundtable Discussion – Tuesday, April 4, 8-9pm Topic: Setting and Reaching Your Mastery Goals Effectively Open only to Mastery Program students.

Yoga Seminar – Thursday, April 6, 6:30-8:30pm Topic: Deeper Twisting Asanas Safely Presented by Yogini Mara Healy. Open to all teens and adults: FREE for Peaceful Dragon students, $29 for guests. Note: There will be no regular yoga classes on the evenings of the monthly yoga seminars. Jr. Mastery Program Seminar – Saturday, April 15, 12-1pm Topic: Speaking and Presenting with Confidence Open only to Junior Mastery Program students.

Lecture and Discussion – Thursday, April 20, 8pm

Topic: Healthy Chinese Cooking vs. “American” Chinese Cooking Presented by Master Eric Sbarge. Open to all adult and teen students.

Future Instructors – Saturday, April 29, 11am Open only to Junior Mastery Program students.

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Peaceful Dragon School News (All Real!)

Two Retreats with Master Sbarge to Choose From This Year!

In addition to the 3-day Mountain Tai Chi Retreat that Master Sbarge will be leading in October, he has just been honored to be invited to lead a 5-day Pakua and Tai Chi Retreat in Asheville as part of the Healing Tao Summer Retreats sponsored by Healing Tao USA and organized by Michael Winn, president emeritus of the National Qigong Association. This retreat will take place from July 14-19, and Master Sbarge will teach advanced internal Taoist meditations and qigong within tai chi and pakua, as well as forms and applications. In addition to the normal student discounts that we always offer for special events, there will be additional discounts for anyone who wants to take advantage of both retreats. Look for further details coming soon!

CACMA Tournament!

Congratulations to our competing students! All of you worked so hard and did a great job! Thank you also to all of the students who volunteered to make this event run smoothly! Hannah Eidsness 13-17 Adv. Girls Open Hand Form, 1st Short Weapon, 1st Ryan Hoellein 10-12 Adv. Boys 2 Person Form, 1st Open Hand Form, 3rd Short Weapon, 3rd Long Weapon, 3rd Sparring, 3rd Gabriel Jugan 10-12 Adv. Boys 2 Person Form, 1st Open Hand Form, 2nd Short Weapon, 1st Long Weapon, 1st Other Weapon, 2nd Sparring, 1st Dhatreyi Katta 10-12 Adv. Girls Open Hand Form, 2nd Short Weapon, 2nd Sparring, 2nd Sophia Mullis 10-12 Int. Girls Open Hand Form, 1st Other Weapon, 1st Balamir Sahin 10-12 Beg. Boys Open Hand Form, 1st Sparring, 1st

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Jordan Baker 7-9 Int. Girls Open Hand Form, 1st Other Weapon, 1st Sparring, 1st Addison Harmon 7-9 Int. Girls Open Hand Form, 4th Benjamin Mullis 7-9 Beg. Boys Open Hand Form, 2nd Sahana Sanjay 7-9 Beg. Girls Open Hand Form, 2nd Kate Lyons Adv. Women Tai Chi Open Hand Form, 1st

35+ Tai Chi Open Hand Form, 3rd Fixed Push Hands, 3rd Linear Push Hands, 3rd Chip Payet Adv. Men 35+ Kung Fu Open Hand Form, 2nd John Chandler Adv. Men Tai Chi Open Hand Form, 1st Tai Chi Weapon, 3rd Linear Push Hands, 1st Wayne Johnson Adv. Men Tai Chi Open Hand Form, 3rd Alexandra Hoellein Int. Women 35+ Tai Chi Open Hand, 1st Tai Chi Weapon, 2nd Kung Fu Short Weapon, 1st Sparring, Cont. 135< Adv., 1st Fixed Push Hands, 1st Linear Push Hands, 1st Nicole Miller Beg. Women Tai Chi Open Hand Form, 1st Fixed Push Hands, 2nd Linear Push Hands, 2nd Jessie Brown Beg. Men Kung Fu Open Hand Form Sparring, Medium, 1st

Send Us Your Event Photos or Short Video Clips If you get some nice shots of Peaceful Dragon events please send them to Holly@thepeacefuldragon.com for display in our newsletter, social media pages and our new upcoming lobby-area TV!

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Did You Know…

Accumulating more chi or prana (energy) is only half of the equation for

development in the Eastern perspective? Equally important is the other half of

moving and circulating the energy freely throughout the body.

