Barry Shackelford

Master Instructor, Co-Owner, and President

Master Barry Shackelford began his Tae Kwon Do training in 1978 at a traditional Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwon school in Danville, VA headed by the accomplished and well-respected Master Ju Hun Kim. Under the direct instruction of Black Belt Instructors Dr. Stephen Ausband and Mr. Lewis Wilson, Master Shackelford received his 1st Dan Black Belt from Master Kim in 1982. At that time, he was the youngest to attain a Black Belt at the Ju Hun Kim School of Tae Kwon Do. He received his 2nd Dan from Master Kim in 1985.

Also in 1985, Master Shackelford began studying Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do from World Champion Master Charlie Lee in Blacksburg Virginia while attending Virginia Tech. Master Shackelford received his Jhoon Rhee Black Belt from Master Lee in 1987 after training under Mr. Yoon Lee (and serving as an assistant instructor). For his remaining two years at Virginia Tech, Master Shackelford was Co-Head Instructor of the VA Tech Jhoon Rhee Martial Arts Club along with fellow Jhoon Rhee Black Belt, Mr. Roger Vasiliadis.

After graduating with a Psychology degree in 1989, Master Shackelford relocated to Washington, DC, where he obtained the position of Head Instructor at the prestigious Georgetown Jhoon Rhee Institute, which was then one of the largest Jhoon Rhee Studios in the world.

In 1990, Master Shackelford entered Graduate School at Radford University, majoring in Psychology, where he continued to train, teach and compete in the Martial Arts.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Master Shackelford competed in numerous regional and national Martial Arts tournaments, winning hundreds of divisions and awards. In the early 90s, he was Nationally rated as one of the top four competitors in the Korean Forms division as well as one of the top four in the Super-Lightweight Sparring division. In addition, he was recognized as one of the top 20 fighters in the nation across all weight divisions.

In 1992, Master Shackelford graduated with a MS in Counseling Psychology and relocated to the Washington, DC, area. While working in the field of psychology, he continued to instruct at various Jhoon Rhee affiliated schools, such as Charlie Lee Karate and the Jhoon Rhee Institutes in Annandale and Falls Church, Virginia. Over the next decade, he instructed many students who would go on to become accomplished fighters and World Champions in their respective divisions.

In 1994, he became more than just a student of Jhoon Rhee by entering the family when he married Heather Chun, whose mother, On Goo Chun, is Jhoon Rhee’s sister. Dedicating time to his wife and his career, Master Shackelford decided to informally “retire” from competition.

In 1999/2000, Master Shackelford ended his competition “retirement” by competing at a few National Tournaments. While he did not enter the requisite number of tournaments to be considered his division’s Champion, he did win his division as well as Grand Champion much of the time. He also defeated the then current World Champion of his division and other accomplished fighters.

Well overdue for his next degree, in 2002 Master Shackelford received his 3rd Dan from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee while training and instructing at the local Jhoon Rhee schools.

After working for more than a decade in the field of Psychology and Employee Assistance Programming (EAP), and obtaining a License as a Professional Counselor, Master Shackelford decided to make teaching and operating a Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do school his full time endeavor. In 2005 he opened the first Jhoon Rhee School in Arlington, Virginia, and also received his 4th Dan Black Belt, which is considered the rank of “Master Instructor” in the Jhoon Rhee Institute. His colleague and head instructor, Master Francis Pineda, joined him in partnership at the end of 2005, and after the first year of opening, they had established one of the fastest growing schools in the Jhoon Rhee Institute. Master Shackelford is also a Certified Master Instructor, having completed formal Instructor Certification from the Jhoon Rhee Institute. In November 2016, Grand Master Rhee promoted Master Shackelford to the rank of 6th Dan and in November of 2023 Master Chun Rhee promoted Master Shackelford to his current rank of 7th Dan.

Master Shackelford’s wife, Heather, is also a Black Belt, passing her test in November 2008 as one of the first Adult Black Belt students from the Arlington School. Mrs. Shackelford and Master Shackelford have two children, Braden and Jenna, both Black Belts and Instructors at Jhoon Rhee Arlington.  At the age of 9, Braden became the youngest student from Jhoon Rhee Arlington to earn the rank of Black Belt… Just as his father was the youngest to earn his Black Belt at his Tae Kwon Do school in 1982.

