3 Quick Tips to Improve Your Rock Climbing

[@Drinkyoghurt]

It's funny, the part about the breathing. I tried a leftover mens competition problem with some friends yesterday. It was a slab and at some point you had to stand on a volume whilst flagging without any hand holds and get the flagging foot next to your supporting foot. The first time I tried it I held my breath, tensed up and just slid off. The second time I relaxed, breathed in and out and was able to get the foot there without any stress or strain. It was a weird feeling but everything just clicked into place when doing that.

[@derekbelanger7839]

I'm excited to try climbing faster. Not very slow, but I am aware of some amount of deliberate pacing. Thanks for helping to keep it fresh, Mani!

[@thetofusaur]

I would add on to the first point to not be afraid to try to utilize a hold differently in an effort to make it more efficient, sometimes going faster doesn't mean to literally do it faster but to be able to figure out a more efficient sequence.

[@ManitheMonkey]

Absolutely, very often climbers try a sequence with a non-ideal solution. I can also add that lots of beginners fall into the habit of re-gripping (I find myself doing this as well on certain holds), which costs a lot of time as well and is not always necessary, here even more time can be saved.

[@zan831]

Im fairly new to climbing (climbing v3-v4 boulders). I like to experiment with different grips/holds and body positions, sometimes even positions which seem weird or unconventional. I like to see climbing as a sport with a level of creativity and style :)

[@gimmepowder]

Re-gripping burns energy as well. My local gym owner often points that out, as well as exhaling when making a move. Can't breathe in if you don't breathe out.

[@watuLammini]

Related to this point would probably also be "way you climb", meaning a kind of micro beta and coordination thing. For example, gripping holds only as strong as necessary and doing the moves fluid (with the right balance of static and dynamic) and the most controlled, efficient way. The angle of your feet or hips can make a difference as well as the muscle groups you are using (on a pumpy route with small holds you could try to use more body tension and thereby relax your forearms a little more e.g.). Most of you surely know what I mean, when they got a solution in a problem, that does work perfectly for them, but looks exhausting or instable on other people (disregarding other factors such as body size or training status). Or if you watch someone else or yourself climbing a route with lots of routine or after projecting it for a long time. The difference is immense, altough you can hardly put it in words!

[@tomdahulk]

Best climbing channel on youtube, by far!

[@absasaad]

Another short and sweet video! I try to incorporate yogas Ojai breathing when resting on a route and it helps a lot. I think I will train on trying to remember breathing right throughout the entire climb. Thanks for the great video.

[@riogordon2264]

The third topic: breathing. Excellent advice.

[@CHmittendrin]

So simple but so good. Thanks Mani! :)

[@Szynszula]

Yeah, totally true, that's funny because just few days ago I was thinking of trying to improve my speed and I always hear from my friend "don't forget to breathe", and always use stopwatch! :D

[@jokcho5]

I can't agree more on all these points. Especially #1. I frequently see people climbing like sloths and gassing out towards the end. Sure they have perfect accuracy when it comes to hitting holds but id rather have 80% accuracy and finish the problem.

[@ManitheMonkey]

Very true. Accuracy (and beautful movement) is not always the most important thing.

[@climbscience4813]

Excellent tips! I think the breathing part is really something that I should pay attention to. I think I have a notoriously irregular breathing pattern...

[@jordansullivan5764]

I know this isn't the point of the video, but when he says, "3 quick tips" and holds up his thumb as the third finger, I was reminded of that scene in Inglorious Bastards where Michael Fassbender holds up his ring finger as the third finger, and then the Nazis realize he isn't German. Anyway, great video.

[@abel2226]

August Diehl is playing so God damn good there ( the sturmbannführer)

[@DaxxterDreams]

Thanks for the short briefing. appreciated!

[@vazap8662]

Fantastic advice as usual! One thing that changed my life in terms of breathing: meditation. Of course it's not for everybody, however I thought I'd share one simple thing that greatly calms my first moves on a climb. I used to take a deep breath in and go go go! I've recently actually reversed this. I take a couple of deep breaths in and out, finish by deeply emptying my lungs and go. First inhale during first move. Is this a thing or just me I wonder...

[@roe432]

thanks, I appreciate your transferring of knowledge

[@RustuPai]

Nice video! strong tips! Climbing fast also helps in improving your movimentation! Keep versatile! cheers

[@ThinkingThomasNotions]

Helpful as always... though I might ask about a potential variation on the first point: In addition to actively endeavoring to climb a given problem faster, what about additionally trying to climb a given problem more slowly? I raise this question with two considerations in mind. On one hand, I suspect that there are training benefits to both accelerating and decelerating one's velocity but could be me amiss there. Secondly, though, I'd like to add that I generally find slower climbing more aesthetically pleasing that unduly rapid ascent. Obviously, that is often more difficult, but such doesn't necessarily amount to an objection in itself. What are you thoughts on a consideration of an aesthetic versus merely functional approach to climbing?

