| If you are new to the sport of rock climbing (or | | | | one leg at a time, this ensures that you are using |
| even if you have been doing it for years) there are | | | | your lower body to push you upwards instead of |
| certain tips and suggestions that may make you | | | | your upper body. If you feel that you are going to |
| even better. If you have never rock climbed before | | | | get a muscle cramp... stop moving. If you continue |
| it is a good idea (and generally required if going to a | | | | climbing, you will have a much harder time getting rid |
| gym) that you take a class. But the class is under an | | | | of the cramp than if you stopped and rested for a |
| hour and will only teach you the very basics and give | | | | few minutes while the cramp passed. While you are |
| you some safety advice. While this is of course | | | | resting you can stand in place on the wall or you can |
| extremely important, there are a lot of other | | | | rest into your harness. The latter will be more |
| techniques that you will not learn during one of these | | | | relaxing for your body but will also require more |
| intro courses. | | | | movement to get back to the wall. |
| Rock climbing is mentally exhausting as well as | | | | Take a few moments in between movements to |
| physically. Planning out your moves and approaching | | | | plan your next step. Check to make sure where the |
| each climb from an intellectual stand point is more | | | | foot and hand holds are and figure out what limb you |
| important that going at it with brute force. It is for | | | | will move to get to them. Rock climbing is not a race |
| this reason that I suggest climbing when you are | | | | (unless you are doing sport climbing) so feel free to |
| already tired. It may sound silly, however, if you are | | | | move as quickly or as slowly as your are comfortable |
| full of energy you will attack the wall, where as if | | | | with. |
| you are physically tired, you will need to plan out | | | | When you are on the ground belaying or just hanging |
| each step in order to expend as little energy as | | | | out, watch other climbers. You will learn your best |
| possible. You should be climbing smarter not harder. | | | | techniques when observing other more experienced |
| You should always work with the wall instead of | | | | climbers. Watch their movements and pay close |
| against it. There are a few ways that this must be | | | | attention to how they shift their weight, where they |
| done. For one, you need to find and maintain your | | | | rest and how they move from one foot and hand |
| center of gravity. This should be held in your | | | | hold to the next. |
| abdomen and all of your movements should begin | | | | Climbing is an exciting and challenging sport. By |
| here. It is a good idea to keep your legs either | | | | learning the right techniques early on, you will become |
| directly under you or spaced out evenly on either | | | | a better climber and have even more fun doing it. |
| side in between movements. You should only move | | | | |