After School Program Director & Head Martial Arts instructor
Education
M.A. Psychology of Human Behavior
B.A. Communication Studies & Child and Family Development
Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR certified
RBT credentialed for ABA therapy
Over 20 years experience working with children of all ages and developmental
ranges of ability
Martial Arts Experience and fitness experience
3rd Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo (3rd Dan)
Over 2 decades of martial arts and fitness training - TaeKwonDo, MMA, Krav
Maga, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Jiu-Jistu, etc.
Special Interests
Volunteering with children with developmental disabilities (Miracle League
Coach, Down Syndrome Association volunteer, Autism Speaks, Special Olympics, etc.)
Certified/trained LGBTQ+ Safe Zone
Snowboarding
Boating or anything on the water
Love spending time outdoors with my family, our dogs, and good friends
“My son Jacob has been going to the Shin’s after school program for a couple of years now. We LOVE Shins. They pick him up from school, he gets the majority of his homework done while he is there and gets to take class. My son was in other day care situations where they basically sat in a room or visited a playground. At Shins there is no sitting around, no being bored watching the clock for mom.
The instructors are amazing. They truly care about our children. My son is completely comfortable at Shins… it is like his home away from home. He has progressed from Tae Kwon Do to the Master’s Club and the Pre-Team which has been absolutely amazing for his self esteem. It truly does take a village to raise a child and I am glad that Shins is part of my village.
PS As a side note, I have even started taking class at Shins!”
Jacobs Mother
Santa Clarita Kids and Moms Love It at Shin’s – The Most Recommended Martial Arts School In Santa Clarita
“I am a proud parent of three wonderful boys who have had the privilege of being a part of Shin’s Family for many years. Shin’s Family Tae Kwon Do Martial Arts Fitness Center was the perfect stepping stone for all of my boys prior to beginning elementary school. They developed important skills such as self control, following directions and taking turns. As my boys have grown, the benefits of being students of an exceptional martial arts program have become even more apparent. All of the positive life skills and virtues encouraged at Shin’s Martial Arts have assisted in making each of my boys educational journeys that much easier. Shin’s classes are highly physical and really work on overall health. Due to the techniques learned in class, my boys are quite agile and have great body awareness. These skills have helped them in other “team” sports. They have learned self defense skills which have proven to be invaluable toward their safety and confidence. I have also participated in and benefited from the women’s self defense classes offered at Shin’s Martial Arts. All of Shin’s instructors are kind, highly energetic, and use positive motivation to encourage all students to work to the best of his or her ability. I would highly recommend Shin’s Family Tae Kwon Do Martial Arts program to any parent trying to raise a healthy, confident, respectful & self motivated child.
Shannon Ross”
Shannon Ross
Tae Kwon Do, Gymnastics, XMA & Krav Maga at Shin’s – Santa Clarita’s Premier Martial Arts Training Facility
“Our son came to us and said he would really like to attend a martial arts studio. We began to search around for a school and it took us TWO years to find what we were looking for because we wanted a good balance of martial arts which teaches honor, respect and commitment mixed with fun. Well, that is EXACTLY what our family discovered at Shin’s. The wide variety of classes from tae kwon do, gymnastics, XMA and Krav Maga made it perfect for our entire family. After a year, the family still has a love for their classes and has transformed our family into a strong, close, fun family which encourages each other as we climb and sweat through belt ranks.
Forever Thanks,
The Kay Family”
The Kay Family
Friendly family atmosphere for thirty years
“Dear Master Shin,
When Cole wanted to be a ninja at age 3, my husband only wanted to take him to Shin’s because of the positive experience he had there some 20 years ago. When Cole just sat there in class the first day, you told us that he’s just observing and will come around. You were absolutely right! Cole entered Shin’s this shy little kid who introduced himself as Batman. Now 4+ years later he is a slightly bigger kid with confidence, martial arts skills and respect for all those around him. You and your staff have been an incredible part of both of my kids’ lives, and I hope it continues for a very long time. May you continue to impress a positive experience in both kids and adults for many more years to come. Thank you!
Willy, Charissa, Cole and Julia Harber”
Charissa Harber
My son begged me to take Tae Kwon Do classes for two years…
“until I finally relented, and I’m really glad that I did. From the very first day, he loved it, both the Tae Kwon Do training and the gymnastics. I was pleased that Shin’s offers trampoline and tumbling which allowed him to continue his gymnastics training while introducing Tae Kwon Do. I also loved both the flexibility of Shin’s schedule, which offers a multitude of class times, and the variety of classes offered. My son hasn’t gotten bored; twice last year, new classes were introduced that took him into new directions.
The instruction at Shin’s is top notch. I’ve been very impressed with their teaching techniques; the instructors break down each kick or strike into its basic components so that it’s easy to understand. Students are given guidance on improving their technique and are challenged to take their skills to the next level. The instructors provide an atmosphere of positive encouragement while at the same time teaching discipline. They emphasize showing respect to each other, instructors, and parents. They include safety talks and instruction on how to handle bullies. The classes are well organized with warm-ups and conditioning at the beginning of each class, followed by a variety of drills. But, each class is unique so you don’t get bored in the same-old routine.
Over the last 10 months, my daughter, husband and I have all joined up as well, so now it’s a family affair. We attend classes together a couple times a week, and go our own way on other days to classes that match our specific interests. Over dinner, we tell each other about new techniques we learned. Together, we are working towards our goals, and Shin’s has provided us with a new focus. Each of us is at a different level in training (different belt levels) and we keep each other motivated to progress to the next level. I like that I have the opportunity to participate in the kid’s activities, and also that we aren’t the only ones doing so. There are quite a number of families that participate, and we all encourage each other.
Since we started taking classes at Shin’s, my husband and I have both lost weight and have more energy. I find that I’m much better at coming regularly to these classes than I ever was at going to the gym, partly because I’m going there anyway to take the kids to their classes. But also, the friendly atmosphere and support from classmates and the instructors keeps us motivated to stick with it. I feel fortunate to have found Shin’s, as it has provided our family a common experience that has brought us together and provided healthy and positive benefits to all of us.
Nilsen Family”