Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy Professional Instructors
All martial arts instructors at Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy in , are trained to ensure that our martial arts classes are safe, effective and fun.
Our instructors and instructor assistants are trained to focus on more than just teaching martial arts skills. Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy staff also are taught how to work with all students, tailoring their martial arts teaching methods to fit the individual child.
Emphasis is put on encouragement and positive correction.
We are committed to teaching the physical skills of martial arts while applying attitude-shaping exercises aimed at bringing out the best character and physical potential in each student.
Through weekly martial arts training, instructors advance their own knowledge, skills, and abilities to become even more effective martial arts teachers.
The Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy instructors are required to maintain their personal level of martial arts knowledge and a high level of personal growth. They are expected to take classes on a regular basis and test at least once per year.
Our martial arts staff at Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy looks forward to working with you.
Here is some additional information about our Tang Soo Do instructors:
Martial Arts Instructors Biographies
Master Adam Theros
Master Adam Theros is our Owner and Chief Instructor. Master Theros began his training in October, 1993 while he was in college and has never stopped. All his training has been part of the World Tang Soo Do Association, one of the premier Martial Arts Associations in the world. He earned his first degree black belt in 1998, his second degree black belt in 2002, his third degree black belt in 2007. In 2015 he began the required two-year testing process to be promoted to Master and in November of 2016, he was awarded the rank of fourth degree black belt, Master Instructor.
Master Theros has been teaching in the Martial Arts since 2002. He started as an assistant instructor at Eagle Academy in Warrenville, IL. In 2006 he began his own club program at Valparaiso University. That club program is still running today. In 2013, he opened Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy in their original location in Schererville. Today, Master Theros operates NWIMAA’s new 7000+ sq foot location at 7331 Mallard Ln in Schererville, where the Academy has grown to over 200 students!
Master Theros is our resident Bully Expert and is the only licensed Bully Expert in Northwest Indiana. He has a passion for teaching the Martial Arts and our Anti-Bully program. He not only enjoys teaching at the studio, but he also enjoys the opportunity to go to other locations like schools or scout troops to share his knowledge.
Master Theros has built Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy into the premier family Martial Arts Academy in the area. His own family participates! His wife and son are both black belts, and his daughter is currently training.
Miss Emily Yothers
Miss Emily Yothers is a first-degree black belt and certified instructor with the World Tang Soo Do Association. She began training in Tang Soo Do in 2010 at Valparaiso University under Master Adam Theros. She earned her first-degree black belt in 2014 and has been teaching martial arts at Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy since 2018.
Miss Yothers has a degree in music education from Valparaiso University and worked as an elementary music teacher for 3 years before making the transition to a full timemartial arts instructor. She uses this classroom experience in her role of Director of Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy’s Transported After-School Martial Arts program and full-time Summer Camps.
Mr. Zachary Mashburn
Mr. Zachary Mashburn has been training in Martial arts since August 2009 when he started at Valparaiso University with Master Adam Theros. While at Valparaiso University he was the karate club president and was an assistant instructor.
In January 2015 Mr. Mashburn began teaching full time as an Assistant Instructor at Northwest Indiana Martial Arts Academy and by November was promoted to Head Instructor.Since 2017 he has also taken on the responsibility of Head Instructor at the Valparaiso University Karate Club. Mr. Mashburn is a certified instructor with the World Tang Soo Do Association.
Mr. Mashburn earned his first degree black belt in 2013 and his second degree black belt in 2016. He is currently training to test for his third degree black belt in 2019.
Mr. Mashburn has both competed and judged at many regional tournaments and is regularly asked to teach at regional training clinics. Specialties include Staff, Nunchaku, and Qi Gong.