Indoor rock climbing gyms offer climbers excellent opportunities for honing your climbing techniques. Route setters set routes (designated holds that you must follow as you climb up the wall) and mark them with different colors of tape. Because they have years of experience, they understand climbing movement and can offer climbers a wide variety of options. A good route setter and a good route can teach a climber a new movement by forcing him out of his comfort zone. For example, a climber may have to reach above with his right hand or grab a hold in a way that he has never done before.
Silent feet
Whether a climber is learning how to climb or trying to advance her skills, she should try the "silent feet" technique. Each time a climber moves her foot and places it on a new hold, she must try to do so without banging or scraping the wall. This helps a climber set her foot more precisely and also be more deliberate when making a movement.
Blindfold climbing
To really understand how to move his body, a climber can put a blindfold on and climb around. This forces a climber to really feel the texture and shape of holds and to really learn different ways to grab onto holds. Additionally, it will teach a climber how to shift his weight and maintain the ideal balance. Finally, it teaches a climber focus. A climber really has to concentrate on what he is doing to be able to climb without using his eyes.
One arm or no hands climbing
A climber can also hone her balance and weight-shifting skills by climbing with just one or no hands. This forces a climber to be creative and think of new ways to move over the wall. No-hands climbing on gently sloping walls is an excellent way to learn how to better place your feet. You really have to be precise with your feet and shift your weight just right to be able to stand up on a steep incline.
About The Author
Lizzy Scully is a senior contributing editor for Mountain Flyer magazine and the Executive Director of the nonprofit, Girls Education International. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University of Utah and Master of Science in journalism from Utah State University.
