The NPC Armed Forces Nationals is a contest that acknowledges and helps members of the United States navy and their households. Many of the athletes that compete on that stage yearly are merely trying to enhance themselves and maybe discover a brand new athletic endeavor. They additionally need to really feel like they belong in a neighborhood. That’s why they prepare and food plan so arduous to face the judges on that stage.
One of these judges is Luis Santa, a person who’s acquainted with each commitments the athletes make – as rivals and servicemembers. That’s as a result of Santa is just not solely a retired IFBB Pro League competitor, he’s additionally an energetic member of the United States Air Force. Santa works within the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. His job is to investigate information and synthetic intelligence.
“In a sense, I’m your bodybuilding nerd,” Santa joked. Both his ardour for service and bodybuilding originated in Puerto Rico, the place Santa spent a part of his childhood in addition to the early years of his grownup life. After working at a fast-food restaurant and being robbed at gunpoint, Santa felt he wanted to be part of the answer. So, he joined the native police pressure.
“By joining the police department, I went into a tactical unit. Almost every single cop in that unit was a member of the Army National Guard,” mentioned Santa. “When we were being trained with new weapons, these guys knew how to use them already, and I had never seen any of these weapons.”
After discovering out that his fellow officers have been additionally within the navy, and since on the time he was working a number of job to make ends’ meet, Santa determined that he needed to be a part of as nicely. After going to a recruiter’s workplace together with his crew members, he determined to hitch the United States Air Force. After taking the ASVAB take a look at, the recruiter advised him that he may qualify for any job he wished.
“I told him that I was a car mechanic, and I could work on motorcycles as well. I think it’s pretty interesting to work on aircrafts. He said ‘oh, man, I have a guaranteed job. You will go to basic training, and you’ll go straight to tech school for that job, which is tactical aircraft mechanic.’”
On December 6, 2001, Santa accepted the chance, and that call began a profession that he’s nonetheless concerned with over 20 years later. After initially desirous to function a means to enhance his profession as a cop, Santa would transition to working within the navy full-time. That profession would come with three deployments. One of these was to serve throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he thought-about that essentially the most important second of his navy profession up to now.
“It was a pretty shocking thing that I felt I was going to do, and I also felt like my call for duty was in full effect.”
Another name that he was pursuing on the time was bodybuilding. That aspect of Santa’s life could be traced again to his childhood as nicely. His father made positive he performed as many sports activities as doable to remain energetic. Sports have been part of his childhood by way of his time in Puerto Rico in addition to New York and Connecticutt. Once he grew up, he stored up a routine of doing pushups and situps every single day, which helped him keep physique. His form caught the attention of a neighborhood bodybuilder, who satisfied younger Luis to compete in a present. His first present was in 1997, and he recalled the expertise as if he simply walked offstage.
“The good news was that I finished second in my show. The bad news was there were only two guys in my show.”
Nonetheless, Santa was bit by the bodybuilding bug, and he determined to compete once more. He would win the welterweight novice class of the Mr. Puerto Rico in 1998, which featured 24 rivals. Fast ahead over a decade later, and Santa had earned his IFBB Pro League card by profitable the 2011 NPC USA’s Middleweight title. He had truly gained his class in years’ previous, however because of the few professional playing cards that have been issued on the time, he didn’t get to maneuver up. Once he did attain professional standing, he made up for misplaced time by competing in a present proper earlier than a deployment.
“I was already 37 years old, so I needed to get on a pro stage asap. So, I jumped right into the New York Pro. One reason I did that was because I had to go back to the Middle East, and I wanted to make sure I had a show in because I didn’t know if I was coming back.”
Fortunately, Santa did come again and competed a number of extra instances. He would finally win a present, the 2017 Baltimore Classic Masters Pro. He additionally positioned seventh on the Tampa Pro 212 that yr. Derek Lunsford would win that contest. Santa referred to as that his most profitable season as a professional, however he was truly prouder of his exhibiting in Tampa, though he gained in Maryland.
“I was very happy with what we managed to do with my physique,” he said. The “we” referred to himself in addition to his coach on the time, A.J. Sims, who labored with Santa for the remainder of his profession. What makes Santa most happy with his profession is that like fellow execs Charjo Grant and Olympia 202 champion David Henry, he efficiently prepped for contests whereas sustaining his commitments to his nation.
“To prepare while doing shifts in the military and have a family, it’s tough to get it done. I always felt the most rewarded on the day of the show that I made it to the show.”
Santa’s profession onstage would conclude within the 2021 Toronto Pro, the place he positioned sixth within the 212 division. Even although he doesn’t compete anymore, he nonetheless trains arduous and remains to be linked to the game, each as a decide and promoter. In his eyes, it’s a strategy to give again to the neighborhood and sport that has been a powerful a part of his life.
“I am passionate about the sport just like I’m passionate for my (military) career.”
Besides serving his nation within the Pentagon, Master Sergeant (E7) Santa nonetheless sees himself as an advocate for each health and repair. He re-upped this yr so as to add three extra years of service, and he’s open about encouraging younger individuals to contemplate a future within the United States Armed Forces as a result of it will imply one thing far better than a paycheck alone.
“It’s a different feeling. I really can’t explain the feeling of the love for some people to serve. It’s a very special feeling of accomplishment and gratification. I feel that on the inside. It’s a very strong feeling of satisfaction to be able to serve.”
Follow Luis on Instagram @luissanta1.