Climbing

I don't think I have a favored arm in climbing, but I do recognize that there are subtle differences between the strengths of each side of my body. I use this to factor into my training programs when creating them.
 
Transcript: "So I don't think I do have one arm that I favor in climbing, but I think it's probably normal that most climbers have certain strengths and weaknesses within each side of the body. So, for example, I know that on my left hand, this particular finger-strength grip is better than on my right hand, and on my left side, I know that if I'm doing this particular move, it is stronger or weaker on the left side than it is on the right side, for example. And I think, yeah, each different body position each different grip do have subtle differences on each side. But I wouldn't really say it's something you take notice of when you're doing projects and actually climbing, but it is something which you could take notice of if there's a big difference in the strengths of either side of the body. And you might factor that into your training program when you're doing it."

Yes, I have been too hard on myself in the past because I always want to do things as best as I can. However, I don't think I have ever been too hard on myself since it is important to push yourself in order to reach the best results.
 
Transcript: "Have I ever been too hard on myself? I would say, I am always really hard on myself because I always want to things to be done as best as they can be done. And if something isn't right or something doesn't go right, that doesn't necessarily mean in climbing but in just really in everyday life. Even, I remember being at school, in lessons and even lessons that I didn't like, if I didn't do something well then I was always disappointed with myself. So I would say, yeah, in life and in climbing, I'm always generally pretty hard on myself because I want it to be doing good. Have I been too hard on myself? I don't think I've ever been too hard on myself. I think it's, yeah, I think it's good to be hard on yourself because then you make a good job of it in the end."

During the lockdown in 2021, the most surprisingly nice place I ever climbed was a local Crag five minutes away from my house. After months of not being able to climb, it felt amazing to be outside and enjoy climbing again with friends. Even though it was probably one of the worst Crags in the world, it was the best thing ever in that moment.
 
Transcript: "Where was the most surprisingly nice place you've ever climbed? Well this one is a little bit more situational. It was during the lockdown in the spring of 2021. We haven't climbed in months because climbing was banned in the UK for a period. And when climbing was finally allowed, again we went to the local Crag. Five minutes on my house where I take my dogs walking and we had never enjoyed going climbing, so much after months and months of doing absolutely nothing. Just hanging on a finger boards or climbing in our little indoor boards in our, in our sheds. Finally, we're allowed to go out climbing. It was beautiful. There's a wonderful day. There was people at the Crags, a big group of us and it was just nice to be outside and enjoying climbing again. And the funny thing about that crack is it's probably one of the worst Crags. In the world is pure Choice, the holder literally falling off, but just in that moment, at that time, it was the best thing ever."

Yes, some people do scream when climbing and it can help by blocking out any lingering negative thoughts that may be holding them back from performing to their full potential.
 
Transcript: "Is it true? You scream when you're climbing some people do some people don't I certainly do give a little power scream when I'm really trying hard sometimes a little grunt it's the same thing that you see in tennis players when they go to smash the ball down the court, they give a yell. Now, the way I see it is, sometimes you have a little - lingering thoughts when you're trying really hard. Hard and sometimes, just giving a little power scream, giving a little grunt can help, kind of just block out any negative thoughts. You've got in there, that might be holding you back from performing to your very maximal level."

Scotland's traditional climbing style has helped me to become a better climber by teaching me how to spot less obvious gear placements, deal with fear and anxiety when on climbs, and build up my endurance.
 
Transcript: "How is Scotland to shaped your climbing style? Well, as most climbers know, the place really started climbing, often has a big effect on how they claim the table. Climber, they become for me, I actually started climbing, indoor climbing wall in Edinburgh, that is very long. So in my early years, I had phenomenal endurance from training at that wall. But from many, many years of climbing hard ditional, Being in Scotland. I've definitely developed a good understanding for how to deal with fear manage anxiety when I'm in particularly scary scenarios Scottish climbing. Is mostly traditional climbing protected by small wires little brass. He's an ally offsets and friends and cams as well. And quite often the traditional gear we use. Isn't that obvious? It's not following an obvious feature like a crack so you really have to be pretty good at, figuring it out and hanging a long time on there, fiddling in the gear and making it seem as possible. So I think that yeah Scottish climbing has definitely allowed me to spot less obvious gear, placements deal with fear and anxiety went on climbs and I think just give me four more enduring physical ability to perhaps climbers. Us who don't climb on rock. That is I don't know, anywhere near as endurance orientated."

There are three main ways to strengthen your forearm grip: fingerboarding, using pinch or crimp blocks, and recruitment pulling on an immovable object.
 
Transcript: "How can I strengthen my forearm grip? So seeing climbing, there are several ways you can do this. Probably the most obvious one is the one that most climbers use is a finger board. This is a device climbers, put above their door frame, usually in their homes, they can hang off that they can do, pull-ups offer, they can do a number of different exercise on it. Usually there is lots of different types of holds on the fingerboard edges and Pockets. Sometimes it's up to just one Edge and it's very simple but this is probably the most common tool. Climbers, use a second tool, climbers. Use our pinch or crimp blocks. These are literally blocks of wood or plastic that you can attach, wait, to and do a sort of dead lift off the ground in a variety of different grips. I would say, this is not as specific to actual fingerboarding because you're not in a hanging position. However, it is a little bit more targeted to specifically the Forearm muscles because when you're hanging, your utilizing, your shoulders, your biceps, your lats, whereas literally just lifting something off the floor, it's just a little bit more specific to the forearms. The third and probably least popular tool but possibly the most interesting is simply doing something called a recruitment pool and you can use this on any of what I've just said. I think. A board or a pinch block, cross block and but you need to have it attached, something that's immovable. And there you just engage in the crimp position and kind of pull as hard as you can without any other part of your body. Other than your forearm and I use a device called a tin deck. T.i. n DEQ, that is a load cell attached to the device. And that way I can measure the force generated from my forearm specifically."