The Basics of
Rock Climbing
Are you
eager of reaching out and exceeding your own limits? Yes. -Then you are in the
right place. Rock climbing is a sport most suitable for self-challenging where
one is required to reach the top or complete a predefined route without
falling. It is a sport available to all ranges of age, as there are no limits
in rock climbing.
However, the climber must be able to face
physical challenges such as body strength, endurance, stamina, agility, balance
as well as mental challenges as in focusing and mind set.
This website includes tips and information
specially given to beginner climbers to improve themselves and by following
this website, with some training, in no time, you will be one of the climbers
flying up the walls with ease and swiftness.
The Benefits of Rock Climbing
With the popularity of rock climbing
increasing throughout the years, more people have taken the sports up. The
reason behind this is that not only the climber can have a chance of
experiencing nature and heights, but it also trains the body and the mind.
Physically, it is a sport considered as a
total body workout, on the other hand, a sport which comprises every muscle in
the body. It strengthens the core muscle of the climber, decreasing the prone
of the climber getting injured and at the same time, boosting the performance
in other sports too.
Rock climbing also aids the development of
the mind. In rock climbing, the climber is required to plan and make decisions
before and during the climb, with full concentration and also determination to
overcome the stress of the muscles and the mind. Self- confidence is also one
of the best skills you can get in rock climbing where you have to be confident
in your own decisions.
Safety Precautions
Although rock climbing is fun and thrilling,
it is also dangerous. As a climber, you are responsible for your climbing
partners and your own safety. Climbing in indoor gyms or outdoors on real rocks
both contain the same amount of risks to your body, health and safety. One must
be aware of the techniques of climbing safe and climbing knowledge along with
constant practice in order to reduce the risks.
The techniques of safe climbing includes
knowing your own boundaries and limits, double checking your gears, clear
communication techniques, and checking of rock climbing holds. Depending on the
situation, weather must be considered too. If you are a starter, it is
recommended for you to get a rock climbing supervisor or trainer to guide you
with the correct safety techniques.
The following is a
list of basic climbing voice command terms used specially for rock climbing
situations to avoid miscommunications.
Commands
|
Said from
|
Meaning
|
On Belay
|
Belayer to
Climber
|
Belayer is ready.
Belay is on
|
Off Belay
|
Climber to
Belayer
|
Climber is ready,
belayer can take off belay
|
Belay Off
|
Belayer to
Climber
|
Climber is safe,
taking off belay
|
Climbing
|
Climber to
Belayer
|
Climbing now
|
Slack
|
Climber to
Belayer
|
Loosen up the
rope
|
Up Rope
|
Climber to
Belayer
|
Tighten up the
rope
|
Lower Me
|
Climber to
Belayer
|
Lower the climber
|
Lowering
|
Belayer to
Climber
|
Lowering the
climber
|
Climb On
|
Belayer to
Climber
|
You are allowed
to climb
|
Other than that, double checking the gears
and knots is necessary so that accidents will not happen during the climb. One
of the many methods before climbing is by using the ABCD safety check- A for Anchor,
B for Buckle, C for Carabineer, and D for Device. The climber and his/her partner will check
the gears of one another accordingly to the safety check.
Getting Started
If you want to climb
safely and efficiently, you must be aware of basic rock climbing knowledge such
the types of basic rock climbing walls, types of hand holds, and equipment
needed.
·
Basic Rock Climbing Walls
-
There are many different types of rock climbing walls in many
different types of environment- indoor and outdoor depending on your rock
climbing skills. Thus, as a beginner, it is recommended for you to stick to
bouldering and top-roping.
·
Bouldering
Equipment
needed: Shoes, chalk bag (optional)
-
Climbing with no harnesses or safety gears, with the climber
climbing around low and middle height walls. Bouldering involves challenging
yourselves with pre-defined routes; each includes different focus on different
types of techniques and physical training. A spotting partner is needed while
challenging middle-heighted routes.
