Akira is a Foot Ninja in the 2003 animated series - specifically, the one who gave an interview as part of the "T-Files" profile on the old ninjaturtles.com website. Akira explains that it can't be a "personal" profile since he's but one of the Foot Ninja, but also spends time describing how different each member is, and that they work together as a whole to serve their goals under The Shredder. Especially near the end of his statement, it reads like a recruitment ad.
Based on how many Foot Ninja that the Ninja Turtles fight, it is likely that Akira faced them at least once in the show.