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 three instructor trainees. They are black belts who have passed a comprehensive physical, written and oral test.

Additionally, Leadership program students, who are working toward becoming instructor trainees, help out in the Little Dragons and junior program, holding targets, motivating students and helping us maintain safety.

Chief Instructors, Ms. Thompson, 4th degree, and Mr. Weislogel, 3rd degree senior
Instructor trainees, Mr. Hastings, 2nd degree senior, and Ms. Elias, 1st degree senior
Not pictured: instructor trainee Mr. Mills, 1st degree senior

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHIEF INSTRUCTORS
Mr. David Weislogel	Ms. Mel Thompson
Mr. David Weislogel is currently a 4th Degree Black Belt. He 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. Mr. Weislogel became a Certified Instructor in Taekwondo America in February of 2003 and earned his National Instructor Certification in February of 2005. He was a volunteer instructor at the Westerville Taekwondo for over 3 years teaching in children and adult classes before opening Hilliard Taekwondo with Ms. Thompson. Mr. Weislogel has also started taekwondo clubs in a few schools around Columbus. In addition to teaching, Mr. Weislogel continues to compete and place in national and regional tournaments and trains regularly to test for new rank. Mr. Weislogel is frequently invited to area schools to do martial arts demonstrations and talk about ways to deal with bullies.	Ms. Mel Thompson, currently a 4th degree 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 when both of her children started martial arts. In 2001 she passed the test to become a volunteer instructor, earned her national instructor certification in 2002 and participates in a rigorous recertification program every 3 years. In addition to teaching, Ms. Thompson continues to compete and place in national and regional tournaments and trains regularly to test for new rank. Her special interest within martial arts is teaching health, fitness and "street smart" self-defense techniques to women and children, and she receives numerous requests for presentations from women's groups, schools and other organizations.
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