·
Top-roping
Equipment
needed: Shoes, harness, rope, belaying device, carabineer and chalk bag
(optional)
-
Top-roping involves the climber challenging high walls with safety
gears connected to a belayer on the ground who is responsible of operating the
anchor system. The walls are graded with different level of difficulty, with
different numbers accompanied by different alphabets representing them. As a
beginner, it is recommended for the climber to challenge walls ranging from 5a
to 5c++.
·
Basic Rock Climbing
Techniques
There is a usual misconception that rock
climbing focuses on pure upper body strength but accepting the fact that the
legs are stronger than the hands, the proper rock climbing technique involves
the hands guiding the body while the legs balancing or pushing up the body.
In most rock climbing walls, the hands should
be straight in most of the times, hanging and traversing while the legs support
the body. Resting can be enabled by sitting on the legs while positioning your
hands and body in a comfortable position.
Before challenging or forcing yourself to
complete challenging routes, it is better to confront easier routes with the
right techniques as having a good foundation of techniques and skill is better
than blind brutal strength.
·
Handgrips
While
traversing along the walls or climbing to the top, the climber will sure come
across different types of handholds, which requires different types of grips to
allow the climber to have stability and save energy. These handgrips are:
-
Crimp
Only
involves the fingers holding onto the handhold, while the tension of the
bodyweight stretches below and after the second joint of the fingers. It is
usually used on holds with a flat surface on top, where it is also better to
wrap your thumb around the fingers when gripping for extra support.
-
Open hand grip
The
fingers are wrapped around the hold, with the hands open and stretched out,
giving support to the climber with the thumb pressing against the opposite side
of the hold. Used mostly on holds that has two flat surfaces, one each on the
top and bottom. The use of fingers is similar to crimping but with less tension
due to an open hand.
-
Gaston
This
grip is the most effective when traversing to the sides. The climber wraps his
hands around the hold with the elbow facing outwards, pulling the body towards
the wall thus giving support. Used mostly on straight, thin handholds, where
more energy is saved by avoiding the use of pinching.
-
Jug
A
handhold which concaves inwards, found most in beginner’s and warm-up routes.
This type of hold is most suitable for resting as the hands clings on to it
with a natural hook shape that takes least energy.
-
Pinch
Similar
to the open hand grip, but requires more pressure and strength by both fingers
and thumb by pinching the hold. This grip is usually used on smaller holds,
which test and challenges your finger strength.
-
Side Pull
This
involves the climber crimping sideways instead of vertically. It is used on
flat surfaces facing sideways where you are required to lean sideways to gain
balance and grip.
-
Sloper
It
is considered as one of the toughest grips of rock climbing as only friction is
involved in the grip. The climber palms the hold applying strength to the
fingers, hence creating enough friction to hold on to it.
Practice Makes Perfect
Not all of these can be achieved in a day.
Even the best climbers needs practices every day to strengthen his skills,
familiarize with the problem solving techniques of rock climbing and alas, to
achieve constant improvement and progression to remain at his/her best. Practice
at least once a week and some days, the best climber could be you. Good Luck!
Works
Cited
1.
"Benefits of Rock Climbing | Info." XSA Climbing Walls. N.p., n.d.
Web. 10 Jan. 2013.
2.
"The Exercise Benefits of Rock Climbing." / Fitness / Exercises.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.
3.
"How to Rock Climb – The Beginners Guide to Climbing Gear, Lingo, and Rating
Systems." How to Rock Climb – The Beginners Guide to Climbing Gear,
Lingo, and Rating Systems. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.
4.
"Rock Climbing 101." Rock Climbing for Life RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10
Jan. 2013.
5.
"Rock Climbing Safety." Rock Climbing Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan.
2013.
6.
"Rock Climbing Techniques for Beginners." Beginner Rock Climbing
Techniques. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.
7.
"Using Climbing Commands." About.com Climbing. N.p., n.d. Web. 10
Jan. 2013.
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