Blue Dragon Schools - Martial Arts Student Testimonials

“My practice at the Blue Dragon School means so much to me that I cannot fathom the thought without it in my life. Practicing martial arts has given me so much in a short time that I cannot think of any other activity that can match it. It gives you better health, learning to enjoy and experience the present moment the way life was meant to be. I’ve also enjoyed an improved body that is becoming leaner and more flexible by each passing day. It has made me a better dad, husband, employer and has made me handle daily situations in a much more reasonable and logical way. I always know I’m prepared for challenges!”
Karim Ben-Fredj, Bergenfield, NJ, age 45

"I wanted to take a minute to let you know how grateful I am that I found Blue Dragon. Less than five months ago, I was in the hospital, having suffered a stroke that left the right side of my body virtually useless. I did not have enough strength to grip a pen, walk more than a few feet, or even hold my 2 young daughters. After I finished rehab, I enrolled at Blue Dragon. Having participated in the kung fu, chi kung and meditation classes for the past few months, as well as taking acupuncture treatments, I'm confident I've found a program that gives me the opportunity for full recovery and more. My wife has been so impressed with the results she's observed that she's joined Blue Dragon as well!

Again, thank you, as well as Mr. Fellner, Ms. Moschetto, and Mr. O'Leary for all of your expertise and encouragement.

P.S. I wrote the above several weeks ago. I'm writing this postscript today (September 3rd). I just returned from a thorough 6-month follow-up from the cardiologist. Here are the results:
- the cardiologist described my recovery so far as 'outstanding'
- my blood pressure is now 110/75, down from an initial post-stroke reading of 205/140
- my resting pulse was described as 'ideal' and 'very calm'
- in the initial exam after the stroke, the doctors were concerned about the fact my heart was enlarged. Today, the exam showed that my heart size is normal now. No abnormalities of any kind were found.
- the only issue of any kind today was when I was getting an echo-cardiogram. The technician instructed me to breathe normally during the exam, which I did. Shortly after the test started, the techician said my normal breathing was too deep and slow for the sequence of recordings she was trying to get, that I needed to 'try to breathe more shallow' (the effects, no doubt, of meditation and chi kung practice.
Knowing my health and lifestyle in the years leading up to the stroke, these results are nothing short of astounding. But they do reflect how I have been feeling physically and mentally since I joined Blue Dragon - I am fully convinced that Blue Dragon has been the major factor. Needless to say, Rose Mary and I are very, very happy and grateful."

“When I came to the Blue Dragon School I heard about the weekly meditation class and figured I would check it out. That was 3 years ago and I've been attending ever since. Having had the opportunity to listen to Shifu Ahles share his insights and experiences has not only facilitated my understanding of the practice but has altered my perspective on handling the challenges life has to offer. "Change your thinking; change your life." Funny thing is...it's actually true. I can honestly say I live a healthier and happier life as a result. I think that if more people knew what they were missing…fewer people actually would.”
Laura Ahern, Oradell, NJ, age 42

“A year and a half ago, when I began Chi Kung classes, I could barely make it through the 13-Exercises Warm-up without wheezing and using my inhaler. When I added the Kung Fu classes, I couldn’t get through palm strikes without resting. I have lung disease, and last August we found spots.
Fear is an incredible motivator. Meticulously following a regime of both classes, acupuncture, breathing exercises and meditation; combined with my own indomitable spirit, I can now do back to back classes, and I don’t even know where my inhaler is.
It’s difficult for most people to understand not being able to breath. It’s like trying to explain what water tastes like. Indeed there is a fluidity in taking a clean, clear breath and letting it go without making a sound. Something I had not been able to do for almost 18 years, until now, with 18 months of Ba Gua.
So, if I inappropriately jump for joy, pump a fist, or burst into tears at the end of a Kung fu class, you now know why.”
Mindy Greenfield, Oakland, NJ, age 52

“There would be a large void in my life without the Blue Dragon School of Martial Arts. I would miss the hard training, the expert tutelage of Shifu Ahles and the friendships that have been created with some of the other students. Attending class always has a positive affect on me no matter how tired I am or how difficult my day has been. Because of the training I have become stronger, healthier and fitter. How can I argue with that? With the meditation and the hard training I have become more productive at work and perform at a much higher and calmer level. Also, my wife Jennifer has seen a positive change in my duties as a husband and a father.”
Gerry Picardi, Saddle Brook, NJ, age 48

“When I first started, I couldn’t fully participate because of the condition of my knees which were stiff and arthritic. During my first year, through rigorous practice and hard work, I was able to progress. I attended the Qi Gong class at least three times a week. My knees became progressively better.
For two years I practiced Qi Gong. Shifu recommends that we should practice both the slow and fast sides of the art, so I now also practice Kung Fu.
Through my strenuous practice and commitment to succeed, my knees continue to improve. I have also begun acupuncture treatments.
Although I am young at heart, I will be 68 this summer. Normally, the arthritis might have taken over, however, it has mostly been controlled. I attribute this success to my work at the Blue Dragon School."
Thomasina Robinson, Bergenfield, NJ, age 68

"PS – I have studied Tae Kwon Do for 10 years, Tai Chi Chuan on and off for 10 years, and Capoiera for 8 years. I got the ultimate satisfaction and totally enjoy Ba Gua Zhang at the Blue Dragon School.”

