Aikido Hartford at the
Academy of Martial Arts
1404 Tolland Turnpike
Manchester, CT 06042
860-256-5347
shimotengu@icloud.com
Chief Instructor
Michael
Sheahon Shihan (master teacher), seventh-degree black
belt, founded Aikido Hartford in 1994. The U.S. Aikido
Federation promoted him to the rank of shihan in 2010.
This is the highest rank awarded by the federation and the Aikikai
Foundation, which is the aikido world headquarters and
parent organization for the development and expansion of aikido
throughout the world.
Sheahon has trained 21 aikido students to ranks between
first-degree black belt and fifth-degree black belt. He began
practicing aikido in 1972 in Tokyo at the aikido world
headquarters (Hombu Dojo) where he trained for 12 years. He
began teaching aikido in 1978 when he founded Nonotuck Aikikai
in Northampton, Massachusetts. He later served six years as
assistant instructor to Seijuro Masuda Shihan, eighth-degree
black belt (hachidan), at the International Aikido Club in
Tokyo. Sheahon founded Aikido-Wichita in Wichita, Kansas, in
1989. To learn more about his teaching and experience with
aikido, read an
interview with Sheahon conducted by his students.