What boosted my climbing as a beginner

In this article I would like to share with you what helped me improve my climbing drastically.

I started climbing seriously in 2023 and I loved it, but I felt I had no idea what I was doing. Just trying to complete the boulders. I remember sometimes my body was feeling super tight and tired with all the effort I was making but without understanding what moves I was doing. I am sure we have all been there as beginner climbers.

Since I am a person that likes to know what does and why, I decided to take a one hour class at my local gym and it really changed my climbing.

After the warm-up, the teacher asked me to try a couple of easy boulders to see how I climb. He immediately noticed that I could do the climbs, but not with proper technique.

Then we spent the next hour learning the following techniques:

Drop knee: a technique where you turn one knee inward and drop it down, rotating your hips toward the wall to extend your reach and reduce strain on your arms.
Flagging: using one foot that is not stepping on any foothold as a counterbalance to reach to the next hold or avoid barn door.
Rockover: a weight-shifting technique where you step onto a foothold and move your center of gravity directly above it by bringing your hips over the foot.

Honestly, I felt I was so bad at them during the class, especially the drop knee. It didn’t feel natural at all. But learning what these techniques are was only the beginning. I spent the next month (or more) practicing them on easy boulders consistently. Again and again. That’s what really made the difference.

So there are a few things that helped me improve:

Learn the techniques — either by taking a class, asking your friends, or looking for online resources.
Practice and consistency are key.
Repeat climbs to apply techniques if you think you can perform them smoother.

All in all, knowing what you are doing and climbing mindfully, not only can make you a better climber, but it will also make you enjoy more your sessions!