Winter Training

I love outdoor activities but when the temperatures dip below minus 20°F, the dojo floor is particularly inviting. It is important to warm up and stretch out when you come in from the cold to get the energy circulating in the old body before letting go with a kicking exercise or an energetic set of basics. In Fairbanks, Alaska, the light is only around for about 3 hours a day right now so a workout is a great way to get the endorphins hopping and be able to face the long hours of darkness. A couple of years ago, we invited Shihan Mike Berger, recently from California, up to give us a clinic and some fresh ideas. We worked a two-step basic which was different from our usual run up and down the floor. I appreciated the emphasis on technique and working on power. We had two days of clinics and several regular classes that culminated in an outdoor session on the frozen lake next to the dojo. We were permitted our shoes but worked for about half an hour in just our ghi. A memorable end to a great clinic. I was surprised at how I was able to ignore the -20°F by focusing on technique and grounding so I wouldn't slip on the ice. A real lesson in awareness. . .It's -25°F today. Maybe I should try it again. . .