2nd Duan - Shifu - Hamburg, New York
Brief info
Shifu Mike Kugel was born in Minsk, Belarus (when it was still part of the Soviet Union) and emigrated to the United States at the age of 10. He discovered 8 Step Praying Mantis / Shyun Style Tai Chi in the early 1990's in Buffalo, NY and studied for about two years. However, in 2015, he rediscovered it again and learned from Shifu Dan Della Vella, achieving the status of Shifu in 2023. He is now a second duan Shifu and teaches at Kung Fu Buffalo martial arts school in Hamburg, NY. Besides martial arts, Shifu Mike also practices magic and performs at various events, is an author and a writer, and enjoys various sports and fitness. He currently resides with his family in East Amherst, NY.