Holidays! Inside. Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Yoga and More The Peaceful Dragon For the Contemporary Mind, Body and Spirit. At a Glance

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1 Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Yoga and More The Peaceful Dragon For the Contemporary Mind, Body and Spirit June At a Glance What The Peaceful Dragon Offers Inside Upcoming Events Peaceful Dragon School News Did You Know? Children s Program News Students of the Month New Students and Promotions Disciple s Forum Students Ask Master Sbarge Classifieds 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 2014 and 2015 Winner of TWO Charlotte Observer Reader Awards! Best Martial Arts Studio Best Yoga Studio Like us on Facebook: Children s Sizzling Summer Sale: Semi-private introductory kung fu class and tour, 5 weeks of exciting group kung fu classes (June 20- July 23), weekly character building take-home lessons, Parent s Night Out event, complete uniform. Total Value = $247 Special Sale Just $97! Holidays! 7 th Chocolate Ice Cream Day 16 th Fresh Veggies Day 19 th Father s Day 21 st International Yoga Day 29 th Camera Day

2 Message from Master Eric Sbarge A recent study out of Oxford University has shown that dancing can dramatically increase one s tolerance for pain. But not just any dancing it turns out it only works if small groups of people are enjoying the same music and doing the same dance moves in sync with each other. If you do your own dance moves even with many other dancers around you your pain tolerance does not increase and may even get worse. The researchers theorize that we enjoy doing an activity like dancing in sync together as a group, and we of course habitually tend do things that we enjoy. As social creatures, harmonizing in a group apparently gives us humans an evolutionary survival advantage. The researchers speculate that this survival advantage may be the reason so many different cultures have some form of synchronized dancing and why it might have health benefits for us. I m going to go out on a limb and speculate that these same benefits may be enjoyed when people do yoga, tai chi or kung fu forms in sync with each other. Of course I have no research or evidence to back this up, but I ve observed that most people feel happier and more satisfied after training in these arts in a group setting as compared to practicing them solo. In a yoga or tai chi class in which everyone is hearing the same music and moving through the same poses in sync with each other, the same level of enjoyment as dancing or possibly even a deeper level of enjoyment can be reached. When groups in a kung fu class drill forms together, the intensity is also stronger than is typically the case with individuals drilling forms by themselves. So keep enjoying the healthy exercise you get in your yoga or martial arts classes, but understand that apparently it is more than simply what you are doing with your body, breath and mind. It s also what you re doing in sync with everyone else s body, breath and mind! (You can read more about this study at ) Every Friday we'd do a final practice 'walk-through' for the game, and I just remember we were always out on the field dancing and singing together. William The Refrigerator Perry, on getting to the Super Bowl 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 and click on Adult Classes or Children s Classes. You can then register for a Free Semi-Private, No- Obligation Introductory Class 2 and an Introductory Tour.

3 Upcoming Events Tai Chi Workshop in Columbia, SC Saturday, June 11, 9:30am-9pm The workshop will be held at the Columbia Tai Chi Center, 2761 Rosewood Dr., Columbia, SC, the school run by Peaceful Dragon disciple, Sifu Wes Adams, and is open to beginners and advanced, old and young alike. Session I: 9:30am-4:30pm Tai Chi to Boost Health and Vitality Through lecture, discussion and hands-on applications you ll gain a thorough understanding of Tai Chi s key philosophical principles and how to put them directly to work for your own health and wellbeing. Movement emphasis will be on perfecting your forms, smoothing transitions between movements, and using tui shou (push hands) patterns to refine posture. Session II: 6:00pm-9:30pm Tai Chi Self-Defense and Push Hands You ll learn principles, strategies and methods to maximize your inherent power, and minimize your disadvantages. See how positioning and leverage allow you to make the most of your physical and energetic power. Learn to develop explosive fa jing striking and breaking power. Workshop Tuition: Early-bird pricing if registered by May 1. (A 50% non-refundable deposit required to hold your reservation.) Day-long Session I only: General Public $170; students at affiliated schools $120. Day and Evening Sessions I and II combined: General Public $220; students at affiliated schools $150. Space is limited; this is a first come, first served event. Register right away to ensure your spot. Please pay at Columbia Tai Chi Center, cash only. 3

4 Parents Night Out Friday, April 15, 6:30-9pm This month s Parents Night Out is Scavenger Hunt Night! At Scavenger Hunt Night, your child will learn to work with a team of others to help complete a challenging scavenger hunt. They will also learn to think carefully about each clue they encounter and discuss it with their team to help achieve their goal. Towards the end of the night, we'll engage in fun and exciting group games to close out an awesome night. Nothing is required to bring except a snack or money for the vending machines for snack time. Plan Now for Our Mountain Tai Chi Retreat This September This Year Space is VERY limited for this popular event, so it s first come first served for reservations! Friday-Sunday, September 30 th -October 2 nd Relax and rejuvenate while enjoying intensive instruction and practice in the Chinese arts of tai chi and pakua, complemented with sessions of qigong, Zen meditation and yoga. Led by Master Eric Sbarge, director and head instructor of The Peaceful Dragon in Charlotte, NC, the retreat will be held at the beautiful YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC, just 10 minutes from Asheville. Suited for beginners or advanced practitioners, from teens to senior citizens, the retreat includes all instruction, comfortable lodging, and all meals except for Saturday evening when you ll have free time to explore downtown Asheville or simply relax on your own in the wooded mountains with hundreds of acres and many beautiful vistas and trails. We have a limited number of rooms available, register early! Early-bird savings by September 1, 2016: Double occupancy: $550 public; $425 for Peaceful Dragon and affiliated schools students AND their family members! (We will gladly assign you a roommate if you wish). Single occupancy: $670 public; $545 for Peaceful Dragon and affiliated schools students or family members. After September 1st if there are still openings available, add $75. A non-refundable 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot. Full payment must be received no later than September 20th. 4

