HTA Instructors - Who is Who at HTA

Who is Who at HTA?

Ms. Thompson owns Hilliard Taekwondo Academy, is a Master Level Instructor, a 6th Degree Black* and the Chief Instructor of the school.
*Soon to receive her 7th Degree designation; she has passed all the criteria and has the last step of performing a demonstration at the January 2024 national event.

We have staff instructors, volunteer instructors and instructors-trainees who help make our classes so successful. 
Ms. Thompson and staff instructors run the classes and provide support in the classes they are not running. 
Volunteer instructors provide support and teach smaller groups of students during classes. 
Trainees and helpers assist with activities and drills during classes. 

When you see them in full uniform, the instructor designations are:

Level 1 (narrow red ribbon around uniform jacket collar): the first instructor collar earned by passing a written test and demonstrating correctly all the forms from White Belt up to and including 1st Decided Black Belt.

Level 2 (wide red ribbon around the jacket collar): after a minimum of 6 months of teaching as a Level 1, and participating in our on-going training events, an instructor may test to earn their Level 2 collar earned by passing a written test and demonstrating teaching skills.

Level 3 (narrow black ribbon around the jacket collar): after a minimum of 6 months of teaching as a Level 2 instructor, being at least age 13, and participating in our on-going training events, they may test to try to earn their Level 3 instructor certification.

Level 4 (wide black collar around the jacket collar): after a minimum of 6 months of teaching as a Level 3 instructor, at least age 18, participating in our on-going training events, and successfully participating in a national level certification class.
Master Level Instructor: a Level 4 instructor who is also a 6th Degree or higher Black Belt.

Additional designations:
If you see a Black Belt student with the black ribbon down the sides of their uniform pants, that means they are a 4th Degree Black Belt or higher rank.
If you see a Black Belt with black down the sleeves of their jacket, that means they are a 6th Degree Master Instructor or higher rank.