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mspiddles
Dec 21, 2001, 3:07 AM
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Hi!
I'm new to this website hooked and new to rock climbing too. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on strengthing my arms.
Cheers!
-Ms. Piddles
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naturalhigh
Dec 21, 2001, 3:43 AM
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Honestly, the BEST exercise for strengthing those forearms is....
Climbing!
No, seriously, those little hand thingys don't really work (at least not for me). If you can't get to real rock, hit your local climbing gym. No gym? Look around you house and work for places to hang and do pullups at random times. The moulding on the top of the doorframe is one of my favorites. You could also buy a hangboard from a climbing retailer. It'll have a variety of climbing holds to help you strengthen your hands/arms.
In addition, as you climb more you should try and use your feet to push you up, rather than pulling yourself up with your arms. Much bigger muscles down there.
In reality, you don't need to have massive strength to climb. There's a lot to be said for sheer finesse and balance.
Hope this helps!
Also check out the following thread:
http://www.rockclimbing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=5142&forum=36
[ This Message was edited by: naturalhigh on 2001-12-20 19:51 ]
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squeeks
Dec 21, 2001, 4:47 AM
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lots of rockclimbing. you could do a little bit of weight training but the best thing would be to climb lots.
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colin
Dec 21, 2001, 4:47 PM
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Core strength will help quite a bit though. If you notice you're having trouble keeping your midsection rigid do some situps (both normal and reverse).
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philclark
Jan 4, 2002, 4:57 PM
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Climb Hard! This is the best way to build up endurance and stamina! I personally like to get to the gym at least 4 times a week! I find doing that builds my stamina!
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missedyno
Jan 4, 2002, 5:55 PM
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i just went on vacation and climbed nearly every day for a week and i already feel stronger. it's a different approach to work when i just go around trying to solve all problems with an arm wrestle....
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eminem_imposter
Jan 5, 2002, 4:41 AM
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personally i think a hangboard works great, they help your grip go from crappy to hang all day.
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cyberdragon
Jan 7, 2002, 6:47 PM
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lots of climbing and pull ups. Hang boards are great!
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upfreak
Feb 3, 2002, 7:39 PM
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Climb, climb, climb ....
It may not be the only way ... but it IS and STILL IS the best sure shot way ...
Nothing beats it.. after all we climbers belong on the wall, don't we?
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madscientist
Feb 3, 2002, 10:39 PM
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If you are new to rock climbing, and want to know how to get better. Then climb, and watch others climb. You will get tired faster than someone who has been climbing for years. It might be benificial to lift some weights after climbing, but be carefull about injuries. For the beginning climber, it is usually not a good idea to do any forearm training since they increase your chance of injury, and the fastest gains generally come from improved technique.
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krustyklimber
Feb 9, 2002, 2:43 AM
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If you are like most new climbers you feel like more arm strength will fix everything, but the reality is usually better footwork and balance will gain more results, my gym teaches a "movement for climbers" class, if you can, try something like that. Otherwise any upper body/core exercise regimine will do, consulting a workout professional or your doctor before starting any hard exercise plan is always a good idea. I hope this helps.
Jeff
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polarwid
Feb 9, 2002, 2:48 AM
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Ditto on the footwork...
Use of the feet helps you climb better, and until you are cranking roofs you will not need to worry that much about arm strength. Work on foot placement, do some bouldering for the fingers and arms, they will naturally strengthen themselves. You do not need to train the arms unless you are climbing 5.10 or above.
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aulwes
Feb 9, 2002, 2:56 AM
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Climbing, rock rings, campus. Lots of rock climbing will do the trick!
Welcome to RC.com
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goopermc
Feb 9, 2002, 7:15 AM
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I have found that yoga really helps my climbing. Like the posts above said when you are new (and even an old veteran) to climbing technique is the #1 way to get better. Yoga will make you more aware of your body, make you more flexible, and make you learn how to move your weight.
I would also suggest laps at the end of the day. There is no better way to finishing a day then to do a relatively easy route until you can't lift your arms any more.
Happy climbing!
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flashsixteen
Feb 11, 2002, 4:21 AM
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As for exercises...
If you already have some good arm strength as in pull-ups, work the forearms. You can do pull ups all day long, but if your forearms are weak, you're not going to be able to do much climbing. Best exercise for that, as far as I know, is tie a weight to a piece of rope, then to a broomstick. Raise and lower the weight as if out of a well, increase the weight accordingly, then when your friends are screamin' about forearms, you can from the top of your climb
Brian
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rocmonkey
Feb 11, 2002, 8:12 AM
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Bouldering is the best to start with when you dont have much gear and you need to train for strength and technique...
breathe stone
R C
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sarahb
Feb 12, 2002, 1:27 AM
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yeah...
I am kind of new, I have been climbing indoors a bunch of times, and I am pretty good at it, but I am not very good outdoors. Do you have any advice for something like - how to make the transition...???
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miagi
Feb 12, 2002, 3:38 AM
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Do alot of pullups with your palms facing away from you. Simulates you pulling yourself up. It helps alot
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iclimbtoo
Feb 12, 2002, 7:01 AM
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Less talking. More climbing! Climb, climb, climb!!!! However, I usually do an Iron Man set of wide grip pull-ups before I start. This is you get a partner and go to the pull-up bar. set your hands as wide as possible. Then you do ten, they do ten, you do nine, they do nine...all the way to one. It takes a while to build up the endurance and strength, but I've found that it pays off big!
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iclimbtoo
Feb 12, 2002, 7:05 AM
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sarahb, the best way to transition to outdoors is to go. I work at a wall that is supposed to simulate outdoor climbing. It's the closest thing to it and it's nothing like climbing outdoors. You just have to do it.
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