“I recently completed a State of New Jersey Emergency Medical Technician Course. The course started with 180+ students. Upon completion of the course, I graduated as the number one student in the class with an average grade of 94%. I was not any smarter or more intelligent than any of the other students, but I had a distinct advantage over the other students. I had taken martial arts classes at the Blue Dragon School of Martial Arts under Shifu Ahles. My studies under Shifu Ahles taught me “attention to details” and “discipline”. Shifu stated many times in classes that “details matter”. I took my training in martial arts (attention to details and discipline) and brought it into my personal life. As a result of being detail orientated and following through with that discipline, I was able to successfully complete the course, score very high in class academics and score 94% on the New Jersey State Exam. Since starting martial arts, many people have told me how detail oriented that I have become.
Shifu has stated many times in Meditation Classes, Chi Kung and Kung Fu classes, that you can bring your Martial Arts training into your personal life and make that life better. I have done this in many ways also. I use to live my life always looking at the future and tomorrows. Since following Shifu Ahles teachings, I now live each moment to the fullest. “Being in the moment and living for that moment” as Shifu taught me, has had an impact on me. As a result, my life is much fuller and I am enjoying my life more than I ever have. I no longer worry about the future. I live for the moment and I am enjoying it. Another example would be the anger that I use to experience while driving to and from work. The reckless and careless way people would drive and endanger other drivers’ lives would enrage me. As Shifu taught me, make these people your “partners” (just like our partners in class) and learn from them. Now I no longer let people control my emotions, I control my own emotions. I no longer get angry while driving. For many years I desperately wanted to leave the North East and live any where but New Jersey. One night in Meditation Classes Shifu said you cannot run away from society and it’s problems, you have to learn to live in it. With some 20 people or more in Meditation Class that evening, it was as if he was speaking to me and me alone. Today I no longer think of leaving the area. I have learned to live in our society and more important be happy within it. There have been many other nights in Meditation Classes when Shifu’s talks seemed to be just for me and all of the other people just happened to be there to hear it.
Since starting Martial Arts and learning that it is “a way of life”, and bringing my practice into my everyday life, my life has become so much better. Studying Martial Arts has been a turning point in my life.”
Joseph MacDiarmid, New Milford, NJ, age 56

“The rewards and benefits of my 4+ years of Baguazhang training at the Blue Dragon School of Martial Arts are immeasurable. In addition to conditioning my body, honing my reflexes, and learning invaluable self-defense skills, I have gained a greater degree of mental clarity and focus from the practice of this amazing martial art.
At the age of 46, I am enrolled in an intensive, full-time master’s degree program and find that I have no problem at all keeping up with the rigorous academic pace of the school’s curriculum and with people half my age. In fact, my memory seems to have improved dramatically, and my mind feels sharper than ever.
Additionally, through direct application of Shifu Ahles’ philosophical approach to the study of martial arts, I have experienced first-hand that a focused and calm mind enables me to stay in control of my world… even under the most challenging and stressful of situations.”
Rob Vena, Hackensack, NJ, age 46

“Since practicing here I’ve really gained more control of myself. I don’t get all worked up like I used to in stressful situations. The practice has definitely changed my life. It has changed the way I see things. I used to get very upset over things that I couldn't control. Now I focus on better things, like people helping each other, and not so much about what is bad in everything I see. It’s also the humbleness and integrity of the school that really keeps me coming back, and not really caring about other styles. And I just like the practice. There's a lot less ego than I think a lot of other places have.”
Chris Harley, Bloomfield, NJ, age 25

At age 48, after my children were done with college, I started taking Kung Fu classes at the now, Blue Dragon School of Martial Arts, to fulfill a life-long interest in the art and to get some much needed exercise. I loved it from day one. It was challenging and inspiring and it still is. Qi Kung classes were soon added, which made it even better.

At age 49, my gynecologist finally took me off the pill, to see what stage of menopause I was at. Well, I was in full menopause. Thank goodness, no more monthly “visits”.

The first couple years of my martial arts practice, I did not go to school on the very cold days of winter, as I had never liked going out in the cold, and always had cold hands and cold feet. (I also questioned myself many times as to what I was doing there, as it was not easy.) The 2nd year of my practice, after I got off the pill, I started to get hot flashes. But I did not get them regularly. I thought that was normal. Should I ask my OB/GYN about hormone replacement therapy? I read up on it and felt that it was not for me, but getting hot flashes is not nice. I kept it in the back of my mind, in case it got really bad.

At Blue Dragon, as I practiced more, I felt better about myself, physically and mentally. As the cold weather came on in my 3rd year of practice, I found I was tolerating the cold better. I found that my hands and feet were not getting painfully cold as they used to. Mrs Fries was surprised when I came in on the 1st really cold day that winter. I have not missed class since then because of the cold. I also started to notice that I was not getting hot flashes as severely as I heard my friends were getting them, and it was not on a regular basis. In fact, it seemed like I was no longer getting them. Great! But then, every few months, I’d start getting them, then they would stop again. Was this normal? Then one day it clicked, I was getting them when I stopped practicing for a while – went on vacation, etc. I would start practicing again, and it would go away completely. I had found the right hormone therapy for me. It makes sense though, through my martial arts practice, I am achieving balance, mentally and physically.
Grace Chong

“Dedicated to helping people realize the value of
consistent effort over time and their true potential
through the practice of real martial arts."