Climbing

How do you practice breath work when you are on a climb?

Mastering Breath Control for Climbing: Tips from an Expert

So how do you practice breathing while you're climbing? I like to go ahead and rehearse that while I am training indoors, if I have the ability to be training indoors. So when I am on boulder problems, I'll be focusing on my breathing in through the nose out through the mouth. When I'm on roots, I'll be focusing on my breathing. And this is a skill that takes time to go ahead and master because when you're climbing you're also trying to do a bunch of other things as far as how does my body need to move, where do my feet need to go, when should I be reaching, and all that kind of good stuff. So breathing is one aspect of the whole game and I will go ahead and practice that over and over and over on every climb and every boulder problem that I get on and just make sure that I am breathing so then I can actually accomplish the tasks that I would like to with the amount of oxygenated blood in my system. Have a good day.

To practice breathing while climbing, I focus on breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth while on Boulder problems and Roots. This skill takes time to master as I'm also focusing on other aspects of the climb, but with consistent practice it will help me get better at climbing with the right amount of oxygenated blood in my system.

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To practice breath work while climbing, I recommend incorporating it into your indoor training sessions if possible. When tackling boulder problems, focus on your breathing, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. The same applies when climbing routes. Mastering this skill takes time because climbing involves coordinating various movements and decisions. Breathing is just one aspect of the game, so it's important to practice it repeatedly on every climb and boulder problem. By prioritizing proper breathing, you ensure that your body receives sufficient oxygenated blood to support your climbing efforts. Have a great day!

What qualities do you look for in a climbing partner when it comes to decision-making and managing risk?

Choosing a climbing partner: Trust, communication, and commitment

What qualities you look for in a partner when it comes to decision-making and managing risk? Realistically we make all those decisions before we go out and we've already answered all those questions back home We've already answered them in the car. We've answered them on the phone We've answered them in emails and when we both see the situation that we were talking about Present itself we go ahead and revert back to the decision. We already made and then we do it So we either press press on if that's the decision or we call it and say hey this route will be here tomorrow So I look for someone that we can have those decisions where we don't have to backtrack where we can just trust each other and rely on the fact that What we say is what we mean and we're going to go ahead and do what we say.

I look for a partner that is reliable, trustworthy, and able to stick to decisions that have been made. They should also be able to manage risks in such a way that they can make informed decisions based on the situation.

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When it comes to decision-making and managing risk, I look for a climbing partner who has already discussed and answered these questions beforehand. We have thorough conversations at home, in the car, on the phone, and through emails. By the time we encounter a specific situation while climbing, we can refer back to the decisions we have already made. We either continue if that was our decision or call it off, knowing that the route will still be there tomorrow. Trust and reliability are crucial qualities I seek in a partner. We should be able to make decisions without second-guessing or backtracking, knowing that what we say is what we mean and we will follow through with our agreed-upon plans.

What contrarian opinion you've held has benefitted you the most in your life?

Defying Doubt: How One Contrarian Opinion Changed Everything

What contrarian opinion I've held that has benefited me the most in my life? I can do that. Whatever it is, I can figure that out. There's a way I can figure that out, and that's been contrary to what most people have thought or said. And then I take the time and figure it out, and I get it done. I can look at two things that I recall in my life that I have been unable to fulfill, and that was due to moving. So I didn't have a chance to finish it because I was out of town, and I never was able to be back. But yeah, for most things, I can do it. So when you say no, I say I can if I want to.

My most beneficial contrarian opinion has been that I can do anything if I want to and take the time to figure it out.

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The contrarian opinion that has benefited me the most in my life is the belief that I can figure things out. Despite what others may think or say, I hold the view that I have the ability to find solutions and get things done. This mindset has allowed me to tackle challenges and overcome obstacles that others might shy away from. While there have been a couple of instances where external circumstances prevented me from completing certain tasks, for the majority of things, I firmly believe that if I want to do it, I can find a way. So when faced with a no, my response is always I can, if I want to.

What are some common mistakes that climbers make in terms of technique that can hinder their coordination?

Common Climbing Mistakes Hinder Coordination: Are You Guilty?

Some common mistakes that climbers make in terms of technique that can hinder their coordination. Realistically, the best technique is to be pushing your way up with your feet. Your hands and your arms are doing the assist. So if you're relying totally on your arms and hands the whole time, that's going to prevent you from being coordinated with your lower half of your body and even from your core on down. So common mistakes are just doing jumping moves or just doing static moves or just doing campus moves or just doing one technique over and over and over. You will get good at that one technique. But in order to be a well-rounded climber that is usually resistant to injury or mostly resistant to injury, you want to have a variety of techniques built in. So climbing in only one style or fashion will hinder your improvement.

