The difference is essential

Many people train without changing their habits throughout the season. Only the fabric weight of the "karategi" sometimes varies, when the practitioner has started investing in outfits after some time. But the difference throughout the year needs to be taken into account more than you might think, and at other levels. It's important to remember that the physiology of the human body, and in particular that of muscular effort, is extremely sensitive and dependent on the climatic environment.

Heating up again and again …

One of our very first technical dossiers already talked about warming up. Without going into specific schemes, what we'll say here is that warm-up must be particularly carefully monitored and taken seriously in cold weather. It's the sine qua non condition, not only for producing a satisfactory performance during training, but also and above all for preserving one's body from all kinds of injuries, which are much more frequent and disabling at this time of year.

Thermoregulation - ques aco ?

The body has a natural thermal powerhouse and thermostat, designed to regulate the internal temperature at organ level so that the various metabolisms and physiological exchanges can take place under nominal conditions. In cold weather, the temperature gradient in superficial layers such as external muscle bundles, aponeuroses and subcutaneous joint envelopes is significant. Just as it's inadvisable to cold-wrap a car engine in winter, the same applies to a human body a fortiori. Which means it will take longer for the blood circulation to dilate all the vessels and produce a rise in temperature from the inside to the peripheral areas.

Some practical advice

To avoid problems such as muscle strains, pulls, contractures, etc., it's essential to warm up: more slowly, for longer, but also more specifically. Depending on the session plan, the emphasis will be on the muscle groups that will be most solicited. Particular attention will be paid to the lower limbs, with adductors, hamstrings, not forgetting the Achilles tendon (lower sural triceps) and quadriceps. And, as usual, the entire spine - cervical, dorsal and lumbar. At the end of the session, a few deep, relaxing stretches will ensure better recovery without the unpleasant aches and pains of the next day or the day after.