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Michael Black (Dojo-cho)
Michael is a Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt) in Aikido. He began his formal training in the Martial Arts in 1976. Michael is a former United States Marine and former Juvenile Probation Officer with Harris County. Michael Black began his Aikido Training in 1991 under B. J. Carlisle, then the West Coast Director of the Aikido Association of America. That same year (1991) Michael was accepted as a direct student of the late great Aikido Shihan and Zen Master Fumio Tenzan Toyoda.
Michael is a foreign Uchideshi under Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan (Aikido Kobayashi Dojo Japan) Michael travels to Tokyo every year for training and like all of the other instructors at Shinjinkan Dojo considers himself a “Student First!”
Michael Black Sensei is the founder and chief instructor of both Aikido Center and the Texas A&M University Aikido Club. Black Sensei is currently employed with Resurgent Technologies Institute, and works in educations private sector.
Michael Uehara
Michael Uehara is a Sandan (3rd degree black belt). He began his formal training in 1992 and has trained all 
over the world and is a member of the Yokosuka Aikikai Aikido Shunyoukai in Japan under Hattori, Takao Shihan. Michael is a retired decorated United States Navy Seabee having served in the first Iraq War (Desert Storm), the War in Kosovo and the second War in Iraq.
Currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in Construction Management from the University of Houston, Michael is a Principle Instructor for both The Woodlands Aikido Center’s adult program and The Texas A&M University Aikido Club.
Michael Uehara Sempai considers himself a “Student of the Art First” and an instructor of the student whenever the need arises.
Rick Garland
Rick Garland is a Shodan (1st degree black belt), he began his formal training in the martial arts in 1992 and also holds the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in the Traditional Japanese Jujutsu. Rick began his Aikido 
training under Michael Black Sensei in 2006.
He is the principle Instructor for The Woodlands Aikido Center adult program and classes at the West Houston dojo. He covers the fundamentals and core principles of Shinjinkan Dojo.
Rick Garland is an alumnus of Texas A&M and is a CPA and Controller for First Continental Mortgage in West Houston.
Clifford Yut
Clifford Yut is a Shodan (1st degree black belt). He began his formal training under Michael Black Sensei in 2007.
Clifford Yut Sempai is a physician at Village Medical Center in The Woodlands, practicing Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. He received his training at Baylor College of Medicine affiliated hospitals after completing his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and undergraduate at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Yut teaches on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings as a principle instructor of our Aikido Youth Academies various children’s Programs. He practices alongside everyone else as “Student First” and is never too busy to take time to teach and guide juniors, either upon request or when it is observed that additional instruction may be necessary.
He is married to Missy Yut and has 3 beautiful children, all of whom are part of the Aikido Youth Academy