Climbing

Andy100

Andy100

Andy100

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Joined
3 Feb 2003
Posts
1,771
Location
Sydney, Australia
I went to an indoor climbing center for the first time ever yesterday and it was amazing fun!! :D

Did a few easy climbs, then a tough one, then one across the ceiling! After about 50 minutes I just couldn't do any more, my arms were so pumped I could barely clench my fists and couldn't grab anything.

Today I'm really feeling it, my arms are sooo stiff and I must have torn a load of muscles in my stomach because I have patches of burst blood vessels all across it :(

I'm totally not fit but I can see this really improving my fitness levels quickly.

So, does anyone else do any climbing? Can anyone recommend any good exercises to help me improve my grip strength and more importantly my endurance?
 
Andy100 said:
I went to an indoor climbing center for the first time ever yesterday and it was amazing fun!! :D

Did a few easy climbs, then a tough one, then one across the ceiling! After about 50 minutes I just couldn't do any more, my arms were so pumped I could barely clench my fists and couldn't grab anything.

Today I'm really feeling it, my arms are sooo stiff and I must have torn a load of muscles in my stomach because I have patches of burst blood vessels all across it :(

I'm totally not fit but I can see this really improving my fitness levels quickly.

So, does anyone else do any climbing? Can anyone recommend any good exercises to help me improve my grip strength and more importantly my endurance?
Click to expand...


get a powerball for grip :D

Tom.
 
I climb!!!

don't do too much as soon as you start. your tendons won't be strong enough and you'll get tendonitis of the elbows. NOT NICE!!!!


apart from that enjoy :D



Got to go last night outdoors after work for the 1st time this year (finally enough light) :)
 
Andy100 said:
So, does anyone else do any climbing? Can anyone recommend any good exercises to help me improve my grip strength and more importantly my endurance?
Click to expand...

Climbing is the best way to get fit for climbing :)

On easy routes finger strength doesn't matter but as you work your way on to harder climbs it does so initially just concentrate on how you move. Try and use the minimal amount of effort to get up. Practice climbing with just one on no hands as this is a good way to improve balance which is the most important aspect to getting better.
 
While I was there one of the guys told me to try and keep my hips close to the wall by twisting my legs. Doing that took so much weight off my arms it was brilliant.

I can tell I have a lot to learn but I'm gonna love learning it.

The ceiling climb was a bit scarey, it was about 40' up and I had to unhook myself as I was climbing along. I knew that if I fell off just after an unhook I'd have about a 6' swing and drop. That thought had my heart pounding so hard.

They had a bouldering wall too but man that was impossible. I did about 2-3 moves before falling off each time but my grip had pretty much completely gone by then.

They also had these 2" by 1" boards going up one wall spaced about 6" apart and people were climbing it just with their arms gripping with just their fingertips! :eek: The strength that must have taken astounds me.

Now I just need to buy some gear. Lol can you tell I enjoyed it :D
 
I used to be well into climbing, but I've barely done any in a year or so now. I know next time I go back I will be really unfit and everyone will laugh at me:(.
 
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