Having mastered the basics of climbing technique and movement from the previous article, it is now important to engrain these into your person, so that they become autonomous (automatic and without thinking). To action this it is necessary to practice, practice, practice and the best place to do this is on easy traverses, easy problems and easy routes. The best time to action this is at the start of every … Read More
To climb well you must first learn the basics and then put them all together. The only way to do this is on easy grades and to practice, practice, practice until it becomes automatic! Here are some pointers to get you started, but if you really want to learn fast then visit either www.jurassicclimbing.co.uk/coaching/ to have us coach you or www.jurassicclimbing.co.uk/training-plans/ if you would prefer to go it alone. … Read More
This is a great combined exercise which increases grip strength and contact strength whilst you practice your deadpoint technique. Choose a vertical section of wall with a good selection of medium to large handholds at just above head height and small, but good footholds just off the floor. Climb onto the wall and then remove one hand to behind your back. Now traverse along the wall by drawing your body … Read More
Now we meet the famous campus board for the first time, although certainly not the last. The campus board is excellent at building finger, arm and upper body strength, power and endurance. But to avoid injury you must build up slowly and carefully and stop at the first sign of any pain in the fingers, arms, shoulders and upper body! So to ease you in … Read More
Here we meet the famous hangboard for the first time, although certainly not the last. The hangboard is excellent at building finger, arm and upper body strength, power and endurance. But to avoid injury you must build up slowly and carefully and stop at the first sign of any pain in the fingers, arms, shoulders and upper body! So to ease you in gently we … Read More
So we have reflected on our performance, found where we need to improve, written a training plan to make those improvements and set both our training and our climbing goals. Now it is time to put this training into action. Specific training for climbing rather than just climbing as a way of training for climbing doesn’t suit everyone. Most climbers will probably accept that climbing specific training such as campus … Read More
In life without goals we are trapped in the same job, the same street, with the same car and nothing can change because we have nowhere to head. Climbing is no different and without goals we cannot advance and will be stuck at the same grade forever. So just as in life if we want to advance our climbing we need goals! If you read my previous article on reflective … Read More
So the winter is here and its time to reflect on where we are with our climbing, where we want to be and how we are going to get there. We firstly have to perform an assessment of our climbing. Then combining this with some climbing reflective practice we can assess our areas of improvement and we can form an overall plan. Once we have an overall plan we can … Read More
How many times has your foot slipped off a hold or how many times have you had to hop a foot around because it is facing the wrong way? Each time these things happen you are placing extra load on your hands, forearms and body. This leads to hands gripping harder, forearm pump, fatigue, extra mental stress and even a fall. But with some very basic footwork skills things can … Read More