What if "just climb more" isn't working?

Many people offer cliche advice in climbing such as "just climb more". But in order to achieve goals we must approach growth with a scientific and measurable process. How much more should I climb to get to V7? What are my weaknesses? These are questions that "just climb more" does not answer. Here are some of my tips to truly progress:

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1. Get a coach

I know this feels like a lofty call early on and maybe you don't have the money for it. But it is by far my #1 recommendation. Personally I am extremely cheap and will often do a short assessment for free. I almost can't turn off my desire to help people get up a climb. If you ever want advice feel free to holler at me either in person at the gym or through IG or YouTube or whatever. I get almost as much satisfaction from helping others send as I do myself.

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Since teaching the 101 class for 2+ years now I've gotten really good at quick assessments. Obviously I get more accurate with more time but if you're just bamboozled in the moment I'd love to help try and get you to that next move.

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I've trained over 200 people from VB-V6 and I love it. I never turn down an opportunity to help and I've almost never found myself unable to help.

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I get consistent and regular results from every single person that has come to me. I may not unlock every secret they want to know about climbing but I've helped everyone get to that next level either mentally or physically. You might get there on your own but it's so much easier and quicker with a guide.

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2. Off the wall training

My climbing has always improved drastically once I bring in off the wall training. Early on it wasn't even anything serious, like 2x a week 5 minute abs, low intensity upper body work and medium intensity squats/deadlifts. Even with minor incorporation I saw great results.

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Anytime I find myself plateauing I take another look at my off the wall work to find what I'm lacking. If my slab game feels weak I work on pistol squats, ankle strength/mobility, balance, and body tension. Overhang I'll look at my max weighted pull up and core, if I can't hold a 1 minute plank I'm gonna really struggle on any roof style route that's longer than 1 minute to send. Hip mobility is vital with drop knees being so important on overhang.

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I also can't say it enough but yoga, yoga, yoga. I constantly tell people that climbing is just vertical yoga. There's honestly nothing else that hits all the moves you need to do in climbing as well as yoga. Currently I strength train twice a week hitting full body will 10x10 pull ups with variations, 4x10 push ups with variation, abs in 7-10 variations and squats/deadlifts. It's almost a night and day difference with how I feel on the wall once I brought in off the wall training.

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3. Find your weaknesses

You might have destroyed every V4 in the gym last month but with the new set you're falling off V3s now. The logic always falls back to "well the setting is just harder". Not necessarily. maybe last month they set your style and this month they found your weaknesses. The overall grading doesn't change *that* much. But it's an amazing opportunity to get more in touch with your strengths and weaknesses.

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What moves are you having to do this month that you got to avoid last time? Find those moves, figure out which muscle groups you've been avoiding. Attack those muscles. I don't wanna speak too highly of it but it's kinda the perfect way to never plateau. It might feel like you're stuck on that V grade but if you're consistently finding and building your weaknesses you'll never have that off month where the setting changes and you're down a grade.

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I like to think of myself as a V4 master, there are some that take more projecting than others but for the most part I've taken all of my weakness up to the V4 level and it helps me get on every V5+ in the gym and feel signifcantly closer to sending regardless of wall or style.

Just climb more doesn't always work, but being intentional and consistent, will never let you down.

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