#winter practice

USAF Thunderbirds honing their precision during 2026 winter practice at NAF El Centro, California

Blue Angels flying the Diamond 360 during winter practice at NAF El Centro

Winter practice over the New Mexico desertFighting Falcon

OK, I know, Europe and North America have had it very hard these past days, with this freakish cold wave that has brought -15°C and so much snow even down to Sicily. Yikes. So me and my meager 7°C should of course keep our mouth shut. BUT! There is nothing quite like the “nice” and “character-building” experience of training at night in dojos that are made basically of wooden planks, without any closing windows, and of course no heating source. Oh, of course once you start rolling - and you can literally watch your body heat evaporate around you - everything gets better... but those 30 minutes spent putting the tatami mats in place bare feet on the freezing wooden floor, and soaking up wet towels in ice-cold water... hmmm... lovely... Because nobody truly complains, you suck it up, except for the mandatory “samuiiiiiiiiiii” now and then. But even that, you can’t say it aloud BEFORE sensei mumbles it. And it’s only beginning!