From Michael Esmailzadeh, 12/7/12:

Sarah Kirsch passed away yesterday. She had been a committed and an important member of our dojo, since she started training in 1996. Trust, commitment and humility are things we talk a lot about in martial arts, but she was one of the few who truly embodied those concepts.

On the mat her commitment to the martial arts showed in the intensity she brought to every technique. When she role-played scenarios, she made you believe they were real. Her jujitsu Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) test was one of the strongest I have been honored to witness. She worked hard in every class she attended, radiating serious intent as well as a deep love for the arts. I can still hear her kiai echoing across the floor. She rose through the ranks achieving a Sandan in Jujutsu and a Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt) in Aikido.

In our dojo community her commitment was apparent in the amount of work she did on a regular basis. Whether it was teaching classes, managing the dojo finances, helping coordinate Kilohana, being an attacker for the Girl Army self-defense collective, doing construction work on the dojo, organizing folks to go out for food after class and many other tasks…when she was involved there was never any question that she would do it thoughtfully and with care.

In spite of her accomplishments, not just in martial arts, but also music and other fields, she was one of the most understated people I ever met. While her accomplishments could have put her in the limelight, she preferred to just quietly keep doing the work, effortlessly demonstrating the humility that many of us strive for, but fall short of.

It’s hard to imagine where our dojo would be without her. When she fell ill over a year ago her presence here was sorely missed. Now it feels as though there is an empty place on the mat that will never really be filled. She was truly an inspiration and example to us all. I have been honored to be her friend, teacher, student and training partner these last 16 years and will miss her much.

My love and thoughts are with her partner Jess, as well as Paul, Ilya and Jake and others, who devoted so much time to her care in the last year.

Suigetsukan is a non-profit martial arts dojo. Our collectively-run school offers classes in the traditional arts of Aikido, Danzan Ryu Jujutsu and Toyama Ryu Battodo.

The dojo is also home to World Wide Jiu-Jitsu & Karate-Do, Bagua Zhang, Wing Chun, Eskrima, Girl Army Collective self defense classes and Pekiti Tirsia Kali.