Physical and mental health benefits

So as a sport, rock climbing can gives you a lot of benefits on either mental or physical.

Below are the health benefits for mental and physical.

Physical health benefits

• Strengthen your muscle for rock climbing (train your right muscles, especially arms)

• Strengthen your grip

• Increase your balance and endurance in order to increase your climbing performance

• Increase your fitness (warm up and stretch exercise required,  if there is tight muscles and ligaments, you can’t perform well.)

Mental health benefits

• Face your fear against height

• Give you an opportunity to solve problems calm and fast

• Let yourself take some risk to learn from mistakes (falling)

• Develops good observation, preview and learn.

Rock climbing is fun for it is adventurous, the skill can also be learned by practicing, you would not require talent in this area, so have fun. :D

MLA referencing

"Rock Climbing Technique, Performance and Climbing Tips." Rock Climbing Technique, Performance and Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

Handholds and footholds

I mentioned about the handholds and footholds on the indoor climbing wall. To climb smoothly, it is better to check out the function of each hold.

There are a huge variety of shapes for the climbing holds, the shapes actually mimic rock features but some are just for fun. There is something to be considered, when a climbing hold is turned upside down, it can be a different type of hold.

Jugs

This is a climber friendly hold for it is large and easy to grab hold on it. Beginner’s route often used these types of holds so the climber can be comfortable during the climb as it requires minimal energy.

It can also be used as a foot smear as it is big enough to step on it.

 Mini-jugs and incuts

It is smaller than jugs but are still functioned as a solid handhold. You can fit your second knuckles in to the gap behind so you won’t slips.

Slopes

A necessary hold in the advance climbing route.  They don’t have any lip or edge but rounded in surface. It is used to let the climber to get a direct grip. The hold might be rough or smooth. The tips to use this hold is to get as much surface area of the hand, you need to feel the friction so you won’t fall down.

Pockets

Round holes can be found in pockets.  You can hook on the using one, two or three fingers but for some people with smaller hands, you can use all the fingers. There is a small hole and a big hole in the pockets, the small hole should contain your index finger while the others in the big hole for a tighten grip.

Pinches

There is a hole in the pinches while it is shaped into something similar like a sloper. This kind of holds requires the greatest amount of strength as the climber needs to create a strong squeezing force. Depending on the size and shape, you can use one to four fingers to hold on it. Your thumb needs to be active as it provide additional force.

Crimps and Chips

These holds are small and often used as footholds. It is seldom to find them in beginner routs as you need to have the strength and skill to use it. Crimps need closed grip to grab hold on it, your knuckles must flexed in an opposite direction in order to form a natural bending. Sometimes, you need to wrap your entire hand on it to generate extra force.

Edges

The edges have a flat top surface and are similar to crimps but larger. It is wide enough to use four fingers but there don't have any gap of lip for you to get hold on it. You can use the edge like a crimp or a mini-jug, depending on their shapes. It will let the climber felt less secure but it is preferred when it is below the hold.

MLA Referencing

"Names of Indoor Rock Climbing Holds and How to Use Different Types." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

Introduce to the equipment

On top of everything, safety first.

The equipment gear we are wearing not just helped us with the climbing but helps us with our safety too, it reduce the risk of getting hurt when we fall accidentally. In order to climb safety, we need to know which equipment are we using and the proper way to wear it.

This is how we looks like when we wear the full equipment.

The first thing, a pair of rock climbing shoes.

The shoes will provide enough friction to let you grip on footholds.
The structure of it can also helps you in protecting your feet than other shoes do.
To get the right pair of shoe, you must make sure it fits tightly to your feet.

Second, a climbing helmet. (only for outdoor rock climbing)

In order to protect you from the fall and any tumbling rocks, a helmet specially designed for climbing is required.
The important thing is your helmet fits your head, not too loose and not too tight, so you feel comfortable during the climbing.

Third, climbing harness.

Every time you need a rope for climbing, the climbing harness will come next right after it.
You need to understand two parts of the harness, waist belts and leg loops.
The waist belts positioned on your hips and it must fit snugly while the the leg loops go around each leg, one loop per leg, the loops can be adjustable depending on the size of your thighs.
The harness holds you and the rope together so it is important to buckle it up in the right way.

Fourth, carabiners, an important part of the equipment.

