Practice Aikido anywhere:
I love to paint. I work for a building and painting company. I spend a lot of my working hours painting.
One of my passions is the martial art Aikido. I do as much training as I can to achieve mastery.
Like most Aikidoka (practitioners of Aikido), my time is divided between family, work and Aikido. Sometimes family commitments and work commitments takes time off my Aikido training. That’s ok, that’s life.
To make sure I get my 10 hour a week Aikido training target I sometimes mix Aikido with work. Luckily I am in the Building and Painting Industry and I found ways to practice Aikido whilst painting.
Firstly you will need the following materials and tools to start painting:
- Paint
- Roller Brush
- A long brush handle about the size of Jo or longer.
- Paint Tray
- A Wall to Paint
- Drop Sheets
- A blue roll of Painter’s Tape
Visit this link to learn how to paint like a pro.
10 ways to paint and practice Aikido Jo Suburi
- Tape all your edge lines. Please tape your cornice, door frame, door knob and base board if needed.
- Put drop sheets on the floor, furniture or any surface that you don’t want paint on.
- Mix your paint then pour it into your paint tray.
- Dip your roller brush into the paint tray and evenly load the paint.
- Position yourself in left Jo Tsuki Kamai. Make sure your hamni (foot work) is stable and your knees slightly bent. For a more accuracy use the Choku Tsuki (Direct Thrust) grip. Look at the photo of Osensei above to see this form.
- Use your right hand to tsuki (thrust) and your left hand to guide the roller in the right direction.
- If you are painting high or low, go closer and maintain a narrow Jo Tsuki Hamni. If you are painting the middle part of the wall step back to correct your distance, yet still maintain your form. Change your distance rather than compromise your form.
- Be mindful of your body and hip position, makes sure you don’t square out when painting high surfaces. If your body is squaring out, use your foot work to get closer. If your body is square you are wider and a bigger target. Although you are painting you are still moving in a martial Aikido form. So stay narrow.
- Be mindful of your paint lines, make sure they are straight and the paint is evenly spread. Your paint lines will tell you how straight is your tsuki (thrust). You can also see the quality and flow of your tsuki (thrust) by how you evenly applied the paint.
- Your painting area will tell you how good is your painting technique. Be mindful of paint splatters and drops. Control your roller brush and accurately spread your paint. The more accurately your control your paint lines and your roller brush the more accurate is your Aikido Jo Suburi.
Let me share with you a video on how to paint and practice Aikido at the same time.
As always, thank you for reading.
Have fun painting and training Aikido.
Cromwell
