Instructors

You'll get the highest quality instruction
Every Taekwondo America school owner is required to earn and maintain national certification, which includes continuing education (martial arts and business development), as well as CPR and First-aid training. And at Hilliard Taekwondo America (HTA), you'll train under two nationally certified instructors, not just one. Both HTA chief instructors continue to improve their own skill level through national and regional competitions, in addition to preparing to test for higher rank each year.

Our junior students benefit from the teaching assistance of our two instructor trainees, black belts who have passed a comprehensive written and oral test as well as performing all the forms and junior-level one-steps.

Additionally, Leadership program students, who are working toward becoming instructor trainees, help out in the junior program, holding targets and helping the chief instructors make sure students are performing techniques safely.

Chief Instructors, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Weislogel
instructor trainees, Mr. Hastings and Ms. Elias

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHIEF INSTRUCTORS
Mr. David Weislogel	Ms. Mel Thompson
Mr. David Weislogel began studying taekwondo in the Spring of 2001 under Mr. David Perdue at Perdue's Westerville Taekwondo after his oldest son had been involved in the program for several months. He earned his 3rd Degree Decided Black Belt in June of 2007. Mr. Weislogel became a Certified Instructor in Taekwondo America in February of 2003 and earned his National Instructor Certification in February of 2005. He has been teaching children and adult classes as a volunteer instructor at the Westerville school for over 3 years. In 2004, Mr. Weislogel received a national ranking of 3rd place for the adult 2nd degree black belt division in the Taekwondo America organization. Mr. Weislogel has also coached youth soccer, and T-ball. He was the council chief of the YMCA Y-Tribes (Previously known as Indian Guides) Adena Council for the 2004-2005 season and a tribal chief in the program for three years before that.	Ms. Mel Thompson, currently a 3rd degree senior black belt, began studying taekwondo in the Spring of 1998 under Mr. David Perdue at his Taekwondo America school in Westerville, Ohio after being a "lobby parent" for a year while both of her children studied martial arts. Ranked nationally in the top of her division, Ms. Thompson will be eligible to test for her 4th degree black belt in September 2008. She began teaching children's and adults' martial arts classes at the Taekwondo America school in Westerville in 2001 as a regionally certified instructor. She earned her national instructor certification in 2002 and participates in a rigorous recertification program every 3 years. Ms. Thompson's special interest within martial arts is teaching "street smart" self-defense techniques to women and to children. In addition to teaching taekwondo, Ms. Thompson has been involved in children's programs for years, volunteering in classrooms, assisting with children's athletic programs, serving previously as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for over 10 years and currently as a Sunday School Teacher for grades preschool-5.
Click here to email Mr. Weislogel	Click here to email Ms. Thompson