Carabiners attached you to the rope together, so you may need a few for a climb.
There are three different carabiners,

• Oval: The basic for every climbing event.
• D-shape: It can withstand more outward force so it is stronger.
• Asymmetrical D-shape: This kind carabiner actually push the rope towards the solid side of the carabiners.

The gates came in various designs too,

• Straight: To open it, we just push it but to close it, we need to rotate it.
• Bent: It is easy in clipping but the safety is not guarantee.
• Locking:  For extra protection, there is a lock to tighten it when the gate is close.
• Wire: Stainless-steel wire is used as the gate.

A belay device is especially for the belayer.

It actually secures the climbing process so no accident may happened.
It can used to catch a fall, lower a climber or provide more tension for the climbers. 

Climbing ropes, an important element.

To hold you tightly, you need a rope.
The rope can be categorized into two, dynamic and static.
The dynamic rope has elasticity in it, so when there is a fall, it can absorb the force of the fall.
Th static rope is used for rappelling and during rescues.

There are other extra gears too but the one that I mentioned are the basic, and are used in indoor rock climbing. If you decided to have rock climbing as your main sport, you may need to get a set.



MLA referencing
"Getting Started Rock Climbing." Getting Started Rock Climbing. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

What is rock climbing?

Before you take a step, you need to know which direction you are heading to.

There are two types of rock climbing,
the indoor type and the outdoor type.

Indoor Rock Climbing

The Outdoor Rock Climbing

Indoor rock climbing looks more safety but outdoor rock climbing has a better scenery, which do you prefer?

Indoor

As what is shown in the picture, indoor rock climbing walls are made out of artificial colour stones.

The routes can be changed into different difficulties by adjusting the rocks in different gap holes while the stones are polished well so that is no sharp point that will hurt you.

There are a few advantages of indoor rock climbing,

• Convenient, as you can often visit a climbing gym that located in the city. 
• Safety first! The danger can be predicted.
• Free from any weather that are not suitable for rock climbing.
• Visible handholds and footholds. 
• Different levels available.
• Equipment gear can be rented.
• Proper teaching is included in gym package.

As a beginner, it is better to start off from the indoor rock climbing.

Outdoor

This is the original rock climbing. Safety is not guarantee so it is more suitable for expert that gone through a lot of training. Challenging but if you succeed in reaching the top, the satisfaction feeling can't be explained in words.

There are a few categories for outdoor rock climbing,

Bouldering

This method of climbing is close to the ground so no ropes are required. The climber can jump down immediately from that height without facing any injuries. Only climbing shoes and crash pad for knees are needed, it is suitable for climbers that just new to outdoor rock climbing.

Sport Climbing

Ropes, quickdraws, climbing shoes and chalk bags are the equipment needed in this sport. The climber can climb up fast by following the trail that had been made on that spot. Anchors and protection are provided, just like how an indoor rock climbing looks like. The difference of sport climbing and indoor climbing is the scenery and difficulties, otherwise, it is similar.

Traditional Climbing

This falls in the hardest categories among the three. With lesser anchors and protection, the climber needs to place his or hers own protection such as nuts or camming devices. The protection will be removed after a few steps and is placed further again so the climber can continue his or hers journey to the top.

MLA Referencing

"MSO Rock Climbing 2011 | Malaysian Students Organisation." Malaysian Students Organisation RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

"Malaysia Rock Climbing Destinations - Never Ending Explore Vertically." Never Ending Explore Vertically. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

"Getting Started Rock Climbing." Getting Started Rock Climbing. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

Are you interested in rock climbing?

Does this looks FUN, or scary?













When you are looking up at the high wall,
glancing at the climbers with professional equipment,
wondering how much time they need in order to have the graceful movement,

GOTCHA~
you are interested in rock climbing.

However,
maybe you are not good in sports;
maybe you are not sure how to put on the equipment;
maybe you are not in a good health condition.

The most important thing is, you don't know what to do.
You need a guidance for rock climbing but who can teach you?

Don't worry~

If you were interested but you can't find any proper help,
this blog will help you.
Techniques for preparation and the real sport will be provided in this blog.

Hope you enjoy the post entries.



MLA  Referencing
"Rock Climbing Sport Hd Wallpaper." Wallpapers. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013