05/03/2026
RBSDNZ whānau and wider martial arts family
It is with deep sadness that we share the loss of one of our own.
Our brother Mr. Noah Lee Tietjens was a valued member of our martial arts family - a ICHF Cane Instructor and a dedicated student preparing to test for his Black Belt in Combat Hapkido. He trained with heart, humility, commitment and he would have been celebrating his birthday 05.03.26.
Tragically, Noah lost his life while serving the United States Army in Kuwait and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
We ask our RBSDNZ community, friends, fellow martial artists and families to please keep Noah’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
A college fund has been established for his son. If you feel moved to contribute, you can do so here:
Dylan Tietjens Education Fund
https://gofund.me/bbd5d9f07
Our heartfelt love and prayers go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Ngā mihi mō tō mahi nui.
Whakatā te hōia, moe mai rā i runga i te rangimārie.
Your watch may be over, but your legacy remains.
Rest in peace brother.
We are heartbroken to share the loss of our brother, Sergeant First Class Noah Lee Tietjens, who tragically lost his life while serving our country in Kuwait.
To us, he was Mr. Noah, a devoted husband and father, a respected Black Belt in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo, and an instructor who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others.
Noah lived the martial arts code and he carried that same character as a soldier.
He did not simply wear a Black Belt… he lived it.
He led with integrity.
He trained with purpose.
He taught with humility.
On the mat, he trained as a martial artist.
In uniform, he served as a soldier.
In both roles, he carried the same values: honor, discipline, service, and commitment to others.
His impact on our students, our instructors, our academy, and everyone he crossed paths with will endure far beyond this moment.
We will honor him the way disciplined people do - martial artists, soldiers, and leaders - by continuing to live the standard he carried.
Mr. Noah Lee Tietjens… your legacy remains on this mat and it lives on beyond these walls, in the world you served.
For those who have asked how they may support the family, a college fund has been established for his son Dylan in lieu of flowers.
Dylan Tietjens Education Fund
https://gofund.me/bbd5d9f07
Keep the Tietjens family in your prayers, and please share this post so our Bellevue, Omaha, and Sarpy County community can come together - military or civilian, parent or spouse, friend or neighbor, anyone who has ever carried loss. If you’re able, leave a few words in this thread - encouragement, comfort, or a lesson learned through grief - so the family has something to hold onto and return to again and again.
May they feel that he is remembered not only as a fallen warrior, but as ONE OF OURS. Thank you for standing with this family in unity. 💛🙏 🇺🇸
