Michael Sheahon awarded highest rank by U.S. Aikido Federation

The U.S. Aikido Federation has promoted Michael Sheahon to the rank of shihan, master teacher. He is one of five people the federation promoted to shihan on Feb. 2, 2010.

Shihan is the highest rank awarded by the U.S. Aikido Federation and the Aikikai Foundation, which is the aikido world headquarters and parent organization for the development and expansion of aikido throughout the world. The foundation, officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940, is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Only 25 people affiliated with the U.S. Aikido Federation are ranked shihan, while more than 100 hold the next highest rank, shidoin, which is a certified journeyman instructor.

Sheahon, a sixth-degree black belt, founded the Greater Hartford Aikikai, a nonprofit aikido organization based in Glastonbury, in 1994. He is the chief instructor. The Greater Hartford Aikikai is one of 168 aikido dojos in the country affiliated with the U.S. Aikido Federation, based in New York City.

Sheahon has trained 17 aikido students to ranks between first-degree black belt and fifth-degree black belt.