Tai Chi and Internal Arts
For centuries Chinese people have practiced the life-enhancing
art of tai chi and the internal martial arts of
pakua and hsing-i, and today millions more around the
world are joining them.
Tai chi is a unique form of "moving meditation" that calms the
mind, relaxes the body and strengthens the spirit. Much of tai chi
is practiced slowly and gently, ideal for
people of all ages and health conditions.
Though most people take up tai chi for the tremendous
health benefits, others are intrigued by the fact the
style is actually a highly-effective martial art. Emphasis
is placed on cultivating "chi," or internal energy, as
opposed to simply developing muscle mass and brute force.
It is this focus on chi cultivation that makes
Tai Chi so highly effective for cultivating good health and for
developing unparalleled martial arts skills.
Pakua
Although not as well known as tai chi, pakua is an
equally effective internal art, focusing on
circular movements and methods of meditation and qigong and is a
perfect complement to tai chi training. Much of pakua
is practiced slowly and gently, making both styles ideal for
people of all ages and health conditions.
The Peaceful Dragon offers rare classes in authentic pakua, passed on by
Grandmaster DeMaria. Master Eric Sbarge also studied
pakua with Master Park Bok Nam, an internationally renowned
pakua teacher who is the top disciple of the late Lu Shui Tian.
If you are taking tai chi for health and stress reduction, pakua, with its sophisticated
breathing, chi kung and circle walking, is a perfect complement to it.
If you are interested in cultivating high-level fighting skills, you'll
benefit greatly from the speed and efficiency of pakua regardless of
which style you now take.
If you want to understand the depths of
Taoist philosophy, pakua represents the essence of it.
Hsing-I
Hsing-I is based on the 5 elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
In this art form one goes directly into the opponent to attack,
and comes out from the attack on guard. Even though hsing-i looks
like an external art, it is an internal art. Many call it 'The Bridge Art'
because it is on the line between an external and internal style.
Read more
about pakua and hsing-i at Grandmaster DeMaria's site.
The Temple of the Dragon's Approach to Tai Chi and the Internal Arts
Our traditional and authentic approach to teaching includes theories and
principles, not just forms and movements. Instruction is personalized to
meet your interests. Sifu Aaron Arden, Director and Head Instructor at
the Temple Of The Dragon is a 3rd generation student of the late Ch'ang
Dung Sheng, the renowned Tai Chi master and undefeated Chinese national
martial arts champion.
The Temple Of The Dragon is one of the few modern schools that can teach
pure Tai Chi, Pa-Kua and Hsing-I. Whether you choose these arts for
health or self-defense, or both, you'll quickly discover how much calmer
and more at peace you feel.
Tai chi, Pa-Kua and Hsing-I are suitable for people of all ages and
health conditions. And as with all the arts taught here, the rewards are
great if you train diligently and sincerely.
At The Temple Of The Dragon we adhere to the traditional "three pillar"
approach, teaching authentic lineage Kung-Fu styles. The journey is a
demanding one requiring self-discipline and dedication, but the rewards
are always worth the effort.
Originating in the Shaolin Temple in China over 1500 years ago, Shaolin
Kung Fu is perhaps the most comprehensive of all martial arts. Often
referred to as the "grand daddy" of Asian martial arts, Shaolin has
influenced the development of much later arts such as Japanese karate
and Korean tae kwon do. Kung Fu offers you great health and fitness,
superb fighting skills, and it can be beautiful and exciting to watch,
as in the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
The oldest recorded martial art in East Asia, Shuai Chiao dates back
more than 2500 years to the time of the Yellow Emperor.
With emphasis on grappling, throws and sweeps, Shuai Chiao offers a
devastating arsenal of real combat techniques for the martial arts
enthusiast. Our Great Grandmaster Ch'ang Dung Sheng was known as the
"King of Shuai Chiao" and remained undefeated throughout the world in
his lifetime.
Though not for the faint-of-heart or for people in poor physical
condition, Shuai Chiao is the perfect complement for stylists of
"stand-up" fighting styles such as Shaolin Kung Fu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do
or boxing.
We motivate our students to strive to reach their full potential in all
aspects of their lives. Like all traditional Chinese schools, our adult
programs have no "belt rankings" or other competitive grading systems;
the only test is whether you've made a little more progress today than
you did yesterday. We look at martial arts mastery as a lifelong process
and aim to help you build a strong foundation for optimal progress.
Personalized instruction includes qigong, forms, joint locks, pressure
points, breathing methods, conditioning, meditation, self-defense
applications, sparring, weaponry and more:
Back to top
Yoga
Popular in Asia for thousands of years, Yoga incorporates
advanced stretching and strengthening postures that loosen the
body and quiet the mind. Yoga is a complete system for training
the body, mind and spirit through breathing exercises,
meditation, contemplation and reflection, in addition to the
stretching postures.
Yoga is extremely useful for martial artists, tai chi students or
athletes who need to increase their flexibility and reduce the
chances of injury. Children especially benefit from and enjoy
yoga, which is why we incorporate it into our Young Dragons
martial arts program.
Many athletes and martial artists who try Yoga discover that the
real value goes beyond the physical training, to the mental and
spiritual well-being that arise from yoga practice.
The Temple of the Dragon's Approach to Yoga
We teach the postures and methods that have been
practiced for centuries in the Shaolin and
Taoist traditions of China. Many of the techniques we teach can
be traced to the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple, a haven where
yoga, meditation and martial arts merged in the common quest for
self-cultivation and enlightenment.
At The Temple of the Peaceful Dragon You'll Find:
- A complete system of yoga, tai chi and meditation for
mental, physical and spiritual evelopment
- Authentic Yoga practice - not just stretching exercises
- Flexible class schedules
Meditation
The body, mind, and spirit are one. The
knowledge of this truth is within each of us, obscured by the
world of illusion. Meditation helps us see through this illusion.
The Temple of the Dragon's Approach to Meditation
There are many techniques and methods of meditation. At The
Temple of the Dragon, Ch'an (Zen) and Taoist meditations are taught.
Our meditation classes do not teach or preach religion. Students can be
quite comfortable in their own religious beliefs, and still learn
to meditate.
The ancient sages taught us that the mind cannot relax unless the
body is relaxed. That is why we recommend Yoga and/or Tai Chi to
complement your sitting meditation.
At The Temple of the Dragon You'll Find:
-
Expert guidance in a peaceful, quiet setting
-
Classes suited for beginners as well as advanced practitioners
-
Cushions and benches available
-
Intensive workshops and retreats to deepen your practice
-
Highly motivated students to practice your training with
Sign up for a free introductory lesson!
Back to top
