Master Shim's Black Belt Academy

★Oxana Schroeder

My son attended Master Shim’s Tae Kwon Do a long time ago. The instructors were great, and he enjoyed his training. He even participated in the last tournament and won first place in most of his events. For the final event—board breaking—he trained hard at home, and we purchased the boards so he could practice properly. His routine included jumping from a chair and breaking a board in mid-air, another upon landing, and a final board on the ground. He performed it perfectly and clearly deserved first place. Instead, first place was given to a three-year-old whose parents brought around ten boards for him to break. It felt unfair and unprofessional. Honestly, the judge should have been embarrassed by that decision, and something like this would never have been allowed if the standards were the same as those upheld in Korea. That experience was the final straw for my son, and he quit shortly after. The trainers were excellent, but the tournament judging left us very disappointed.

★★★★★Miguel Hernandez

Awesome TKD gym I have two of my daughters enrolled and they really enjoy it. Master Shim takes the time to teach the Tiny Tigers class and you can tell he prides himself in instilling the traditions of TKD to the children. They also have flexible payment options. I highly recommend Master Shim's Black Belt Academy.

★★★★★Alexandra Palchak

Our family has been part of this extraordinary dojang for over five years, and we have nothing but profound gratitude for everything BlackBelt Academy represents. Our journey began unexpectedly when my son attended summer camp and fell in love with the experience. What started as a fun summer activity became a lifestyle when we enrolled him in regular taekwondo classes. Then my daughter, who had been a competitive gymnast, made the bold decision to leave gymnastics behind and join taekwondo. Two months later, inspired by her courage and dedication, I stepped onto the mat alongside her. That decision changed our lives. My daughter and I earned our black belts in April 2025, while our son achieved his in August 2025. His longer journey is a powerful testament to the integrity of this dojang—BlackBelt Academy takes their black belt testing seriously, and rightfully so. That black belt test was undeniably one of the hardest physical challenges we've ever faced. The exhaustion, the perseverance required, the mental fortitude; it pushed us beyond what we thought possible. But standing at the end, wearing that belt, knowing every ounce of sweat and determination that went into earning it, made it one of the most rewarding accomplishments of our lives. This dojang has transcended being just a training facility, it's become our sanctuary. The moment I walk through those doors, stress from my demanding job melts away, replaced by an atmosphere of pure positivity and encouragement. I've found not only a place to train but a community of genuinely kind, supportive people who uplift one another. Now I pay it forward by teaching part-time once a week, and it brings me immense joy. Master and Mrs. Shim have created something truly special--a place that transforms lives. If you're searching for more than just a workout, if you want a community that will challenge you to become the best version of yourself, if you're ready to discover strength you didn't know you had, BlackBelt Academy is waiting for you. Take that first step. Your transformation starts here.

★★★★★Amber Pickles

Enrolling my family in Master Shim's taekwondo classes has been an incredibly positive experience. We are highly satisfied with the instruction and the exceptionally welcoming community. The environment fostered here is truly outstanding.

★★★★★Justine Fraley

My family and I took Tae Kwon Do from Master Shim's Black Belt Academy from August 2024-June 2025. We had such an incredible experience seeing our children grow in their confidence, discipline, focus, respect and many other values we believe in. As we leave for our next duty station, I just want to say thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Shim and their staff have delivered 5 Star Service when it comes to teaching the art of self-defense. I've seen not just them, but their staff and other black belts in many situations that they addressed politely and professionally. We are going to miss taking Tae Kwon Do here more than any other thing we will miss about Southern Maryland!