Wall climbing is a fun activity and great exercise. It is also one of the most popular activities among those who practice parkour. By reading this article you will learn everything you need to know if you want to learn how to climb a wall too.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Learning the Basics of Climbing
Step 1. Stretch and loosen your muscles
Climbing a wall can put a lot of strain on a lot of muscles that you have never worked on before. Before attempting the climb, do some gentle exercise and some stretching.
Step 2. For exercise, find a wall that is not too high
Look for one that is low enough to allow you to touch the top while standing on the ground, but high enough to force you to stretch out your arms. You need to be able to hold on tightly to the top edge of the wall. A very smooth or slippery surface is not ideal to start with.
Step 3. Hold on to the top edge of the wall
Try to hold on with both hands, engaging the entire palm in the grip.
Even if your feet remain on the ground, you must have the impression that you are dangling while holding onto you with your arms, which must remain well stretched during the grip
Step 4. Put your feet on the wall
One foot should be high (almost waist-high), and the other should be about half a meter lower. Keep your feet in line with your body, don't spread them sideways. The toes and the front of the feet must flex, so that they remain in contact with the wall.
Step 5. Give yourself a push and pull yourself up
It has to be one smooth movement. First push yourself up with your legs, then pull yourself up with your arms.
- Push against the wall with your legs. Your body will initially be parallel to the wall, and you will have the impression that the latter pushes you back. But the arms have a strong grip, so the same momentum that will propel you away from the wall will also push you upwards.
- The moment you start exercising momentum by pushing with your legs, start pulling yourself up with your arms and torso.
Step 6. Get over the wall
As you are pulling yourself up to climb over the wall, push out one leg and lean your torso against the top edge of the wall. Continue the movement until your center of gravity (located at your belly) straddles the wall.
Step 7. In a circular motion, throw one leg over the wall
Climb the wall with the other leg too: the climbing is over. If you are standing on top of a roof, stand up. If, on the other hand, you are climbing an isolated wall, go down on the opposite side with the help of your feet.
Part 2 of 2: Climbing along Two Walls
Step 1. Find two parallel walls a short distance from each other
In some cities it is not difficult to find very narrow alleys separating two buildings. The ideal distance is slightly more than the elbow-to-elbow distance when you extend your arms to the side.
Step 2. Place your hand and foot on each side of your body on the wall
The left hand and left foot will go up on one wall, and the right hand and right foot on the other. Apply the same pressure on both sides so that momentum helps you lift yourself up.
Step 3. Climb with one hand or one foot at a time
Thus, you can increase the pressure exerted on the wall with the opposite hand or foot.
Advice
- Never be in a hurry. Even the best have to train.
- If your chosen wall is too high, try a lower one. If you've made it, move on to higher, or thicker, walls.
- Put on your gloves: without it, it really hurts a lot at first. You will need them to lift yourself up more easily and get a firmer grip on thick or rough walls.
Warnings
- Do not try to climb in public or crowded places.
- Don't let go when you cling to the wall. You could get burns, scrapes, and other types of injuries.
