Who We Are

At Georgia Elite Taekwondo, we see Taekwondo as more than kicks or competition. It forms the bedrock of discipline, confidence, leadership, and personal growth. Since 2016, we have cultivated a culture defined by structure, accountability, family, and excellence, proudly serving Forest Park and Clayton County.

Home of the Hellcats, our program welcomes students from every background, experience level, and age. We start with students as young as four years old and have guided athletes from novices first stepping onto the mat to nationally ranked competitors, international athletes, and confident young leaders.

Our expertise spans all competition levels. Athletes and coaches engage in grassroots tournaments, national championships, and World Taekwondo events. We have placed athletes on national teams representing several countries and continue developing competitors who excel at the sport’s highest levels.

Our mission extends beyond martial arts. We build strong minds, disciplined athletes, respectful leaders, and families united by positive growth. Whether the goal is fitness, self-defense, confidence, competition, or personal development, every student is challenged to advance both on and off the mat.

home of the hellcats

Based out of Georgia Elite Taekwondo in Forest Park, Georgia, the Hellcats train year-round with a focus on modern Olympic-style sport taekwondo. Our team studies and develops high-level movement, speed, timing, footwork, ring management, strategy, flexibility, strength, and explosive performance. Training includes technical development, live sparring, competition simulation, conditioning, mobility, reaction training, and tactical fight IQ development.

The Hellcats have experience competing across every level of the sport, including local grassroots tournaments, regional championships, national championships, and international events. Our athletes have repeatedly competed against and won against some of the best athletes in the world. Several of our competitors have earned national rankings, represented teams from multiple countries, and gained experience performing on some of the sport’s biggest stages. We believe true development comes from exposure, experience, and learning how to perform under pressure.

What separates the Hellcats is our culture. We train hard. We support one another. We celebrate growth. Every athlete is expected to carry themselves with humility, discipline, and respect while developing a champion's mindset. Whether an athlete is training recreationally or pursuing national and international goals, every student receives the same energy, structure, and investment from our coaching staff.

Georgia Elite Taekwondo is home to one of the most respected and competitive Sport Taekwondo teams in the Southeast, the Hellcats. Built through discipline, hard work, loyalty, and an unmatched competitive mindset, the Hellcats have become known for producing athletes who compete and win at every level of the sport. From first-time local competitors to nationally ranked athletes and international competitors, the Hellcats represent excellence inside and outside the ring.

The Hellcats are more than just a competition team. We are a family of athletes, coaches, and parents committed to building champions through structure, accountability, leadership, and elite-level training. Our athletes train in an environment that pushes them to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally while developing confidence that carries into school, work, and everyday life.

Parents looking for more than just an after-school activity will find a home here. The Hellcats are for families who want their children surrounded by positive mentorship, high standards, accountability, and a team atmosphere that inspires greatness. Our athletes range from young beginners taking their first class at four years old to experienced competitors pursuing elite national-level success.

If you are looking for one of Georgia’s premier Sport Taekwondo programs and want to train where champions are built, welcome to Georgia Elite Taekwondo, the Home of the Hellcats.

Meet the Instructors

GETKD builds confidence, discipline, and safer choices in kids and adults through Kukkiwon‑certified Taekwondo training, led by nationally recognized champions and coaches.

Master Instructor, Traditional Taekwondo

Makesha Yarbrough

Makesha Yarbrough is a 5th‑degree Black Belt and Kukkiwon‑certified Master Instructor with over 30 years of experience in Taekwondo as both a champion and educator. As a 3‑time AAU Taekwondo Women’s Black Belt Heavyweight National Champion and 2‑time member of the AAU National Team, she combines elite‑level technique with a deep understanding of how to bring out the best in every student.

Makesha holds certifications as a World Taekwondo International Referee and USAT Referee, giving her an expert eye for correct form, safety, and fair competition. She uses this experience to craft classes that are technically strong yet accessible, helping students of all ages improve fitness, focus, and self‑control at a comfortable pace.

Beyond medals and matches, Makesha is passionate about building character and resilience. Her teaching emphasizes respect, perseverance, and confidence, supporting students to carry their training into school, careers, and daily life with greater poise and self‑assurance. Whether you’re training for competition, fitness, or personal growth, Makesha creates a supportive, structured environment where students feel challenged and valued.

Head Coach, Hellcats Competition Team

Coach Roland Thomas Jr.

Coach Roland Thomas Jr. is a 2nd-degree Black Belt and Kukkiwon-certified instructor with more than 40 years of experience in Taekwondo as both a competitor and a coach. Known for his disciplined leadership style and high standards, he has built a reputation for developing athletes who are not only skilled martial artists but also confident leaders on and off the mat.

As the Head Coach of the Hellcats Competition Team at Georgia Elite Taekwondo, Coach Roland has trained and coached athletes at every level of competition, from local grassroots tournaments to national and international events, including team trials and world-level competition. Under his leadership, Hellcat athletes have earned national rankings, competed against some of the world's best athletes, and represented multiple countries on international stages.

Coach Roland is also a USA Taekwondo and AAU-certified coach and referee, bringing a deep understanding of competition, athlete development, safety, and sportsmanship to every training session. His coaching philosophy combines elite-level sport training with strong fundamentals, discipline, accountability, and real-world self-defense awareness.

Beyond Taekwondo, Coach Roland has spent more than a decade working in gang prevention and intervention, giving him a unique ability to mentor young people through structure, guidance, and positive leadership. His approach focuses on building confidence, mental toughness, respect, self-control, and decision-making skills that extend far beyond the dojang.

Whether a student’s goal is competition, fitness, self-defense, or personal growth, Coach Roland is committed to helping every athlete reach their highest potential while becoming part of a culture built on excellence, family, and hard work.