Our Instructors

The instructors at Akula Taekwondo in Novi, Michigan are outstanding martial artists who strive to motivate, support, and encourage their students. They lead by example and teach with patience and enthusiasm, combining respectful discipline with a friendly, hands-on approach.

Akula Taekwondo instructors focus on building self-confidence, character, and skill in students through mental and physical discipline. Our encouraging, yet challenging approach allows all participants to progress at their own level by setting and achieving individual goals. All have an authentic dedication to the art and sport of Taekwondo.

Master Joseph Tegler

Master Joseph Tegler is a 4th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo (Kukkiwon), a 2nd degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate), and the founder of Akula Taekwondo.

Master Tegler has been training in Taekwondo for over a decade. He participated in tournaments throughout the Midwest and across the country. One year, at Michigan State Championships, he was the gold medalist in all categories: forms, sparring, and board breaking. He has also medalled at the international level and was ranked third in the country for his division, achieving the distinction of All American Athlete.

In addition to his passion for Taekwondo and the martial arts, Master Tegler loves Ukrainian Scouting, fishing, snorkeling, water-skiing, and pretty much everything on and in the water. When choosing a name for his school, he gave a nod to his Ukrainian heritage and to his love of the sea. Akula means shark in Ukrainian.

Master Tegler has been teaching martial arts for eight years. He loves everything about the job: kicking, fitness drills, and forms, teaching the skills and mindset he’s been cultivating most of his life, and just being on the mat.

Through Taekwondo training, Master Tegler developed leadership skills and confidence, learned to appreciate discipline, courtesy, and perseverance, gained an understanding of the value of self-control and integrity, and attained an indomitable spirit. It is his goal and mission to inspire his students to do the same.

Favorite quote:

Great moments are born from great opportunity.

– Herb Brooks

Mr. Shiven Acharya

Mr. Shiven Acharya is a 2nd degree black belt in Isshin-ryū karate, a 1st degree black belt in Shōrin-ryū karate, and a 1st degree black belt in Tung Soo Do.

Training in Martial Arts since he was six years old, Mr. Acharya has competed and placed in a multitude of tournaments and competitions both at the state and national level.

Mr. Acharya has been teaching martial arts for five and a half years. Since then, he has fallen in love with teaching, both on the mat and in the classroom.

When not practicing his forms, Mr. Acharya can be found studying or researching about project cars that he hopes to work on some day soon.

Favorite Quote:

Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.

– Bruce Leey.

Mr. Jasper Chu

Mr. Jasper Chu is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. After learning about his country’s traditional martial art, he was intrigued. He has been practicing Taekwondo for about 12 years.

Mr. Chu enjoys performing Taekwondo in front of audiences and avidly strives to improve his skills.

Along with his passion for Taekwondo, Mr. Chu is an enthusiastic tennis player and enjoys doing robotics.

Mr. Jasper Chu is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. After learning about his country’s traditional martial art, he was intrigued. He has been practicing Taekwondo for about 11 years.

Mr. Chu enjoys performing Taekwondo in front of audiences and avidly strives to improve his skills.

Along with his passion for Taekwondo, Mr. Chu is an enthusiastic tennis player and enjoys doing robotics.

Mr. Shashwath Adapa

Mr. Shashwath Adapa is a black belt, under Joseph Tegler. He was forced to start his Taekwondo journey by his parents in the November of 2012, at the age of 5. Though, by the end of his first class, he knew that this was the sport for him.

As a young trainee, Mr. Adapa was constantly switching dojos and learning how each one functioned, giving him a good idea of a common style between the schools. He also tried many martial arts and combat styles over the past decade, but never really got into them as much as he did Taekwondo.

Mr. Adapa loves sparring as much as he does working out. He was only recently introduced to sparring and wishes to hone his skill to hopefully take it to an international level.

Outside the dojo, his hobbies include, messing around with his friends, skateboarding, wrestling, and water activities like swimming and surfing.

Favorite Quote:

Don’t treat people by how bad they are, treat them by how good you are.

Mr. Nicolas Gonzalez-Moller

Mr. Nicolas Gonzalez-Moller is a 1st degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. At age seven,  he asked his mother to enroll him in Taekwondo because his best friend at the time was an orange belt. The first draw for him was the excitement of Taekwondo kicking. He also gets satisfaction from perfecting a form, sparring, and teaching.

In addition to training in and teaching martial arts, Mr. Gonzalez is a passionate and committed soccer player.

When not kicking bags or soccer balls, Mr. Gonzalez enjoys playing guitar, trumpet, and piano.