Michael Sheahon Shihan (master instructor), seventh-degree black belt, founded the Greater Hartford Aikikai in 1994 and is the chief instructor. The U.S. Aikido Federation promoted Sheahon 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 19 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 the Nonotuck Aikikai in Northampton, Mass. He later served six years as assistant instructor to Seijuro Masuda Shihan (master teacher), eighth-degree black belt (hachidan), at the International Aikido Club in Tokyo. He founded Aikido-Wichita in Wichita, Kan., in 1989.

Sheahon teaches on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.