07/12/2026
20 years ago, Master Robles stepped off the competition floor.
This weekend, he stepped back on.
At 41 years old, competing against some of the best black belts in the NMAA, he chose to do something many people never will: put himself back in the arena.
Not because he had something to prove.
But because leaders should never stop growing.
The results?
🥈🥇 1st Place – Weapons
🥈 2nd Place – Traditional Forms
🥉 3rd Place – Combat Escrima
🥉 3rd Place – Traditional Sparring
At Final Strike, we believe instructors should never ask students to do something they’re unwilling to do themselves.
Growth doesn’t end when you earn your black belt.
It doesn’t end when you become a Master.
And it certainly doesn’t end after 20 years away.
Congratulations, Master Robles, on an incredible comeback. Your willingness to challenge yourself is the example we hope every Final Strike student follows.
The comeback wasn’t about the medals. It was about proving that courage grows when you’re willing to step back onto the mat.
National Martial Arts Alliance Micah Martin Martinez MA Rise Martial Arts- Lakewood