5 Just Added: Autumn 200-Hour Teacher Training Led by Our Director of Yoga Studies, Mara Healy, Right Here at The Peaceful Dragon The training group meets each weekend for a total of 9 weekends. Each weekend is a 20 hour commitment with reading assignments, guided asana practices, lecture, discussions, and detailed explanations on how to both deepen your personal yoga practice while also laying the foundation for being a skillful yoga teacher. You do not have to want to teach in order to join the program! Check the yoga page for the weekend dates and more information, to be posted soon! Tuition Investment Non-refundable deposit of $500 is due with the application/registration form. Tuition Investment is $2600 if paid in full by July 31st, After July 31st, tuition is $2800. Your deposit is applied to the full tuition. Our complete 2016 Special Events Calendar is at Mark your planning calendar now! JUNE BIRTHDAYS 1 st Kathy Christy 21 st Ann Staples 3 rd Glenda Perry 22 nd Zeke Steele 10 th Kathryn Webner 23 rd Michael Frank 16 th Alexandra Hoellein 25 th John Trigg 16 th Nicole Miller 26 th Benjamin Mullis 18 th Bob Wren 28 th Luke Eller 18 th Sophia Mullis 29 th Ragan Wren 19 th Zeke Anderson 30 th Kasen Anderson 5

6 Monthly Classes, Seminars and Discussion Groups Jr. Mastery Program Seminar Saturday, June 4, 12-1pm Topic: How to Become Confident About Yourself Open only to Junior Mastery Program students. Mastery Roundtable Discussion Tuesday, June 7, 8-9pm Topic: The Complete Curriculum of Chinese Internal Martial Arts What Gaps Are You Overlooking? Open only to Mastery Program students. Yoga Seminar Thursday, June 16, 6:30-8:30pm Topic: Mandala (cross-mat) with Emphasis on Arm/Leg Combinations 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. Lecture and Discussion Thursday, June 23, 8pm Topic: Lifestyle Choices for Radical Self-Transformation Presented by Master Eric Sbarge. Open to all adult and teen students. Future Instructors Saturday, June 25, 11am Open only to Junior Mastery Program students. Equipment Needed for Classes Adults Shaolin Block C : Broadsword Shaolin Block D: Jian Shaolin Blocks B/C/D: Sparring Equipment Tai Chi Block D: Jian Kids 4-12 year olds: White, Yellow, and Orange Sash: Single Stick 8-12 year olds: Green Sash and above: Nunchucks 6

7 "Remember the emphasis on the heart. The mind lives in doubt and the heart lives in trust. When you trust, suddenly you become centered." ~Osho Peaceful Dragon School News Student Appreciation Picnic Everyone had a wonderful time at the Student Appreciation Picnic and Barbecue. If you have any pictures from the day, please send them to Holly@thepeacefuldragon.com so Holly can share them with everyone. Dragonboat and Asian Festival Thank you to the volunteers who performed at the Asian Festival! 7

8 Children s Sizzling Summer Sale Semi-private introductory kung fu class and tour, 5 weeks of exciting group kung fu classes (June 20- July 23), weekly character building take-home lessons, Parent s Night Out event, and complete uniform. Total Value = $247 Special Sale Just $97! 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! Did You Know Recent studies show that when overweight people lose weight, their metabolism actually then slows down in most cases, making it very hard to keep that weight off? Every four years The Peaceful Dragon leads a training-sightseeing-cultural excursion to Asia for our students and their families, and we re already planning our next one for 2019? For what will be our fourth tour, we ll be including the Zen temples and monasteries of Japan for the first time! Children s Program News A Message from Mr. George Summer is just around the corner and I bet the kids are ready for their break! We know some of the kids will be on vacations, visiting relatives, summer camps and other fun events. I want to wish every kid a fun and safe summer. Also to remind all the kids while they are away, still keep up the practice. The yes sir and yes ma am along with good manners, respect and making smart decisions should be part of the daily practice. We will be focusing at the physical training during this summer. Sweating and smiling will be our goals! Powerful Words This month s Powerful Word is Cooperation! Cooperation means working together towards a common goal. This month, Dr. Robyn discusses how to teach your child when to be cooperative and when to be competitive. 8

