Today we’d like to introduce you to Braden Shackelford.
Hi Braden, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began my Tae Kwon Do training under Masters Chun Rhee and Manuel Bonilla at the Jhoon Rhee school in Falls Church, VA at the age of 3. When my father, Master Barry Shackelford, opened the school in Arlington, VA in 2005, I continued my training there under him and Jhoon Rhee Head Instructor, Master Francis Pineda. I earned my Black Belt just before I turned 10 years old and am the youngest student to ever receive a Black Belt from Jhoon Rhee Arlington. I began assistant teaching at the age of 15. After graduating from Bridgewater College with a degree in Health & Exercise Science, I once again joined my father and began teaching full-time at Jhoon Rhee Arlington in January 2023.
I passed my 2nd Dan Black Belt Exam with “Outstanding Marks” and have a passion for competition training and sparring.
In 2024, I accepted additional management responsibilities at the studio, including competition coordination, transitioning younger students into our “Junior” Program, and supervising part-time instructors. In March 2025, I passed my 3rd Dan Black Belt Exam and continue my training. As I stated in my speech for the Black Belt exam, “I have more to learn, and much to give.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The decision to become a full-time Tae Kwon Do instructor was actually an easy one for me because I truly love what I do. I grew up in the school, and teaching has been a part of my life since I was a teenager, so becoming a full-time instructor felt like a natural progression.
The challenge I’m looking forward to is continuing to grow into a larger leadership role as my dad eventually begins to step back from the business. He has built Jhoon Rhee Arlington over more than 20 years, and I understand both the responsibility and the opportunity that comes with eventually succeeding him. I want to preserve the traditions and values that have made the school successful while also bringing my own ideas and leadership style to its future.
I know there will be challenges along the way, but I’m excited about them. I’ve spent most of my life learning Tae Kwon Do and learning how to teach it, and now I’m also learning what it takes to lead and operate the school. I see that as the next stage of my own growth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professionally, I am a full-time instructor and manager at Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do in Arlington, Virginia. Our school has been part of the Arlington community for more than 20 years, and our philosophy is “Teaching Life Skills Through Martial Arts.” While we teach Tae Kwon Do, what we are really known for is helping our students—particularly children—develop confidence, respect, self-control, discipline, and perseverance. Being able to have that kind of impact on young people is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Personally, I have always loved the traditional martial arts side of Tae Kwon Do, but I have developed a particular passion for sparring and competition. Over the years, I have expanded my training beyond traditional Tae Kwon Do and incorporated elements of other martial arts and fighting styles to become a more complete fighter and a better instructor. I have competed in amateur full-contact kickboxing and Muay Thai and currently have a 5-1 record.
I think that combination is part of what sets me apart. I have tremendous respect for the traditions of Tae Kwon Do and for the Jhoon Rhee system that I grew up in, but I also believe martial artists should continue learning, evolving, and challenging themselves. The experience I gain through competition and training in other disciplines is something I can bring back to our students, particularly those who are interested in sparring and competition.
What I am most proud of, though, is being able to do all of that while continuing the mission my father, Master Pineda, and our instructors have built at Jhoon Rhee Arlington. Winning a fight or performing well in competition is exciting, but watching a student become more confident, overcome something they once thought they couldn’t do, or grow into a leader is a different kind of accomplishment—and ultimately a much more lasting one.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how active the Arlington community is. Arlington has consistently been recognized as one of the fittest communities in the country, and you can see why. Whether I’m running, biking, going to the gym, or just spending time outside, there are always people doing something active. Obviously, with my background in Health & Exercise Science and martial arts, that’s an environment I really enjoy being around.
Another thing I appreciate is that even though I’m still living and working in my hometown, it doesn’t feel like “I never left”. I still have close friends in the area who I grew up with, but Arlington and the greater D.C. area also offer so many career opportunities, restaurants, nightlife, and things to do, that a number of the friends I made in college have ended up here as well. It’s been great having both parts of my life come together in the same place.
As for what I like least, I’d probably say the traffic—and maybe the cost of living! Arlington has a lot to offer, but apparently everyone else has figured that out too. Still, for me, the positives of living and working in the community where I grew up far outweigh the negatives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arlingtonkicks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jriarlington/
