Indoor rock climbing can be a lot of fun. You can climb boulders, top rope, and lead in indoor gyms. What are the benefits?
It is a full body workout that will enhance both strength, power, and endurance, if trained properly. It allows you to think about moving critically and logically. Reduces chance of injury during escapes and increases escaping success.
What are some of the myths?
Myth: You need upper body strength to climb.
Truth: You need stronger and more dynamic legs with a solid core. Strong upper body helps, but in most cases, you can climb without being able to do 20 continuous pullups, let alone 1 pullup.
Myth: You need finger strength.
Truth: You need forearm strength and endurance. Your forearm contains the pulley systems in your muscles to move your fingers as well as provide the strength necessary to hold on to things.
Myth: I’m too fat to climb.
Truth: So overweight people can’t climb a ladder? Yes, they can. You need legs that are strong and powerful to climb. To climb harder routes, you need more, but in most escape situations, the equivalent boulder grade is about V1/V2 at max (which are considered beginner route grades.)
Take an introductory course for both bouldering and rope climbing and start climbing today.