any tricks to rock wall climbing?

Question

I have to climb a rock wall with no staps to hold me up. I have not a lot of upper body strenght. I really don't want to humilieate myself by not being able to do it. ARE THERE ANY TRICKS THAT WILL HELP ME CLIMB A ROCK WALL?

Answer 1

There are many styles of rock climbing. In your case, you need to depend on your legs for strength and use your hands and arms mostly for balance. What you need to do is to focus on keeping your center of gravity over your toeholds on the rock face. To move, shift your center of gravity from over one toehold to the next, while using your hands to help stay on the rock face. Get in the habit of keeping your leg folded when shifting to a higher toehold, and getting your center of gravity over it before "standing up". It's kind of like doing a rock dance. Gorilla style climbing, on the other hand, is pulling up by the power of your arms, but you can climb without having to do that.

Answer 2

As many people have stated, pay attention to your feet. Use your legs to push you up rather than your arms to pull you up.

A must is to keep your body as close to the wall as you can, this will help keep your center of gravity over your feet so that your legs can support you rather than your arms.

While feet and legs are most important, you will be using your hands and arms. Try not to overgrip the holds while you climb, this will only wear you out faster. Focus on keeping your grip just tight enough to hold on and no tighter.

Try not to reach too high. And when you are repositioning your feet and your hands remember to keep three points of contact when ever possible, i.e. when you have one hand off dont move either of your feet if you can avoid it.

Get a good look at the climb before you start climbing and try to figure out each move and any possible problems you might have.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Remember, SAFETY comes first. Never mind being humiliated or embarrassed. Everyone mentioned about using legs, that's the best advise. With your legs helping you to move up, it removes the pressure from your arms which is helpful since you do not have an upper body strength. Also, make sure you get good chalking in your palms...better friction and grip especially if you're the sweaty type. Also, remember to always stick close to the wall. Leaning your body weight closer to the wall helps you balance more.

Answer 4

before you climb, study the wall. Look at how the cups are set. You don't want to stretch yourself too far. find the "path of least resistance". Just imagine yourself climbing and follow that line. i don't like the words HAVE TO. Now one HAS to do anything except Die and Pay Taxes... The Risk is not worth the reward. You get hurt, its going to be a long road to recovery. if you up at any height.

Answer 5

Tried that, it was very hard. You have to be flexible and not carry too much weight for your size. One thing I noticed was skinny little kids could climb up like monkeys. Also, practice strengthing your fingers. Cramping in my fingers started to kill me. What I found to be most important:

Strength in arms and fingers.
Flexibility
Low body fat

Answer 6

first off... don't do anything dangerous just cause you don't want to be embarressed. tackle things as you are ready to. climb as far as you can then climb back down. if it is your first time climbing, which it sounds like than there is no shame in being cautious especially if youre not wearing anything to save you if you fall.

as far as tricks go to climb better... try using something sticky as hand lotion before you go up... elmers stick glue will help you not fall, but it won't glue you there so that you cannot climb further such as super glue... don't use superglue!!!

Answer 7

Keep your arms straight as much as possible, it's a lot easier to dangle than it is to hold yourself up while flexing. Climb with your legs, then move your arms to keep yourself balanced.

Answer 8

use ur legs to climb try to stand up every time u have ur feet down - climbing shouldnt have to require lots of upper body strenth unless u are doing it wrong

Answer 9

Take your time. If it doesn't feel right, it usually isn't. Test grip and toe before making the move.

Answer 10

your arms are there to stabilize you and your legs are there to move you up the wall. keep your weight over your skeletal system and not on your muscular system. breath slowly.