Common mistakes climbers make that can hinder their coordination include relying too much on their arms and hands, doing the same moves over and over again, and not having a variety of techniques.

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Some common mistakes climbers make in terms of technique that hinder their coordination include relying too much on their arms and hands instead of using their feet to push up. It's important to remember that your hands and arms should assist while your lower body and core play a significant role in maintaining coordination. Other mistakes include solely focusing on jumping moves, static moves, campus moves, or repeatedly using one technique. While you may become proficient in that specific technique, becoming a well-rounded climber who is less prone to injury requires developing a variety of techniques. Restricting oneself to climbing in only one style or fashion can hinder overall improvement.

How do you maintain training consistency when you would rather be outside climbing?

Maintaining Training Consistency: The Key to Achieving Climbing Goals

How do I maintain training consistency when I'd rather be outside climbing? Well, I have a full time job. I have a family and I get to climb on the weekends. Usually one day, maybe not at all, maybe every other weekend. So I'm training most of the time. So I have to just be consciously thinking about what goals do I want to achieve and how do I get there? So each of my training sessions is very focused and well intended. If I'm just in the gym for the sake of being in the gym, I don't need to be in the gym. It's a waste of my time. I'm not putting my effort towards it. I don't have a goal. I don't have an end or a light at the end of the tunnel. So I maintain that consistency by always being goal oriented and having a particular route or a challenge that I want to overcome. And then when I complete that, then maybe I take a break and pick another one and do it again.

I maintain training consistency by having a goal in mind and being focused on what I need to do to achieve that. When I complete it, I take a break and pick another goal and repeat the cycle.

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Maintaining training consistency when I'd rather be outside climbing can be challenging. However, since I have a full-time job and family responsibilities, I prioritize climbing on weekends, usually one day or every other weekend. This means that I spend a majority of my time training. To stay consistent, I consciously think about my goals and how to achieve them. Each training session is focused and purposeful. If I find myself in the gym without a specific goal or purpose, it's a waste of time and effort. Having a clear objective or challenge in mind helps me stay motivated and committed. Once I accomplish one goal, I may take a break before setting another one to keep the process engaging and rewarding.

Fear of Failure? Embrace it for Growth!

How do you deal with the fear of failure? Honestly, I think when I first started climbing I'd kind of be frustrated and upset, but after I gained some more perspective and learned how to reflect better, yes, do I want to fail? No, but failing provides me the opportunity to reflect and then modify my behavior, modify movements on climbs, come up with a different solution, and just ultimately it gives me a chance to go ahead and ask myself what was causing the failure and then how can I go ahead and mitigate that or what can I do to improve upon it. So I actually enjoy the process of failure because it gives me so many more answers to questions I didn't know I needed to ask. So that is how I deal with the fear of failure.

I try to reframe failure as an opportunity to reflect, modify my behavior, and come up with different solutions. This process gives me the chance to ask myself questions that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

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Dealing with the fear of failure is something I've learned to approach differently over time. Initially, I would feel frustrated and upset when faced with failure. However, as I gained perspective and improved my ability to reflect, my mindset shifted.

While I don't actively seek failure, I now see it as an opportunity for growth. Failing allows me to reflect on my actions, movements, or decisions and consider alternative approaches. It prompts me to ask myself what caused the failure and how I can mitigate it or improve upon it. I find value in the process of failure because it provides answers to questions I didn't even know I needed to ask.

Ultimately, I have come to appreciate failure as a chance for learning and self-improvement. It has helped me overcome the fear associated with it and embrace the valuable lessons it offers.

Rob Pizem answers your Climbing questions. See all the advice Rob Pizem has and get answers to your own Climbing questions.

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Rob was born in Ohio and didn't even learn about rock climbing until after graduating high school. Having his first climbing experiences at the New River Gorge, West Virginia gave him the climbing bug and he has been at for over 30 years. He continues to travel the world for climbing and adventuring, always seeking the ever elusive perfect route. His passion is establishing new climbs big and small. His favorite places to climb are in the Italian Dolomites and in Zion National Park. He has been teaching high school science and engineering for over 20 years. Rob now resides in Grand Junction, Colorado where he is a proud husband and a father of two boys.