| The proliferation of climbing gyms has rapidly changed | | | | mostly within your level. Know what you can climb |
| the climbing sport scene. Now, people who otherwise | | | | and focus instead on your movement. When you are |
| would be too scared to try rock climbing are flocking | | | | climbing outside of your ability, you will make more |
| to gyms. As a result, the sport is growing at an | | | | desperate moves and you will not be working on |
| exponential rate. People are progressing from easy | | | | technique. Do not over-reach or use too much |
| 5.7 grade climbs to more difficult 5.10+ climbs at an | | | | energy. Make every move deliberate. Work on |
| unprecedented speed. Gyms make climbing a | | | | shifting your weight. |
| spectator sport where people go to see and be | | | | Remember to always warm up on easier climbs |
| seen. There are simple things that you can do to | | | | before attempting harder ones. Warming up is better |
| improve your climbing ability, at any level. In this | | | | for your body, and it will allow you to climb stronger |
| article, I will discuss tips for climbing better through | | | | longer. I can climb 5.11s in the gym, but I always start |
| movement, technique, mentality, and training. | | | | with 5.8s and 5.9s. I once made the mistake of |
| The abundance of strong climbers can be daunting to | | | | climbing a 5.12+ without warming up after taking 2 |
| the beginner. It is important not to become | | | | weeks off of climbing. My arms pumped out |
| discouraged by comparing your climbing level to those | | | | extremely fast, and I could not climb at any level for |
| who have been climbing longer. Remember not to put | | | | the rest of the night. |
| yourself down. For example, don't tell yourself that | | | | Accept that you will be sore after climbing. People |
| you are a slow climber. Instead, say that you are | | | | who climb a lot are often sore after climbing hard. |
| climbing slowly. See the difference? You have the | | | | Also, you must take breaks from climbing. Climbing |
| potential to learn from your mistakes and, in time, | | | | hard everyday increases your risk of injury. I have |
| become an amazing climber. Learning and | | | | heard many horror stories of people of climbed hard |
| development is the journey, and you must accept | | | | too many days in a row, and ended up hurting their |
| that you will improve over time. Instead, try to learn | | | | hands. Rehabilitation can take months, and it is not |
| from the other climbers by watching their movement. | | | | worth the risk. Besides, your muscles rebuild and |
| Where are their feet when they climb? How do they | | | | grow during the time that you are resting. When you |
| shift their body weight? Do they look relaxed or | | | | come back to climbing, you will feel stronger and |
| strained? Are their movements deliberate? | | | | more capable. |
| Let's talk about the mental state of climbing. This is | | | | Remember to keep your balance while climbing. This |
| often overlooked by people when they are learning | | | | is vital to your success. Notice how it feels to shift |
| to climb. You must not try to rush through a route | | | | your weight from your hands to your feet. Instead |
| too quickly. Remember to relax. The best climbers do | | | | of relying on your hands to pull yourself up from hold |
| not try to defeat their route. Instead, they observe | | | | to hold, use your feet. Good climbing is achieved |
| the climb, and work with it. Their body flows | | | | mostly through your footwork. Instead of straining |
| effortlessly through the moves, and they appear | | | | yourself to reach the next hold, notice how shifting |
| relaxed. Your goal should be to climb as smoothly as | | | | your feet even just a few inches can give you the |
| possible, not to merely finish the climb. Above all else, | | | | extra height you need. Even when you do not have |
| you must remember to breathe. Breathing relaxes | | | | a better foot hold, you can "smear" your climbing |
| you and provides vital oxygen to the body. It also | | | | shoe on the wall itself. This is achieved by pushing |
| helps disperse lactic acid build up in your muscles. | | | | your foot against the wall and pressing down and |
| Many beginners hold their breath while climbing. This | | | | stepping up. You will be surprised by how well your |
| almost always results in them becoming stressed and | | | | shoe can stick to the wall. |
| exhausted. | | | | Take breaks while you climb. You will find yourself at |
| Observe the climb before you begin. Picture yourself | | | | rest spots on a route that feel more secure. Get |
| successfully progressing through each of the moves. | | | | comfortable, shake out your hands, and breathe. You |
| Have a positive attitude, and tell yourself that you | | | | can even sit in your harness if you like. Clap your |
| can succeed. Take a few deep breaths before you | | | | hands to increase blood circulation. |
| begin the climb. When you are on the wall, let your | | | | Remember to use your skeletal system when you |
| mind go blank. It is easier to get into the zone of | | | | climb. Instead of flexing your arms needlessly, you |
| climbing when you are not thinking about failure, or | | | | can lean back and extend your arms out straight. |
| who is watching you. One of the wonderful aspects | | | | Your skeleton can handle your weight without |
| of climbing is the freedom that you can feel on the | | | | pumping out your arms. This is a secret that many |
| wall. You are leaving your problems behind on the | | | | climbers do not know. Try it out next time you are |
| ground. While you climb, focus on your movement. | | | | climbing. |
| While climbing, focus on the present. Don't worry | | | | I suggest both bouldering and top roping every time |
| about the moves to come. Instead, focus on the | | | | you go to the gym, even if you prefer one style. |
| next two moves. Climbers often speak of their | | | | Bouldering with give you practice with weight shifting |
| 8-foot bubble of awareness. They don't think about | | | | and power moves, and tall wall roped climbing will |
| how high they are. They are conscious only of the | | | | give you vital endurance. It is important to train in all |
| task at hand. | | | | parts of climbing. |
| When you fall off of a route, do not get discouraged. | | | | Finally, once you are feeling confidant about climbing, |
| Through falling, you will learn how to climb better. | | | | you can teach others what you now know. By |
| Also, holding your muscles until they cannot grip | | | | teaching, you are solidifying what you understand |
| anymore is the best way to gain muscle endurance. | | | | about the mental and physical aspects of climbing. It's |
| Consider your falls a stepping stone to success and | | | | fun to climb with others, so find yourself some |
| better ability. Even the best climbers have "high | | | | climbing partners, and get to it. With a little |
| gravity days". | | | | persistence, you will become a better climber. |
| Climb at your level. Although it is fun to attempt | | | | For more information of climbing tips and techniques, |
| climbs that are difficult for you, it is best to climb | | | | feel free to email me via my websites. |