SipJin Taekwondo is expanding into a larger space in Charlotte, moving units at Eastway Crossing Shopping Center into a 2,000-square-foot shell that previously housed Jackson Hewitt. Its new address will be 3124 Eastway Dr #680, according to an announcement from the company.
“We’ve had slow, consistent growth over the past five years. We’re moving because we need more space for our students,” owner Pamela Richardson told What Now. “Over the past five years, we have built an amazingly supportive community that we’re proud of!”
Currently, SipJin’s location is just under 1,200 square feet, so the transition will almost double its capacity and available mat space. The company signed a five-year lease with an option to renew.
SipJin offers taekwondo classes for students ages 4 and older, with programs for young children, school-age kids, teens, and adults. Its schedule runs Monday through Saturday and includes noon classes for adults. The school also offers aikido three days a week, Women’s Self Defense classes by appointment, Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) instruction for women and children, and Gummoodo, a Korean martial art involving sword and archery training.
“SipJin’s mission is to offer taekwondo, gummoodo, and self-defense training that supports students in finding their personal strength and to guide them toward a lifetime of health through the martial arts,” Richardson said. “We believe martial arts training can be the foundation of lifelong health and growth through building physical and emotional strength. We understand that all students have a right to feel empowered and nurtured through healthy challenges, both physical and mental.”
Richardson leads a team of four taekwondo instructors, including herself, along with several aikido instructors. She has been teaching taekwondo since 2009, when she began running the program at Stratford Richardson YMCA. She founded SipJin in October 2021, the website shares.
