Climbing Techniques for Beginners. What You Need to know when you start climbing

Climbing techniques for beginners

Dо you know that to climb with ease you do not need strength, but skill? If you want to last longer on the climbing wall, get less tired and achieve more, you need to know the basic climbing techniques.

Here are the most important techniques every climbing beginner should know.

Techniques involving the legs

The legs are the basis of climbing. Many beginners try to pull themselves up the wall with their hands and get tired quickly. To avoid this, think of climbing as a ladder – do not pull yourself up, but use your feet while balancing with your hands.

The main techniques for using the legs are edging and smearing:

Edging is exactly what it sounds like: You step and hold on to the edge of your shoe. You can use the inner edge, where your thumb offers stability in smaller holds, or you can use the outer edge. Your choice depends on the direction you need to go to get in or out of the hold.

Smearing occurs when you don’t have actual support, so you rely on the rubber of your friction shoe against the wall.

When climbing, keep in mind the following tricks:

  • Try to keep your feet just below you.
  • After stepping on your foot, keep it still. You will have a better chance of staying in this position while considering your next move.
  • Keep your heel low to have more contact with the wall.

Balance techniques

When the route is easier and leads straight up, climbing is quite intuitive. When you have a route where you have to move and pull in different directions, you have to use your body to maintain balance.

When you need to hold a handle that is on the sides, pulling straight down is not recommended. In this case, you need to find a way to maintain balance so that you do not lose your balance.

How to maintain balance?

• Press your foot in the opposite direction of the download to create a counteraction;

• Pull in the opposite direction with your other hand or hooked leg;

• Lean hard and use your weight as a counterweight.

Efficiency techniques

If you want to get less tired while climbing and recover faster afterward, you can achieve this using the following techniques:

Keep your arms straight. Upright arms allow the skeleton to take most of the weight. This calms the muscles. Even a slight bend in the elbow means that the muscles work to keep it there.

Focus on your hips. Beginners often keep their hips square to the wall, which may seem very stable, but it puts a lot of strain on your muscles.

Try to keep one hip pressed up against the wall. This helps keep your weight above your feet and allows you to move forward with your arms straight.

Having a hip close to the wall brings your shoulder close too. Thus, the entire weight is in line with the legs, which reduces your chances of detaching from the wall and falling. The closed arm also changes the pulling angle of the handles, making it easier to grip.

Good climbers climb with their eyes. Keep an eye on the wall to look for holds that allow you to rest quickly. Don’t just focus on the markings.

When you find a good place to rest, use it. Allow your heart rate to slow down and then continue climbing.

If you want to become a better climber, you need to improve your technique and movement. And the best way to do this is to climb whenever you can (you achieve this is with an at home climbing wall). Learn the principles of movement and balance, and you will notice how you progress fast and get tired more slowly.

The Next Big Thing in Climbing: Home Walls

at home climbing walls

Every avid climber knows how satisfying it is to climb a wall. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-epidemic measures, it is becoming more difficult for many athletes, amateurs and professionals, to perform their favorite sport. Fortunately, there is a solution for all climbing enthusiasts – the at home climbing wall is gaining popularity and is about to become a wonderful way to keep fit, try new climbing techniques and teach your children to climb. Here’s what else you need to know about home climbing walls:

What is it?

Most home climbing walls are do-it-yourself projects. They range from massive backyard installations that look like small boulder gyms to single 4’x8 ′ panels mounted at an angle in the living rooms of avid climbers. Holds are often made of wood, stones, and elemental resins. Thus, the result is a mini climbing wall that you can climb any time you want.

Benefits of at home climbing wall

If you are an avid climber, but you are still wondering if it is a good idea to install a climbing wall in your home, these 5 benefits will convince you:

• You can climb at any time and keep fit even when you can’t leave your home;

• You save the time you would spend driving to the climbing hall and back. You save money too;

• You can adjust your route according to your wishes;

• You can practice different climbing techniques and improve your current ones;

• You will have fun with the whole family. The climbing wall at home is suitable for both adults and children.

Why do you need a wall for climbing at home?

Home walls are often associated with strength work and training of specific movements. It’s all about symmetrical, tendon-friendly repetition to become stronger and make the movements you want with ease. The difference between professional climbing walls and the ones at home is that when you climb at home, you have to do everything yourself and you don’t have a professional to monitor your movements.

On the other hand, the home climbing wall is smaller and safer, allowing you to climb while having fun with friends or letting the kids climb without worrying about them getting hurt. It is important to find a design that meets your needs and requirements. And, if you’re wondering, build a climbing wall to allow all kinds of climbing fun, not just 45 ° system board training.

If you are already sure that you want to turn your home into a climbing oasis and build the at home climbing wall in the living room, yard, and even your basement, do not hesitate to contact us. We at Holds and Walls will take care of building the wall you imagine and providing the necessary holds to create fun and challenging climbing routes for yourself or your children.