The Worst Training Habits and How to Avoid Them: A Climbing Guide

Climbing is a full-body sport, but many climbers neglect warming up their lower body. Don’t be that person! In this article, we’re going to run through some of the worst training habits we see people doing and show you how to avoid them, so you can make the most out of your training.

Warm-Up for Your Lower Body

Before you hit the wall, make sure your hamstrings are engaged and warmed up. Hill hooks and squats are excellent exercises to get your lower body ready for climbing. Find what works for you, and make it a ritual. If you neglect warming up your lower body, you won’t perform properly on climbs that require those muscles.

Rest Between Attempts

It’s tempting to keep trying a climb without resting between attempts, but it’s a bad habit. Even if you fall off the first move, it takes a lot of power out of you. Take a step back, catch your breath, chalk up again, and give yourself time to breathe. Resting will help you perform better on your next attempt.

Try Different Grip Types

Many climbers are dominant to one grip type, but that’s a bad habit in training. To become a better climber, you need to use different grip types and learn how to use different holds efficiently. Don’t wait until you get injured to learn different grip types. Strengthen your grip using hangboards and use different grip types on different holds to learn how to use them in different situations.

 Don’t Walk Away from the Learning Process

Climbing a problem and walking away from it, no matter how badly you did it, defeats the point of the learning process. If you can do a problem well or maintain tension, you’ll learn so much more from the boulder and the process. Keep at it, and don’t walk away until you’ve learned something.

 Work Rest Positions

Working rest positions can make a difference between getting up a climb or down it. This applies to boulders as well as root climbing. Don’t neglect working rest positions; it’ll help you perform better on the climb.

Stick to Your Training

One of the worst habits that sabotage training is constantly switching up objectives or methods. Stick to the same thing for a long enough period to see that training consolidate, and see the gains from that training. If you’re always changing things up, you’re never going to understand what works best for you in the past and how to progress your training.

Keep Your Training Consistent

Remember, training is a long process happening over months and years. Keep it consistent and understand that you want to turn up to the session, get the sessions done, and keep at it. Don’t get caught up in the emotional roller coaster of training. Step back and remember that it’s a long process.

Brush Your Holds

When climbing with people like Josh with sweaty hands, brushing the hold between attempts makes a massive difference. Clean holds are easier to climb. Keeping your skin dry is essential. Spend time washing up with rubber gloves to avoid making your skin too soft.

In conclusion, avoid these worst training habits to become a better climber. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Keep at it, stay consistent, and enjoy the process!