[@tmc404error]

Really enjoyed this concise episode!

[@ChelseaBlacker]

Thanks for the great tips, your videos are amazingly helpful for me as a beginner! I love the tip regarding breathing exercises. Tiny side note (totally NOT a big deal in any way, shape, or form) when you pronounce the word “experiment” - most English speakers say “ex-per-AH-ment” instead of how you say “ex-per-EEE-ment”. I only say something because my friends fluent in English seem to like it when they learn of these little changes.

[@marvinsain1633]

thnx for the great tip :) as a begginer this is so helpful

[@neo778]

Punkt eins ist offensichtlich. Meine Pausen zwischen Durchstiegsversuchen sind meist eher zu kurz, außer mein Kletterpartner hängt in der gleichen Route länger in den Seilen. In der Boulderhalle gehe ich zwischendurch an leichtere Boulder, um meinen Körper zu lockern. Nur rumsitzen entspannt auch nicht immer optimal, zumal die Durchblutung beim Sitzen in den Beinen denke ich nicht optimal ist. Sehr guter Punkt finde ich ist das Atmen. Konzentration, Angst, Geschwindigkeit, Rhythmus und maximale Power, aller das lässt sich durch die Atmung steuern. Hatte erst vor kurzem so ein Erlebnis, als ich die Krux vor dem Umlenken ausbouldern musste. Ich wusste, ich könnte fallen vor dem letzten Griff, aber der Sturz wäre harmlos. 4 Züge mit hoher Belastung mussten schnell ausgeführt werden und kurz vor dem „Pump“ der letzte dynamisch. Im letzten Versuch habe ich die Arschbacken zusammengekniffen und mich nur auf die Route und meine Atmung konzentriert. Der Atemrhythmus hat verhindert, dass ich gezögert habe und mich mit steigender Anstrengung (zumindest gefühlt) immer schneller klettern lassen. Mit Erfolg! Jetzt muss ich die Route nur noch von unten durchklettern 😜

[@alixdk268]

thanks dude, very nice video. Keep going

[@1991mren]

Very helpful. Your tip videos are great

[@nilss9326]

Nice video Mani, love these shorter and more compact clips! I have one question : What do you think is more effective to improve my climbing quickly: should I rather take time and climb "easy" problems with - for me - perfect technique, or should I try super hard on more difficult routes where I maybe fall 20 times until I reach the top? How can I maximize my progress, both in technique and strenght? I'm mostly doing sport climbing btw:) Stay awesome!

[@ManitheMonkey]

Depends on your weaknesses. But usually, trying harder is the quickest way up the grade ladder. If you want technique, one way is to climb medium to hard projects/routes again, and perfect them.

[@petreandreiv]

Mani the man!

[@dokuxs]

hahaha I can imagin hearing TSSSSSAAAAAA!!! ond the boulder GYM

[@Astilath]

Hi Mani! Great video as always! Took a look in the description (which I clearly have not done before). The link to your nutrition ebook is a dead link. Any chance of an update?

[@horstzwei]

merci bien! super mega nice!

[@carmelm7290]

Hi Mani, love your videos! I've recently noticed that my hands shake a little bit when I'm climbing and I'm wondering if that has something to do with strength? If so, it would be amazing if you could do a video on that? Thank you!

[@RThuston]

Hey Mani... Thoughts for a video... for professionals with limited continuous time frames to train... for instance, if someone only had 0.25 to 1.5 hours several times a week for training, is there a most effective way to look at training in those time periods... does some training not require as much warm up and would be more suited for short windows? what activities require at least a minimum of 1.5 hours, etc. Currently, this week... I did Chris Parson Webb hangboard on Monday night for 45 mins, 20 mins of lock offs Tuesday morning, campus board session 1 hour on Weds over lunch, rest Thursday, 45 min Chris Parson Webb hangboard over lunch friday, doing a 45 min C.W.P. hangboard right now... because I didn't feel like I warmed up enough this morning, then follow it tonight with some lock off for 20 mins. Thanks and let me know if you think this might be too specific to be relevant to others that follow you, and I can hold off on asking this question for something like an online coaching sessions later on. Thanks,

[@shivaaar]

Danke für das Video. Bin bald mal ein paar Tage in Wien und habe mich gefragt was wohl eine Trainerstunde für eine Stundenten ;-) bei dir kostet? Grüße aus Berlin

[@ManitheMonkey]

Hab ich gern gemacht, schreib mir an [e-mail] für Trainerstundendetails.

