Tranquil Edge Martial Arts Retreat
Join us for a unique two-night retreat where Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) meets mindfulness in a setting designed for learning, discovery, and personal growth. This retreat provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in FMA fundamentals, explore Filipino healing traditions, and cultivate inner balance through wellness practices.
Engage in Dynamic Filipino Martial Arts Training:
- Dumpag Fundamentals: Combining striking and basic take down techniques.
- Adaptive Tools Practice: Learn how to creatively apply FMA techniques using everyday objects, enhancing both practicality and confidence.
Experience Filipino Cultural and Healing Practices:
- Cultural Storytelling: Experience the rich history and traditions of Filipino culture through captivating stories that reveal the deeper significance of martial arts and healing practices.
- Talismans and Symbols: Explore the meaning and use of traditional Filipino symbols and talismans, gaining insight into their role in protection, empowerment, and connection to heritage.
- Restorative Hilot Techniques: Learn simple yet effective self-care methods rooted in hilot to relieve tension and restore balance in your body.
- Breathing and Meditation: Discover calming practices to center your mind and regulate your energy, enhancing your focus and well-being.
If you’re ready to challenge yourself, deepen your understanding of FMA, and find balance through mindful practices, this retreat is for you. Come as a learner, leave with newfound skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to Filipino culture and tradition.
Book your spot now for an unforgettable weekend of learning, healing, and community!
All-Inclusive
3-Days, 2-Nights
All-Inclusive Glamping Pod for One Person - $1,100, plus taxes and fees.
25% Deposit to reserve today - remaining balance charged 30 days before your retreat!
Meet Your Hosts
Arlene Stevens
A pioneering figure in the Pekiti Tirsia Kali community, she holds the distinction of being the first woman to achieve the rank of Tuhon (Master Instructor) in Pekiti Tirsia Kali, as recognized by Grandtuhon Leopoldo Gaje. Her journey began in the Philippines, where she was immersed in the rich traditions and intricate movements of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) from a young age. This deep-rooted connection to her cultural heritage is evident in her groundbreaking training manual, Visualizing Flow: A Pekiti Tirsia Kali Training Companion, which is a cherished resource among her students, valued for its innovative approach to learning and teaching. Her profound cultural and personal background is seamlessly interwoven with her expansive knowledge in internal arts, enriching her teachings with a blend of external mastery and internal wisdom. Her innovative teaching methodology transcends conventional approaches, skillfully deconstructing complex Pekiti Tirsia techniques into their core elements. This process not only ensures precision and economy of motion but also fosters a profound understanding of the art. Her approach is both straightforward and deeply insightful, marking her as a unique and invaluable guide in the world of Pekiti Tirsia Kali.
Malcolm Stevens
As a former U.S. Marine, he seamlessly integrates his extensive background in Law Enforcement and Corrections Tactics with a rich 30-year history in martial arts, spanning Tae Kwon Do, Filipino Martial Arts, line training, and kickboxing. His multifaceted career, which includes both practicing and teaching these disciplines, as well as refereeing, has deepened his mastery in martial arts. This varied experience manifests in a training style that is both vigorous and demanding. His approach, firmly rooted in the belief that physical rigor and mental tenacity are essential, elevates his teaching beyond mere technique to an ethos of discipline. His guiding principle, discipline transcends routine, underscores the idea that discipline goes beyond repetitive actions, focusing instead on fostering a mindset of persistence, focus, and continual improvement. Specializing in offensive and counter-offensive strategies, particularly muscle-tendon destruction techniques, he equips students for real combat situations. His contributions are pivotal to our Pekiti Tirsia curriculum, integrating a deep respect for martial traditions with contemporary tactical knowledge.
Nique Dayrit Davis
She is a bridge between the ancient and the modern, skillfully weaving her vast array of skills and knowledge to educate, heal, and inspire. She is a Lakan Guro (Student Instructor) under the guidance of her esteemed mentors, Tuhon Arlene and Tuhon
Malcolm. Her exceptional contributions to the Pekiti Tirsia Kali community include promoting Filipino culture and martial arts through cultural discussions, healing sessions, and FMA demonstrations. Her journey blends her extensive educational background, evident in her graduate studies in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, with her deep-rooted connection to traditional Filipino practices. Her historical familial training in Hilot, Palmistry, Divination, and Ancestral Veneration practices, passed down through generations, showcases her intrinsic link to her ancestral wisdom. She extends her influence by teaching wellness practices like Ki-Gong, Breathwork, and Meditation to young learners. Additionally, her publication Morena: Golden Warrior intertwines her storytelling prowess with her cultural heritage, further establishing her as a multifaceted educator and guardian of her culture.
