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Authors: Matt Christopher,Stephanie Peters

Tags: #JUV032050

Day of the Dragon (4 page)

BOOK: Day of the Dragon
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“No, wait! See the antennae on its head? That’s not a bird! It’s a — a dragonfly!”

Mark heard X give a muffled
whoop
. “They get it! So far, so good! Now let’s get this dragon flying!”

Mark took a deep breath, squeezed Savannah and Jonas’s hands, then pushed off. He skated slowly, making sure his friends were following. He needn’t have worried. They’d practiced flying so much in the past week, they were like a well-oiled machine. He led them from one side of the parade to the other. From the corner of his eye, he saw the beautiful wings move up and down, slowly and gracefully.

Applause followed them throughout the parade. When they reached the Square at last and took off the costume, X cried gleefully, “Hear that? That’s the sound made for a first-prize costume! I can’t wait to get on that podium and accept our award!”

Mark hoped X got his wish. But as for himself, he was happy right where he was — flying high with his friends.

Is Kung Fu Right for You?

Kung fu is a Chinese martial art. Buddhist monks were the first people to practice this ancient self-defense technique. Today, people all over the world study kung fu. And it may surprise you to find out that more than fifty percent of the people who learn kung fu are children.

Anyone can study kung fu. But to succeed in the sport, students must be ready to work hard. One session of kung fu can be an hour to two hours long. Sessions begin with stretches to warm up the body. Then students practice different fighting and defense techniques — over and over and over again. This repetition strengthens muscles and teaches students to react quickly and automatically. Quick reactions are important when defending yourself.

Quick minds are also important. If kung fu students don’t stay focused on what they’re doing, then they will not succeed in a match. So they must learn to discipline, or train, their minds to stay sharp. They are also expected to behave properly in and out of class. Students who throw tantrums, goof off, or cause trouble for others usually don’t do well in kung fu.

People who practice kung fu have a lot of self-confidence. They learn to trust themselves. So if having a strong body, a sharp mind, and confidence in yourself sounds good, then kung fu may be right for you!

The eXtreme Team

#1
ONE SMOOTH MOVE

#2
DAY OF THE DRAGON

#3
ROLLER HOCKEY RUMBLE

#4
ON THIN ICE

BOOK: Day of the Dragon
4.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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