More About Our
Chief Instructors:

Ms. Thompson Mr. Thompson

Ms. Thompson, a 6th degree Black Belt is the school owner and a chief instructor, sometimes referred to as "the child whisperer."

Mr. Thompson, a 5th degree Black Belt, is a chief instructor and also the awesome "matrix man" who can jump higher and do more amazing kicks than seems humanly possible.

Ms. Thompson began studying taekwondo in the Spring of 1998 under Mr. David Perdue at his Taekwondo America school in Westerville, after being a lobby parent for a year while her children participated in his program.

In 2001 she became a volunteer instructor, teaching many children and adult classes, and earned her national instructor certification in 2002; became a school owner in 2005 and continues to participate in regular recertification programs.

In addition to teaching, Ms. Thompson continues to train and will be eligible for her 7th Degree in September of 2024.

Her degree from The Ohio State University is in psychology and much of her career outside of martial arts has been in marketing, graphic design and creative writing. When her children were younger she was actively involved in their classrooms and PTA programs as well as being a Girl Scout Leader, church drama team member and Sunday School teacher for many years. If you go to Cypress Church Alton Darby, where she is also a Small Group Leader and on the Care Ministry Team, you may see her using her ninja skills as a stagehand.

Mr. Thompson started taekwondo under Mr. Perdue in the Spring of 1997 at the age of nine. When he earned his 1st Decided Black Belt he entered the instructor training program to earn his instructor collar and eventually was hired to be on staff in the Westerville taekwondo school.

Mr. Thompson graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Biology with a focus on Environmental Sciences. Starting in Summer of 2011 he split his time between the Westerville and the Hilliard taekwondo schools, finally joining HTA full time in September of 2011. Due to his interest in helping students become healthier through both exercise and good nutrition he is currently enrolled in The Ohio State University's Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Pediatrics Program while continuing to teach regularly at Hilliard Taekwondo Academy.

More About Our
Trained Staff
At Hilliard Taekwondo Academy, you'll train with nationally certified instructors including 5th & 6th Degree Black Belt chief instructors and staff instructors who are 3rd Degree Black Belts. All nationally certified and staff instructors must train for at least 3 years, earn at least their 1st Degree Decided Black Belt, earn their regional instructor rank and teach at least 1.5 years, consistently and with excellence.

You also receive the benefit of the experience of all our 2nd Degree Black Belt and higher ranks regionally certified instructors as well as our many instructors-in-training.

Many regionally certified instructors as well as instructors-in-training

Our regionally certified volunteer instructors are required to pass a rigorous exam that includes a written test as well as performing the first ten taekwondo forms correctly and with excellence, followed by a demonstration of teaching a beginner student. Black Belt students who are instructors-in-training help maintain safety, learn how to teach and serve as mentors and role models for students.

What does all of this mean to you and your family?
It means you and your family receive quality martial arts training from instructors who love what they do and who also demonstrate excellence in their own training. Every Taekwondo America school owner is required to earn and maintain national certification, which includes continuing education (martial arts techniques, people skills and business development).

At Hilliard Taekwondo Academy (HTA), you're training under several nationally certified instructors who are on our staff as well as many regionally certified instructors. Two of our instructors are 5th Degree Black Belts, many are 2nd and 3rd Degree Black Belts. All continue to improve their own skill level through consistent class participation, national and regional competitions, in addition to preparing to test for higher rank.

EVERY instructor, whether staff or volunteer, must be at least a 1st Degree Decided Black Belt, which means they've trained for a minimum of 3 years. Once we accept them into our instructor training program they are then required to meet nationally set standards for national and regional certifications, pass rigorous tests to earn their Level 1 instructor collar and then move up through the instructor certifications.

Our students also benefit from the teaching experience of visiting instructors from other schools in our national organization.

Additionally we have many students who are referred to as Helpers, assisting in the Little Dragon program for 4 and 5-year-olds to help us maintain safety and serve as a great role models.

Most importantly, though, we don't do this just because it's fun or because it's a "just a job." We do this day after day because we are passionate about the value of a high-quality martial arts program in helping children, teens and adults become more self-confident, respectful, disciplined and focused in school, on the job and in life, AND healthier and better able to defend themselves! We believe that every person should be encouraged and motivated to rise up to meet expectations rather than settling for a lower goal. Watching them turn into awesome martial artists isn't too shabby either!

Come on in and give it a try!