So you are planning upon practicing bouldering - a good choice! But there is a ton of groundwork that has to be done as bouldering is not just about climbing and descending, it is a much more complicated part of rock climbing. The first part of the groundwork is toning your body and muscles. In order to achieve such a level of physical fitness, you will need to do lots of exercise, such as frequent swimming, running, swift walking and push us and pull ups. In addition, gym work outs and Yoga will add to the benefit, as they will enhance respiration, flexibility and muscle toning. Once you have completed this groundwork, to your satisfaction you may proceed to the actual climbing.
1: Warm Up and Get Ready
The first bouldering technique says, don't touch the rock at all! Ok, just kidding. The first step before you undertake any bouldering activity is to warm up your body and have an equipment check. Warming up your body and working up a mild sweat is absolutely essential due to the fact that a warmed up body has a better response and reflex, not to mention a greater ability to exert power and strength. It would also prevent your muscles from cramping up and in addition to that oxygen and blood will reach to every possible corner of your body. Once you are done proceed to the rock face and make some basic holds, with both your hands and feet. Once you feel that you are ready, have a look at the rope, waist harness, carabiner and descender. Now you are ready to surmount the rock.
2: Read the Route and Feel the Rock
The next important technique is to read the route or rather plan the route on the rock face that you wish to take. You will need to visualize and analyze the route that you want to take up. Hence, just plan out your foot holds and hand holds, if possible along fissure or cracks in the rock face. It is also advisable to visualize each hold and the route. It must be taken into consideration that you might need to alter the plan, during the actual climb. Hence, it is wise to spot and memorize alternative holds. A common mistake that many people make is to ignore the descend. It is also important that you visualize the descend, since not all ascend holds can be used for a safe descend.
3: Holds and Grip
Many of us enthusiastically take a tight grip over the hold that we have found. However, it is better to have a relaxed and firm grip. A relaxed and firm grip is especially essential for foot holds. You may achieve such a grip by equally distributing your weigh and leaning towards the rock face but resist the urge of hugging it. Many amateurs often wonder that how can this possibly be advantageous. Well, when you lean in towards the rock, the action of gravity that acts on your body, decreases and believe it or not, it decreases our weight and enhances your balance. Another tip that is often offered, is that leaning too much is not very healthy but leaning in a parallel manner, further betters the balance. Thus, making a relaxed and firm grip is better than making a tight grip.
4: Static Climbing
Among the many bouldering tips the one that is very much ignored is static climbing. It basically means that bouldering is a method of climbing where shifting of weight eventually and evenly is necessary. Practically speaking, all you need to do is make two holds with a similar axis on the rock such as left hand hold and right leg hold or vice versa. You may also balance out only on your two feet, but I would advise you against balancing on only one hand or foot or only on two hands.
You may also use the same techniques for indoor bouldering. In fact, if you going for indoor bouldering, it would prove to be much easier as the holds are man-made and easy to climb. As a word of caution let me advise you to use a helmet and safety rope while you climb. It is often recommended to have a crash mat and a navigator as it minimizes the intensity of fall.
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