Two of our high-level martial arts teachers, Hank Kadel and David Block, joined The

Peaceful Dragon after their sons had begun training with Master Sbarge in the South

Charlotte Middle School Martial Arts Club over 20 years ago?

The Chinese word Shrfu or Sifu (teacher) is a combination of two words: Teacher and

father? Shrmu is Teacher and Mother. The connotation is of more than a teacher – it

is a family relationship.

Children’s Program News

A Message from Mr. George

The weather is getting warmer and days are getting longer. This month the advanced kids are starting

the traditional long staff weapon training. The long staff is one of the most common used weapons

throughout the world. Unlike swords or other bladed weapons, the staff is a blunt weapon with a long

reach. The Shaolin Master Guolin said it will take one year to focus just the basics on the staff. In the

hands of a skillful martial artist, the staff should move as fast as a sword, and light as feather. With the

long reach, the full staff is a great weapon against multiple opponents. For the beginner level students,

we will work with short sticks to become familiar with weapons before the long staff or the swords.

Powerful Words

This month’s Powerful Word is Generosity! Generosity means giving your time, treasures, and talents

without expecting anything in return. Dr. Robyn’s letter to the parents includes ideas for different

areas that kids can be generous in.

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New Students and Promotions

Welcome to our new students!

Tai Chi – Charles Eaton Gregg Slaughton Trish Ahles

Judy Westmoreland Keith Ashby Juan Cadrecha

Kim O’Grady

Kung Fu – André Washington Alexander McKinnon-Brown Jose Cardoza

Yoga – Lynn Decker

Congratulations to all of our students who promoted!

Tai Chi

Beginner to Novice (Block A to Block B) – David Brashear Stephanie Smith

Dana Warner Paul Studenovsky

Kung Fu

Beginner to Novice (Block A to Block B) – Sean Smith Kathy Campanelli

Student of the Month Recognition

Adult Student of the Month— Alex Hoellein

1st runner up— Mark Rindner

2nd runner up— Tim Saunders

Alex trains hard and consistently. She sets a great example for her

classmates. She also recently competed in CACMA. Good job, Alex!

Child Student of the Month— Summer Tan

1st runner up— Gloria Sadowski

2nd runner up—Zeke Anderson

Summer has shown great focus in class. She always tries her best and is a great example for all the newer students. Keep up the great work, Summer!

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Disciple’s Forum

The Chinese Book of Health and Healing By Disciple Jerry Cooper

When we joined the Peaceful Dragon, we all received of copy of “The Chinese Book of Health and

Healing”. Five years later I still refer to this book as a resource for alternative health remedies or

additional information I might need related to the herbs and supplements that I use on a regular basis.

Sifu and the “Chinese Book of Health and Healing” have offered a new perspective and increased

awareness relevant to my life, reaffirming the importance of putting the right things into your body, to

obtain healthier mind, and body such as the B vitamins, and Omega three that most of us commonly

use. Additionally, I have found the arginine and choline have both been of great benefit for increasing

my energy, and recovering from injuries. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. If you are not

using it, you should be.

All the best!

Students Ask Master Sbarge

Question: Why do I get so nervous when I have to do my kung fu forms in front of other people? Answer: From different manifestations of your ego. Keep working to let go of any considerations for how others view you, and how you view yourself, and just be free in the moment as you perform. You’ll find it takes a bit of practice, but it is very liberating.

Mission Statement for The Peaceful Dragon

Our mission is to help each of our students reach his or her fullest potential for physical, mental and spiritual development through the teaching of traditional Asian health arts and martial arts. We accomplish this by offering the most authentic and effective curriculum, by providing the best possible service to our students and their families, and by maintaining a warm and caring family environment in which every student, guest, and staff member is treated with respect, dignity and love.

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Classifieds

Your ad could be here! Text and graphics, a scan of your

business card, or artwork you submit. The cost is $5 for

students, $10 for the public. Send your copy to

holly@thepeacefuldragon.com. Pay at the front counter.

George runs two social clubs in Charlotte through Meetup.com:

http://www.meetup.com/North-Carolina-

Mountain-Biking/

http://www.meetup.com/Charlotte-Pool-Shootin-Fun-Meetup/

Mountain biking, shooting pool, hiking,

trying out new restaurants or cruising to the Bahamas!