Club members get their decorating skills ready

Martial arts fans in Preston put their gis to one side and got the paint brushes out to help do up their dojo.

Members of the Aikido Shudokan Preston club got together and spent weeks doing up the place on Fylde Road in the university area.

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It was organised as a surprise for their sensei Michael Mercer’s return to the UK from Australia.

Jayne Emmington who runs the dojo said she was surprised by the enthusiasm the martial arts enthusiasts showed for decorating.

She said: “Within two weeks we raised enough money to buy paint and carpet for the whole venue.

“Parents, students and their family members came in every weekend and some on week nights, early mornings, to do up the dojo in the space of three weeks.”

Before and after in one area of the dojo

The club is celebrating its tenth year of operation in the city.

A big demonstration of aikido is planned for the weekend of June 28 and 29 to show off the club member’s skills.

Are you a member of the club? Did you get involved? Let us know in the comments below