We recently had the chance to connect with Brandon Toohey and have shared our conversation below.
Brandon, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I used to tell myself, “Just keep it small—fewer moving parts, fewer risks.” That mindset felt safe, but it also kept opportunities small for my students. What I feel called to do now is say yes to scale. To be honest, I put this off because scale is scary. It’s one thing to mentor a small team; it’s another to invite hundreds of families to trust your vision. For 25 years I’ve been comfortable in one lane—coach, teacher, the person on the mat with students who trust me to make them a little braver each week. Now I’m being called to step out of that familiar place.
I hesitated because stepping forward can look like self-promotion. That’s not me. What changed is realizing tournaments aren’t about me; they’re about creating a meeting place where a brand-new white belt and a seasoned black belt can both be challenged and encouraged. Since 2022, we’ve grown from 65 to 265 competitors, and that growth has pushed me to lead differently—to trust a team, to standardize how we support judges and volunteers, and to make the family experience as important as final scores. The growth also forced me to face fears I didn’t want to name: the fear of disappointing people, of not having all the answers, of being the one responsible when the lights turn on. But Taekwondo taught me something simple—commitment. So we’ve committed: better training for officials, clearer communication with coaches, and a culture that treats courtesy and integrity as non-negotiables.
My calling now is to build a bridge between Round Rock Taekwondo and the broader Austin community of Taekwondo schools through tournaments and other training events. If I do my job right, the spotlight lands on the students, the coaches, and the community. That’s a calling worth the nerves. I’m still humble about what I don’t know—but I’m done letting fear be the loudest voice in the room.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Brandon Toohey, owner and head coach at Round Rock TaeKwonDo, tournament director for the City Limits Martial Arts Championships, and an off-campus PE Taekwondo coach for RRISD and Leander ISD. I’m a 7th Degree Black Belt and Senior Master Taekwondo Instructor with 29+ years of training and 25 years of coaching. I also cross-train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Black Belt, sometimes coaching) and Judo (Brown Belt) to keep learning and bring fresh perspectives to my students.
At Round Rock TaeKwonDo, our instructor/leadership program helps teens grow into capable assistant instructors and community leaders. Families feel the difference in how we communicate, celebrate progress, and design classes so siblings and parents can plug in. What makes Round Rock TaeKwonDo special is how personal it is: we’re obsessed with the family experience—clear communication, meaningful milestones, and an environment where students feel safe to be brave—paired with a leadership track that turns students into role models who serve on the mat and in the community.
Through the City Limits Martial Arts Championships, we extend that same culture to the wider Austin Taekwondo community with a family-first mindset, prepared officials, and a respectful, upbeat atmosphere that reflects our core tenets: Leadership, Strength, Commitment, Knowledge, and Respect. It’s not about putting on a show; it’s about building a bridge between schools so more students can grow.
I’m currently focused on the Fall 2025 City Limits Martial Arts Championships, with more events coming in 2026. Learn more at roundrocktkd.com and follow @roundrocktaekwondo, @citylimitsmac, and @shiggly on Instagram.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My dad.
My dad earned his black belt alongside me on the same day. That taught me real leadership is shoulder-to-shoulder, not top-down.
He’s the most generous person I know. He has taught me to give more than you take.
He’s always been there when it mattered most.
His question, “What are you going to do about it?”, has became my internal reminder of responsibility. Stop making excuses and get the work done.
One of my favorite memories is a tournament we both won—he took the 30–50 sparring division, I took the 15–30 division—just a month before our black belt test.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Be kind to yourself. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Keep showing up, have a great attitude, and work hard. You’ll make mistakes. That’s okay.
A few things to hold onto:
People over perfection. The students you teach one day won’t remember if your plan was flawless; they’ll remember how you made them feel.
Courage looks ordinary. It’s not the flying kick, it’s the quiet choice to keep practicing after a tough round.
Ask for help. Leadership isn’t doing everything; it’s building a team and letting others shine.
You’re going to be tempted to keep things small so you don’t disappoint anyone. Don’t. Say yes to growth when it serves others. One day you’ll build tournaments where white belts and black belts both feel seen, you’ll coach high schoolers who find their voice, and you’ll carry forward the generosity and responsibility Dad taught you.
When it’s hard, ask the question he always asked: “What are you going to do about it?” Then do the task in front of you. You’re allowed to grow.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
The best parts of my work are borrowed. From my dad, I borrow responsibility: “What are you going to do about it?” That one line turns frustration into a plan.
From Taekwondo, I borrow our tenents of Leadership, Strength, Commitment, Knowledge, Respect, and I use them to make daily choices.
From my bjj coach, Coach Carter (@coachcarterbjj), I borrow the habit of simplification under pressure: strip away what’s flashy, keep what works, then repeat it until it’s reliable.
When the Austin TKD community needed someone to organize, those ideas clicked together. If not me, who? If not now, when? We built City Limits to be efficient, welcoming, and fair – not because I had a novel blueprint, but because I trusted proven ones. My job is to keep those ideas in motion and pass them on.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I built rooms where kids felt safe to be brave. That at Round Rock TaeKwonDo and at the City Limits Martial Arts Championships, the atmosphere was calm, fair, and welcoming—where a nervous white belt could find their voice and a seasoned black belt could model grace.
I hope they remember that our core tenets – Leadership, Strength, Commitment, Knowledge, Respect – weren’t just posters on a wall; they were choices we made under pressure. That students felt prepared, respected, and considered at every turn.
If there’s a story, let it be simple: when something needed doing, he asked, “What are you going to do about it?”—and then he did it. He trained leaders, shared credit, and built bridges between schools so more students could grow. Medals fade; character doesn’t. If the next generation keeps coaching with kindness and holding a high standard, that’s the legacy I want.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roundrocktkd.com
- Instagram: @roundrocktaekwondo, @citylimitsmac, @shiggly
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/roundrocktkd
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@roundrocktaekwondo8490