Wellness with Nature
Resting on 150 acres, River Mountain is bordered by Sweet Root Creek, Warrior Ridge and Tussey Mountain. River Mountain's stunning spaces are designed for reflection, mindfulness, and good vibrations on your self-care journey. Creekside yoga platforms, a restored barn turned wellness space, and the calm of nature make this the ideal destination for peace and wellness.
Located just a few hours from D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, in the mountains of Pennsylvania, River Mountain is remote yet easy to access.
THE GREENHOUSE
HAMMOCK HIDEAWAY
RESTORED 1850'S BARN
YOGA PLATFORMS
SPRINGS HOT SOAKING TUBS
SWEET ROOT CREEK
FRESH AIR + OPEN SPACE
EXPLORE
HIKE
STARGAZING
HIKE
CAMPFIRES + S'MORES
MEADOW TERRACE
HONEY + HIVE TOURS
History
Warrior Path
Running parallel to River Mountain's eastern ridge is Warriors Path, the great Iroquois Indian highway from Six Nations country, New York, to the Catawba country in the Carolinas. The historic path along Sweet Root Creek was one of the longest and most heavily traveled land routes in eastern North America, connecting Indigenous peoples over hundreds of miles.
The Underground Railroad
Black Valley was an active route along the Underground Railroad. Local histories principally credit four, free black residents with leading the aid network in this area: Rev. John Fidler, Elias Rouse, Joseph Crawley, and James Graham. Just to the south of the River Mountain property are 13 unmarked graves of enslaved people who died traveling the route to freedom.
Accommodations
Glamping Pods in the main lodge
Standard Glamping Pod - Sleeps 1 Guest
Located in Main Lodge Room with Other Retreat Guests
Spring-Fed Cedar Host Soaking Tubs Outside Your Door
Black-Out Curtains
Lockable Storage
Mountain Views of Warrior Ridge
Tranquil Edge Martial Arts Retreat
Friday, August 15 - Sunday, August 17, 2024
All-Inclusive
3-Days, 2-Nights
All-Inclusive Glamping Pod for One Person - $1,100, plus taxes and fees.
25% Deposit to reserve today - remaining balance charged 30 days before your retreat!
Retreat Inclusions:
All Retreat Experiences
150 Acres of Nature
Accommodations
Daily Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Access to Hot Soaking Tubs
Campfire + S'mores
Daily Housekeeping
Fresh Linens, Towels, Blankets
Fiber Internet Wi-Fi
Check-In After 3PM
Check-Out By 11AM
Retreat Policies, Payments, Deposit, and Cancellations:
DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON RETREATS. This is for the safety and wellness of the dog and other guests joining the retreat.
25% non-refundable deposit to reserve. The remaining balance is automatically charged 30 days prior to the retreat start date using the initial card on file used to make the reservation and deposit. If reserving within less than 30 days of retreat start date, the remaining balance is automatically charged within 48 hours after reservation is made.
Please note that because River Mountain retreats are limited to a small number of attendees, to allow for a more personable, intimate experience, our cancellation policy is in place to help guests, hosts, and us alike work together sharing expenses that may arise from unexpected cancellations.
• All deposits are non-refundable.
• Full balance is automatically charged 30 days prior to retreat start date, unless otherwise noted.
• Cancellation requests submitted 61 days or more before the retreat start date, 50% of the total is due.
• Within 60 days of your retreat: full balance due, sorry but no refunds given, no exceptions.
Please know that our cancellation policy is designed to mitigate damages and costs incurred to retreat hosts and River Mountain in order to maintain the retreat experience and affordability for other retreat guests. Exceptions cannot be made for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies. No refunds or credits for failure to attend or failure to complete the retreat, or for arriving late or leaving early.
For reservations or general questions
Give us a call
Or email
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