Francis Pineda

Master Instructor, Co-Owner

Starting his training in 1981 at the Jhoon Rhee school in Marlow Heights, Maryland, Master Francis Pineda received his black belt with outstanding marks three years later. Within five years, Master Pineda was the manager and head instructor of the Glenn Dale Jhoon Rhee school, a position he held until 1991. He then became Assistant Manager and Head Instructor at Jhoon Rhee’s Georgetown school, further developing his martial arts and school operations skills. In 1997, Master Pineda set out for Arizona, where he served for five years as Vice President and Head Instructor of America’s Best Karate, a system of five 7,000-square-foot schools with 300 students each. In 2004, after returning to Virginia, Master Pineda began his current role as Co-owner and Head Instructor of Jhoon Rhee Arlington. A year later, he was also appointed Head Instructor of Jhoon Rhee International. Over the course of his career as a martial arts educator, Master Pineda has trained more than 20 national champions; he has also provided training for the Maryland State Police, the Washington D.C. Metro Police, and the Arizona DPS. The many students who have benefitted from his instruction include Congresswoman Mary Bono.

Master Pineda, a 7th Dan Black Belt, has excelled in competition, as well. Ranked Top Ten nationally in forms and sparring for five years running, he has been a nationally sponsored member of both Team Otomix and Team Prestige, and was Team Founder and Captain of the University of Maryland’s Sport Karate Team. He has also served as Tournament Director of regional and national martial arts tournaments for more than 12 years.

Given his impressive martial arts credentials, it’s perhaps no surprise that Master Pineda also finds himself in the entertainment spotlight from time to time. In addition to being featured in the 2002 movie Leather and Iron, he works as martial arts choreographer and director for Creative Edge Studios in Sterling, Virginia, and appears as “Khan” in the company’s series of Untouchable computer, coin-op, and console games.

Master Pineda holds a B.S. degree in Biology, with a minor in Psychology, as well as a B.A. in AOS in Network Engineering.

Master Pineda is married to Elizabeth and has three sons, Alex, Anderson and Austin. 

Avi Rome

Master Instructor and ATKD Program Director

Master Rome has nearly 30 years of Tae Kwon Do experience. He received his 1st Dan in 1995 under World Champion Kiko Pacheko. He received his rank of 2nd Dan in 2006, his rank of 3rd Dan in June of 2009, and his 4th Dan (Master Instructor) in May of 2014 and his current rank of 5th Dan in November of 2022. Master Rome has been certified by the Jhoon Rhee Institute as an Instructor and has been teaching consistently for the over 20 years. He joined the Arlington Jhoon Rhee staff in January 2008 as a part-time instructor and was welcomed as a full-time instructor in August 2008. Master Rome’s weapons experience includes the Nunchuk, Escrima, Kama and the Bo Staff and he regularly teaches weapons as part of our Weapons Program. Master Rome is also director of our Adaptive Tae Kwon Do (ATKD) Program, teaching children with special needs, and holds a degree in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Creative Arts and Therapy from George Mason University.  To read information about Master Rome’s Adaptive TKD Program, click here.

Braden Shackelford

Instructor & Associate Manager

Mr. Braden Shackelford began his Tae Kwon Do training under Masters Chun Rhee and Manuel Bonilla at the Jhoon Rhee school in Falls Church at the age of 3. When his father opened the school in Arlington in 2005 he continued his training there. He earned his Black Belt just before he turned 10 years old and is the youngest student to ever receive a Black Belt from Jhoon Rhee Arlington. Mr. Shackelford began assistant teaching at the age of 15. After graduating college with a degree in “Health & Exercise Science” from Bridgewater College he once again joined his father and began teaching full time at Jhoon Rhee Arlington in January 2023.

Mr. Shackelford passed his 2nd Dan Black Belt Exam with “Outstanding Marks” in November of 2023 and has a passion for competition training and sparring.

In 2024, Mr. Shackelford accepted additional management responsibilities at the studio such as competition coordination, transition of younger students into our “Junior” Program, and supervision of part-time instructors.

Alex Bricksin

Instructor & Associate Manager

Mr. Alex Bricksin began practicing Tae Kwon Do in 2005 under the instruction of Master Barry Shackelford and his father, Master Francis Pineda. He earned his Black Belt at the age of 10 in 2010.

In 2018, Mr. Bricksin started teaching at Jhoon Rhee Arlington as a part-time instructor. He relocated to Pittsburgh for school and work for a few years, but returned home in May of 2024. Once back in Arlington, he resumed teaching, but this time as a full time instructor. He additionally assumed managerial responsibilities at the studio as well.

Mr. Bricksin also has experience in martial arts weaponry, particularly the Bo Staff and Nun Chuk. Known for his commitment to precise technique, he aims to create an environment where students of all ages and skill levels can excel in their martial arts journey.