Sariah's dedication to the training continues as, in the Fall of 2016, she began volunteering to become an Assistant Instructor for the Youth Program. After volunteering for over nine months, she completed our Assistant Instructor Certification Program and was hired in the Summer of 2017.

When Sariah approached us about being an Assistant Instructor, we knew she was up for the task based on her resilience and consistency over the years on the mat. When she started volunteering, she was timid, with a kind spirit and a calm demeanor. The kids in the class have gravitated to her from day one.

Six years later, she is still soft-spoken but possesses great confidence both on and off the mat. Sariah has a calming influence on the room. Most notably, the students who enter the Academy for their first class. Sariah has talked countless first-time students into stepping on the mat and leaving their parent's arms.

The students know they are safe with her. She is the bridge for the beginners before they enter the general class. She calmly teaches the new students how to tie their belts, break falls, hip escapes, and the technical stand-up before they start their curriculum. She intuitively knows the class format and has a mastery of the fundamentals. Sariah is an absolute asset to the Academy; we are very proud of her.

"So grateful for the way Jiu-Jitsu has shaped my life. It's something I'll be doing for the rest of my life", she says.

Sariah is continuing her education at the Berkeley Herbal Center, working towards a Clinical Herbalist certification. She hopes to merge her love of martial arts and wellness by opening up her own practice to serve the members of her community with herbs and holistic methods of medicine. Her ultimate goal in life is to glorify God with her work.

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