Today we’d like to introduce you to Branden Lee.
Hi Branden, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2006, I came to the United States from South Korea by myself with just $200 in my pocket as a Taekwondo major, driven by a passion to promote and teach Taekwondo in the right and authentic way.
After many challenges and unexpected turns along the way, I eventually settled in Richmond, Virginia, where I opened the doors of Dynamic Taekwondo in April 2011.
Since then, Dynamic Taekwondo has grown tremendously. Today, we have one of the largest Taekwondo training facilities in the Richmond area under a single location, offering a wide variety of programs for students of different ages and needs.
Our programs include Before & After School Programs, Evening Taekwondo Classes, Summer Camps, Birthday Parties, and a competitive Taekwondo Tournament Team, allowing us to serve our community throughout the year.
What started in 2006 with just $200 and a dream has grown into a thriving Taekwondo school dedicated to teaching authentic Taekwondo, developing strong character, and making a positive impact on children and families throughout the Richmond community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
From the beginning, Dynamic Taekwondo grew rapidly, and in 2015 and 2018, we sequentially opened our second and third locations as we expanded our branches.
However, we faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019–2020, which ultimately forced us to close one of our locations. On top of that, during one of the most difficult periods financially, we took on the major challenge of building our Taekwondo headquarters facility. This created significant financial pressure and made that period especially difficult for us.
Despite all of these challenges, we continued to move forward, adapt, and grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Dynamic Taekwondo is more than just a Taekwondo school. It is a place where children and families can grow together through martial arts, discipline, confidence, and community.
I came to the United States from South Korea in 2006 with only $200 in my pocket as a Taekwondo major, with a dream of sharing authentic Taekwondo and its positive values with American families. After many challenges and years of hard work, I opened Dynamic Taekwondo in Richmond, Virginia, in April 2011.
Since then, Dynamic Taekwondo has grown from a small martial arts school into one of the largest single-location Taekwondo training facilities in the Richmond area. Today, we offer a wide range of programs designed to meet the needs of different ages and families, including Before & After School Programs, daily Taekwondo classes, Summer Camps, school-break camps, birthday parties, and a competitive tournament team.
What sets us apart is that we are not simply focused on teaching kicks, punches, or martial arts techniques. Our goal is to use Taekwondo as a tool to help children develop confidence, discipline, respect, perseverance, leadership, and responsibility. We want every student to become stronger not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
We are also proud of the fact that Dynamic Taekwondo has become a trusted part of the Richmond community. Many families come to us not only because they want their children to learn Taekwondo, but because they are looking for a safe, positive, structured, and encouraging environment where their children can build lifelong skills.
Our Before & After School Program and Summer Camp are especially important parts of our business because we provide families with more than childcare. We combine a safe and structured environment with daily Taekwondo training, physical activity, character development, and opportunities for children to build friendships and confidence.
From a branding perspective, I am most proud that the name “Dynamic Taekwondo” has come to represent quality, professionalism, family, and genuine care for our students. We have built our brand through years of hard work and by earning the trust of thousands of families in our community.
Most importantly, we want people to know that Dynamic Taekwondo is built on a simple belief: Taekwondo should not just create better martial artists—it should help create better people.
Our vision is to continue growing while maintaining the same values that brought us here in the first place: authentic Taekwondo, strong character, excellent instruction, and a genuine commitment to our students and their families.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would not describe myself as someone who takes risks just for the sake of taking risks. I see myself as someone who is willing to take calculated risks when I believe in the vision and am willing to work hard enough to make it succeed.
Moving to the United States from South Korea in 2006 with only $200 was probably the biggest risk I had ever taken. I was young, had very limited resources, and was starting over in a completely new country. But I believed strongly in Taekwondo and in my ability to share it with the community.
Opening Dynamic Taekwondo in 2011 was another major risk. As the business began to grow, we continued to take calculated steps forward, eventually opening our second location in 2015 and our third location in 2018. At the time, expanding so quickly came with significant financial and operational challenges, but I believed that growth would allow us to serve more families and build a stronger organization.
The biggest challenge came during the COVID-19 period. We had to close one of our locations, and at the same time, we were investing heavily in building our Taekwondo headquarters. Taking on a major building project during such a difficult financial period was extremely stressful and carried substantial risk.
Looking back, those experiences taught me that risk is not always about knowing that you will succeed. Sometimes, it is about believing strongly enough in your vision to move forward even when the outcome is uncertain.
I also believe that taking risks requires responsibility. Before making a major decision, I try to understand the potential consequences, prepare as much as possible, and make sure I am willing to accept the downside if things do not go as planned.
For me, the greatest risk would actually be refusing to grow because I am afraid of failure. Every major step in Dynamic Taekwondo’s history came with uncertainty, but those challenges also created some of our greatest opportunities.
Today, I try to look at risk not as something to avoid, but as something to understand, prepare for, and manage. If the vision is strong, the purpose is right, and you are willing to work through the difficult moments, sometimes taking that risk is exactly what allows you to build something meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://we.leesdynamic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DynamicTaeKwonDo
