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Lineage of The Temple of the Dragon is a lineage school. Many of the authentic martial arts taught at our school have passed directly from Great Grandmaster Ch'ang Dung Sheng to his adopted son Grandmaster Frank DeMaria, and from him to Master Eric Sbarge, and then to Sifu Aaron Arden. Great Grandmaster Ch'ang Dung Sheng
Great Grandmaster Ch'ang Dung Sheng was born in Hopei, China in 1905. While still a small boy, he began to study Shuai Chiao -- the Chinese art of grappling -- possibly the earliest martial art for which there are records. Many Shuai Chiao holds and throws are hidden in what Westerners know as Kung Fu. In 1933, then only 18, Great Grandmaster Ch'ang became China's National Heavyweight, Shuai Chiao Champion even though he was not a heavyweight. Due to his tremendous power and expertise, this China national treasure remained undefeated in his lifetime. Ch'ang learned T'ai Chi Chuan from General Li Chien Lin in the 1930s and because of his complete mastery of Shuai Chiao, was able to perfect the style called Ch'ang Shih T'ai Chi Chuan which incorporates the techniques of this ancient art of Shuai Chiao, and is unique among T'ai Chi styles for its combat potential. Ch'ang was also expert in the arts of Hsing-I, Pa-Kua and Shaolin Kung Fu. Grandmaster Frank DeMaria Grandmaster Frank DeMaria has over forty-five years of experience in Chinese cultural and martial arts. His greatest martial arts teacher was the late Great Grandmaster Ch'ang Dung Sheng who adopted Frank DeMaria as his son. His greatest meditation and philosophy teacher was the renowned Shen Yen, Abbott of Nung Chan Temple in Taipei. Out of his desire to preserve and pass on these arts in a traditional way, Grandmaster DeMaria founded the American Center For Chinese Studies (ACCS) with which the Temple Of The Dragon is affiliated. In 1995, the ACCS became an official brother school of the Society of Shaolin Temple in New York, headed by Reverend Guo Lin Shi. Reverend Guo Lin Shi -- 34th generation Shaolin monk of the Song Mountain Shaolin Monastery in Henan Province, China, and slated successor to the current Abbott -- presided over the ceremony. The ACCS is one of the few martial arts organization to have this honor. Master Eric Sbarge Master Eric Sbarge has trained for over 30 years in Tai Chi Ch'uan, Pa-Kua, Hsing-I, Shuai Chiao and Shaolin Kung Fu. He was for fifteen years a private student of Grandmaster Frank DeMaria. Master Sbarge has extensive knowledge of the arts he teaches, and has taken firsts in the black belt divisions of a number of tournaments, among them the United Nations Open. He is also a member of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Says Grandmaster Frank DeMaria, "Mr. Sbarge remains loyal to all he has learned and continues to grow as a martial artist. His love for the arts is shown by the efforts he puts into it. His students are all a reflection of his teachings and a credit to our art. Shao-lin is sure to grow because of his efforts." Sifu Aaron Arden
Sifu Aaron Arden has trained for 14 years in Tai Chi Ch'uan, Pa-Kua, Hsing-I, Shuai Chiao and Shaolin Kung Fu under Master Eric Sbarge, at the Hall of the Peaceful Dragon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Early in his life Sifu Aaron Arden studied philosophy, meditation, and natural medicine and played football and wrestled in school sports. Not finding a traditional Kung Fu school in his area, he took classes at a traditional Karate school. Then upon moving from Dayton, Ohio to Charlotte, North Carolina, he met his current teacher and has been training in the traditional Chinese Martial Arts ever since. Sifu Aaron Arden has competed in many local and international tournaments taking the highest honors in several categories. Now, after teaching for many years, he continues his own training with his teacher and Grandmaster in yearly seminars and also attends seminars taught by several of the great Chinese Martial Arts Masters of today. He has dedicated his life to learning and teaching the traditional Chinese Martial Arts and brings his teachings to the Temple Of The Dragon. Sifu Aaron Arden teaches with the certification and sanction of the American Center For Chinese Studies, the Kuo Shu Federation of the Republic of China, and the American Kenpo Association. Sifu Aaron Arden is also a member of the Ever Rite Shuai Chiao Society and the Taipei Shai-Chiao Committee. While all schools and styles have valuable things to offer, we believe that the serious student prepared to make the commitment to this unique path of learning and development will find none better than . Sign up for a free introductory lesson!
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