[@romainkalinsky6965]

Nice video with interesting insightful ideas. Maybe you could develop a little on breathing techniques such as those used in a specific yoga type. Breathing is indeed key to climbing efficiently and avoid being tired. Muscles need oxygen! Beside that I have a question. I have been climbing for 2 and a half year now, starting with 5a i wouldn't even finish at the beginning but my climbing was consistent. from session to session. difficult moves, endurance etc... would be similar. I improved a fair bit and now climb easily 6a and 6b. On a good day i can manage 6c+. But the thing is my climbing is getting more and more inconsistent. lately i have been having a good session once every 3 sessions. That one session is like no route seems to be able to lock me down, but the other 2 even 6a i would normally climb easily are challenging. As you can imagine it is very frustrating. Any suggestion on how to improve consistency in climbing?

[@TheMiztuk]

Hello from Brazil (:

[@Colin_Barnes]

nice one man!

[@DonQuiKong]

This is a great example of climbing fast but precise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h52lkGeqhK-kkJY so impressive how fast he flies up the wall.

[@climbscience4813]

I thought of that one too when I saw this video. So impressive!

[@watuLammini]

Haha, I actually had the same idea :D. Funny, how popular the video became, I was lucky enough to coincidentally watch it before it was in the internet and I just thought: "Wow, everyone gotta see this!" as it's so impressive and you can learn a lot out of it. Actually, I've never seen anyone climbing so fast (and still perfectly under controll), not even any of the climbing elite like Adam Ondra etc. At first I couldn't almost believe, that the video wasn't manipulated or so. One more example, that it isn't only the grade that makes a climber admirable.

[@Kfreeks]

Wow and then I see the intersection between a plant based diet and climbing through him showing us the book "how not to die" as a reference to climbing hard! :o I couldn't imagine in any possible way to see him recommend that. noice PS: incredibly how one can climb so efficient and with smooth looking technique.

[@flyingcownipples1295]

I'm 14 years old and I love your videos and I got invited to rock climb for team Texas. The problem is is that it's 3 days a week and the gym is an hour away. What should I do? Should I just keep practicing at home? (I have a small bouldering wall at my house) Thanks in advance.

[@timgroothuis1217]

The important thing is fun! If you think climbing for and with a team is more fun, then go for it! If you think you can have as much (or even more) fun at home, then stay at home. Just make sure you're enjoying the time you have :)

[@ManitheMonkey]

Sounds like you should join the team. Usually climbing with a great crew yields amazing results, especially if there's also a trainer (which I guess is the team when it's about Team Texas).

[@osdub1292]

Climbing fast + accurate = Sean Mc Coll

[@NinjaGamesWorld]

Hey Mani, i got some kind of weird tendon injury on the campus board a month ago. I was not crimping at all, i was using 3 finger open grip. I was trying to do a 1-5 jump and I made it, but when I then proceedwd to lock off on the higher arm, i heard a giant pop. I actually have video footage if it would help you to see. Anyways, I didn't climb for a month and all the pain was in my forearm for two weeks. Since then my finger that popped has had random pain surges when grabbing things, but it doesn't happen all the time. Also I began lightly climbing again, and I dont experience pain in my finger when climbing, though I avoid the campus board and small holds and slopers. Please let me know what I should do to get back to normal again, also your videos helped me learn how to rock climb, so If you read this thank you very much.

[@ManitheMonkey]

Hey Jordan sorry to hear from your injury, sounds like you strained some stuff in your forearm (happens frequently on the 3fopen) however I can't say anything certain. As always I'd recommend doing nothing that hurts, and slowly get back into climbing soft stuff to keep the tissue active. If the pain persists however consider seeing a doc to check if you ripped something apart (but usually you notice that on your own).

[@NinjaGamesWorld]

Mani the Monkey how would i notice if i ripped something apart? also thank you

[@ManitheMonkey]

strange movements and permanent pain/extreme pain when using.

[@johannesg.7300]

Where does it hurt nowadays? The collateral ligaments (= on the side of your finger) or the palm of your hand? (Or something completely different?)

[@Snowdirtride]

Beforehand there is a bit work to do, or else you´re not able to pull a fast and efficient climbing style. Which kind of climber are you (Mani)? By that i mean, are you one who analysis and vsiualises the complete route with every move to the top. Or the one who trusts his intuition and finds out the way to the top by climbing it (with a small overlook before)?

[@ManitheMonkey]

More the first type I would say. Depends on if I want to onsight/flash/just climb that thing.

[@TheKevPeng]

Breathe, of course haha

[@PivotPlay666]

Naruto Outro LeL

[@jamola1096]

Wim Hof

[@benfraser6088]

Don't forget to breathe! Sounds stupid, but very important.

[@m3lfbreezy]

he literally mentioned that as his last tip...

[@benfraser6088]

I was simply trying to emphasis the tip on how important it is to breathe (I thought this was obvious, but apparently not).