Native American Indian
Wife of an awesome black belt and man of God, Sensei Richard Long, 6th degree black belt
Mother, grandmother and Shihan Storm’s sister in Christ and “The Arts”
Co-owner and co-chief instructor with husband of Belen Goju Ryu Karate
Certified Black Belt Instructor
State, Regional & Word Martial Arts Champion
2000 Trias Memorial Award Recipient
Multiple Weapons Expert including the bo, sai, kama, tonfa, nunchaku, three sectional staff,
   Tien bay Roshin (bamboo frond hat and machete), Chizi kun bo (float handles to fishing nets) and steel fans
Former United States Karate Alliance State of New Mexico Representative for twelve years
Hosted twenty three tournaments

Cindy Long was a wife (to Richard} and mother raising a daughter (Tammy) and a son (Michael) in what used to be referred to as a traditional family where Dad went to work and Mom stayed home and did all
the work.

In 1985, son Michael who was not quite four years old was running around the house making noise and saying he knew Karate when Mom and Dad decided to get him some lessons. A Tae Kwon Do school was all that was available in our city of Belen, New Mexico at the time and by the second introductory lesson Mom was working out along with her son and really liking it. Within a month the whole family was training together in Tae Kwon Do.




Cindy has always been athletic. She was an avid swimmer and ever since being pregnant with her first child, Tammy (pictured here is also a “Warrior Queen” whose showcase is featured below), she was committed to proper nutrition along with physical fitness. All of this helped, but Cindy felt like the most uncoordinated person in class when it came to the martial arts. She was determined to succeed and through hard work and determination she has.






In 1988, Cindy and her family started training in Goju Ryu Karate under
Joe Mercado and they received their black belts in 1991. The same year she and her husband Richard took over as owners and chief instructors at Belen Goju Ryu Karate.






Cindy credits her training in Karate for help with every endeavor in life. She home schooled both children from elementary school into college, coached the local swim team for four years, was a Girl Scout Troop leader for 15 girls for four years, taught two martial arts classes a semester at the local college for fifteen years, instructing an hour aerobic class (and still does, since 1988), was on a local bank’s Board of Advisors for three years, and was President of the Belen Chamber of Commerce. All this while growing the dojo as a full time instructor while Richard still worked full time at other jobs and helped out at the dojo at night. She and her husband teach five classes a day, six days a week to about 120 students.

Everything changed with a car accident November 1998. After being in a coma and the brain trauma ward at the hospital, the doctors were recommending institutional care and did not have a very good outlook. Instead she came home with Richard, started therapy and in two weeks was back in the dojo slowly building strength, relearning what she knew and adding to that knowledge.

The same determination that helped her succeed in Karate brought her back from what could have been a life altering accident. Actually it was life altering but Cindy has not let it stop her from growing and improving in her Karate and her life. She has much more empathy and understanding with people of all levels and conditions and it has made her a better instructor.

The joy of teaching Karate and helping others become better citizens and better able to cope with this life is something Cindy is constantly thankful for; such as students who started training when they were 5 and 6 years old and now still training at 19 and 20 years old or students who trained when little and now graduating high school and writing to thank us for what they learned in Karate. It is a great blessing and responsibility to always be true to Karate Do.






Grandson, Donnie is continuing his family
legacy as a martial artist and is winning
already!






After training with Joe Mercado the Long’s met and began training with Gustavo Albear Sensei, receiving their 5th Dan from him (counter signed by Phillip W. Koeppel Sensei, 8th Dan).

The Long’s met and began training with Kimo Wall Sensei in April 1999 in Okinawan Goju Ryu and Matayoshi Kobudo and have been with him ever since receiving their 6th Dan certificate November 12, 2005. They continue to train hard to grow and develop their art under the guidance of Kimo Wall Sensei.

And finally…thank you Shihan Storm for being my sister in Christ and the Martial Arts.


Sensei Cindy and I became friends over thirteen years ago almost instantly at the United States Karate Alliance world championships in New Orleans, Louisiana. We discovered that we were kindred spirits in what we had experienced in life; moms of two children each; our love for God and what He called us to do as female warriors; our girls scout connection, martial arts champions; and more. I knew that she and her family were friends and divine connections that would last forever.

Cindy and Richard’s daughter, Sensei and U.S.A.F. Captain Tamara Long Archuleta became the daughter I longed for as they shared her with me. She is still my daughter and will remain in my heart as long as I have breath.

I know that I can jump on an airplane when I need rest and solitude, go to Belen, New Mexico, and stay in their wonderfully equipped dojo which includes a studio apartment which the Longs have blessed me with time after time. My only complaint is that they tend to fed me too much (which I don’t resist) and I leave weighing about five to ten pounds heavier! That’s blessing in manifestation!

It is great to say that you love someone, but it is even better when your actions agree with your words! That embodies the love the Longs have for me and I am blessed beyond measure by it. That’s love in manifestation!

Love & blessings in manifestation,

Shihan Quiet Storm