9 Student of the Month Recognition Adult Student of the Month Angela Boyle 1 st runner up Lisa Messerschmidt 2 nd runner up Mary Rea Child Student of the Month Addison Harmon 1 st runner up Balamir Sahin 2 nd runner up Colin Barber New Students and Student Promotions Congratulations to all of our new students! Tai Chi: Regina Welch Young Dragon: Benjamin Mullis Congratulations to our promoting students! Tai Chi Beginner to Novice (A Block to B Block) Aparna Swaminathan Austin Shield Kevin Spitzmiller Rick DeVere Kung Fu Beginner to Novice (A Block to B Block) Tim Saunders Rebecca Ruddy Nicole Miller Kieyanna Lynn Morgan Steve Duke Karthik Kannan 9

10 Disciple s Forum The Echo By Master Hank Kadel Ever wonder why I am always smiling? What originally started out as a means of controlling my temper, an outlet for my anger, has now extended through more than half of my life. At times though, I still find it difficult to not let my rage not overcome me and that is when the echoes of my teachers voices calm those feelings to a manageable state. And those echoes are what still drive me today in the arts. A new feeling, a new perspective, a new observation, this is what those echoes promised me if I was only aware enough to recognize them. Also promised was that it wasn t going to be an easy journey. That it would take hard work, patience and that being a little bit insane was actually a benefit. That there would be disappointments, mostly with myself, but that given time those would be replaced with accomplishments. I never came to Martial Arts to discover the purpose of mind that has started to reveal itself to me. Maybe it s because as I grow older certain things no longer motivate me. As an example, I no longer feel the need to compete. Either with myself or anyone else. New forms no longer carry the weight that they used to as a means of demonstrating knowledge. It is what is contained in those forms that I am now finding more fascinating. I now am returning to many of the forms I already know and trying to discover new insights. Recently I have been interested in the original formats of some of the forms we practice. Why did they change from the standard? Did I miss something that had been conveyed but I was not yet ready to hear or understand? In many cases, I am discovering that an evolution of thought, a different perspective has occurred. A perfect example is in the Parker Kenpo system that we practice. Although I ve had the honor of working out with Grandmaster John McSweeney on a number of occasions before his death I have also had the pleasure of working out with Grandmaster McSweeney s First Kenpo Black Belt in Europe, Grandmaster Tommy Jordan. For just a few days, he and I went through all six Kenpo forms move by move and although there are some differences, he felt that we, through Master Sbarge, had accomplished an understanding of the forms and their purposes. To him, application, not necessarily the form was of tantamount importance. Kenpo as performed by him is powerful and direct. No frills, just decisive. His style is more Japanese in nature whereas we demonstrate fluidity leaning more to the Chinese nature. It is definitely because of a case of perspective and or experience that this change has occurred. If you have a chance, look him up on YouTube. Also over the last few years, I have discovered that there are times I that I find myself not motivated with the physical side of the arts. Not that I don t see the true need for a good stretch or a few 10

11 hundred kicks or punches. It is that my perspective has also changed about the physical. I find myself exploring the spiritual/mental sides of the arts. And this is no less demonstrated than when I help my Brothers and Sisters learn a new form, technique or something as simple as how to listen to their own bodies. With this I am discovering a stronger sense of humility and a greater need. A need to remind myself that many of you are just beginning your own journeys and maybe, just maybe, I could be that echo in your mind. What a wonderful thought. Getting to Know This Month s Disciple Each month, we will be asking our Disciple s Forum writer to answer a few questions. Here s this month s Disciple s questions and answers: What do you do in your free time? Free what? When your wife has a farm there is never any free time. Just Joking. I read a lot and love doing woodwork. I am currently working on a Chinese sign that letters have taken me about 50 hours to construct. I love how the wood lends itself to creating things. What vacation location is on your Bucket List? I would love to go back to Ireland and spend a few weeks driving around the countryside and also researching my Great Grandfathers family. Australia is another biggie. What was the last gift you gave someone? The wife needed a new horse trailer and since she likes to camp I got both. I now need to finish the Living section for her. (More wood projects yes) What inspires you? I m kinda a softy when it comes to watching people realize their dreams. Not the Oh I was poor and now I m rich kinda of realization. Undercover Boss is a great example. I know this is television but to see people rewarded for just being themselves is inspiring. What type of music do you listen to? I m a Rock type of guy and love anything with harmonies of voice. My Mom was a church organist so I grew up with that and a lot of Classical music so I naturally had to rebel to listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, the Allman Brother and later Queen and we don t even want to talk about Woodstock recordings. Oh and by the way Jesus Christ Superstar was banned. 11

12 Students Ask Master Sbarge Question: Are you planning to retire any time in the near future? Answer: Isn t retirement for old people? Actually, I don t know what retirement would mean for me. I plan to continue teaching the arts I teach for as long as I can do them. I m sure at some point in the future I will pass on the daily management of The Peaceful Dragon to my son George or someone else, but that is likely to be many years down the road. 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. 12

13 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: Mountain-Biking/ Shootin-Fun-Meetup/ Mountain biking, shooting pool, hiking, trying out new restaurants or cruising to the Bahamas! 13