Dragon Phoenix | Application Preview
Dragon Phoenix is applying for government grants to support professional development through a trip to China for intensive Tai Chi training. The applicant intends to study under top masters in Chenjiagou, the birthplace of Tai Chi, to enhance the school's reputation and bring legitimacy to Tai Chi instruction in Asheville. Pausing classes for a month and a half would result in lost revenue, along with travel and training costs.
The applicant envisions Asheville becoming a Tai Chi hub to promote community health, as Tai Chi is not well understood in America, and many current instructors lack qualifications. By gaining certification from respected masters, the applicant aims to validate their expertise, attract more students, and train future instructors, ensuring the sustainability of Dragon Phoenix.
The business model includes expanding instructor training to pass on knowledge and experience, as the applicant wants to transition teaching responsibilities to younger generations. Dragon Phoenix has evolved from initial classes into a comprehensive center offering programs for different age groups, contributing positively to the community.
The rationale for funding approval emphasizes the applicant’s dedication and the proven success of Dragon Phoenix over the past nine years. With serious commitment and a solid foundation, the applicant seeks to further their expertise in order to elevate the quality of Tai Chi training offered.
The competitive landscape includes various martial arts schools and misrepresented Tai Chi instruction. Dragon Phoenix distinguishes itself by providing authentic, traditional martial arts training, with a unique offering of Tai Chi, Xing Yi, and Baguazhang for youth. The applicant’s full-time dedication sets Dragon Phoenix apart from many other schools that operate part-time, reflecting a deep commitment to martial arts instruction and community development.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 600960405
Location: Asheville, NC, United States
Length of Operation: 6-10
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: NO
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Funding Usage
Professional Development. I would like to travel to China for intensive training to help better build the reputation of our school. Chenjiagou is the birthplace of Tai Chi and there is a school there where I can study from some of the greatest Tai Chi masters in the world. To do so, I would need to pause some of my classes for a month and a half, which means revenue lost, plus the cost of a round trip plane ticket, plus instruction. One of my goals is to help Asheville to become more of a Tai Chi hub to help build a healthier community. Tai Chi is not well understood in America and there are very few qualified instructors. Most of the instructors here know very little relatively, and unfortunately there are more frauds pretending to teach Tai Chi than actual legitimate instructors. My goal is to become certified by very highly qualified instructors to help bring correct Tai Chi to Asheville. The difficult part will be the cost of travel, plus the revenue lost during the time of training. I expect for this venture to help generate more revenue for the school after my return. As with some of my other training, I will be able to advertise the high level of certification I will gain from this trip. This will validate me as the highest level Tai Chi master in the area, which will attract more students to Dragon Phoenix and helping to continue to build our school. In addition, I will be qualified to train other instructors to help secure the longevity of Dragon Phoenix.
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Business Plan
I plan to train more people to become teachers so that I can pass the torch along to them and so they can go out and bring Tai Chi to other communities in our country. As I get older I would like to hand over teaching responsibilities to the younger generation. In order to do so, I need to make sure I have all the correct information and training. This is something that can only be learned first hand through a qualified instructor. Dragon Phoenix started as a handful of classes that grew into a school with a complete curriculum. From there it has grown into a Tai Chi and Kung Fu center where I employ other teachers as well to teach their disciplines. We have a kids and teens program, as well as adults program, and something I am proud of is also a program for older adults and seniors to help them with their balance and coordination to help with quality of life. As the reputation of Dragon Phoenix continues to grow, I will be able to attract more qualified instructors to fill our schedule and be able to give back to the community even more. I built my school from scratch and its been open now for over 9 years. We are successful, profitable, and have a very good reputation in our community. I am 100% serious and committed to my work. I have already put in all of the hardest ground work to prove that this isn't just a fanciful idea. I am committed, this is the main focus in my life. In my training, I have taken myself as far as I could with teachers here in the United States, and as far as I can on my own. In order for me to progress to the next level, I will need to travel to China and study with the most qualified teachers in the world.
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Self Identified Competition
Taekwondo schools and Karate schools. Also, people making things up and calling it Tai Chi. There are too many of these frauds around and one of my goals is to educate the public so that people are learning correctly and not injuring themselves. With Taekwondo and Karate, 99% of it is a watered down Americanized version that is known in the martial arts world as a McDojo. We are the opposite of this. We strive to teach legitimate, correct, traditional Kung Fu. There is very little of this in our country so we are very unique in this instance. We are also one of, if not the only, school in the country that teaches Tai Chi, Xing Yi, and Baguazhang to kids and teens. These 3 styles are considered some of the top level martial arts styles and are very difficult to find instruction in. Dragon Phoenix is what I do full time. Most martial arts school owners run their school as a second job, so I am very unique in this instance. I live a fairly simply life so that I can dedicate it to what I love. Dragon Phoenix is my life.
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