Posts by christel

In memory of Ray Long

Posted by on Jul 22, 2020 in Blog

Raymond Long was a senior instructor at the Manhattan Chinatown branch of Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy.  He joined the school as an adolescent and having begun his training at such a young age, he worked hard and became the youngest instructor at the school.  He epitomized the spirit of the tiger, training and sparring with men and women more than twice his age, and often holding his own. Raymond’s fierce fighting spirit evolved as he grew up, and even as he became one of the physically strongest students in the school, he channeled his energy into becoming a patient, skillful, and devoted instructor, as he taught younger and newer students to follow his path to aspired mastery of the art. Raymond’s accomplishments were not limited to kung fu.  Many students at the school watched him become an accomplished young adult, as he earned a Bachelors degree from Stony Brook.  He was both a massage therapist, and a dedicated registered nurse in New York City.  He also studied Muay Thai, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Five Points Academy. He was a respected member of the Stony Brook University MMA Club. Raymond lost his life in May of 2020, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.  He was like a second son to Sifu Joseph Demundo, and a brother to his many training siblings. We all mourn his loss and honor his memory which he hope will inspire others to pursue perfection in their training in Hung Ga Kung Fu, and to live as meaningful a life as did our son and brother. ...

Read More