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Sports Performance for Climbing

April 19, 2011 Print This ArticleShare

Author: Michael Greeves

Not just anyone can go climb a mountain. If you are serious about trying rock climbing you will need to get into the physical condition necessary to do so safely and successfully. Sports performance for climbing entails strength training, endurance training, and nutrition. It also requires a certain amount of mental preparation.

Grip is vitally important when rock climbing. If your grip is too tight you will wear out quickly and not make it up the mountain. If your grip is too loose you will have difficulty pulling yourself up the rocky face. To improve grip you should improve sports performance for climbing by doing forearm exercises. Deadlifts are a great exercise for increasing grip strength. These exercises will increase strength and endurance in your forearms, as well as strengthen individual fingers.

Static hangs on a bar is one way to improve your grip. You simply hang on the bar until your muscles fail, which means you literally cannot hang on any more. After your muscles fail, shake out and take a five minute break. Then repeat the process three more times. This will greatly improve forearm strength, as well as endurance. This exercise should be done every day.

A dumbbell is another great way to improve forearm strength and grip. Three sets of eight to ten repetitions should be sufficient. You should be able to lift the weight above your head eight to ten times. If you can do ten reps easily you need to add weight. Arm curls are also a great way to strengthen forearms.

Believe it or not, a stress ball is your best friend when improving sports performance for climbing. The stress ball will work the muscles of your hands and individual fingers, improving your grip. You can use a stress ball throughout the day every day for the best results. This will greatly improve hand and finger strength.

You should also focus on improving your balance for sports performance for climbing. Your center of gravity is your mass, not your feet. You need to be able to feel that center of gravity and keep it on an even keel while climbing. Climbing a wall using only your feet will greatly improve your balance for a trip up the mountain.

Training the mind is as important as training the body in peak fitness for climbing. First, you have to set goals for improving sport performance for climbing. Next, you have to follow through on these goals and keep a journal of your progress. This will also keep you motivated and looking toward that next rock climbing experience. Visualization and meditation can also help you keep your cool and envision the next stretch of a long climb. Practicing these tools when not rock climbing will help you be more successful on the mountain.


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