Climbing technique

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A climbing technique is any of a number of body postures, movements and holds used in climbing.

Contents 1 Examples 1.1 Heel hook 1.2 Campusing 1.3 toe hook 1.4 finger jam, hand jam, fist jam 1.5 chest jam 1.6 arm bar, elbow bar 1.7 no-hands rest 1.8 holding a grip tendu or arqué 1.9 piazzing 1.10 chimneying 1.11 Egyptian or drop knee 1.12 mantling or mantleshelfing 1.13 bridging or stemming 1.14 Egyptian bridging 1.15 laybacking 1.16 smearing 1.17 gaston 1.18 dyno 2 See also 2.1 External links

[edit] Examples

[edit] Heel hook

Using the back of the heel to apply pressure to a hold, for balance or leverage; this technique requires pulling with the heel of your foot by flexing the hamstring. This technique is notable since in most forms of climbing one uses the feet to push.

[edit] Campusing

Climbing using only your arms. This term comes from a campus board.

[edit] toe hook

Hooking your toes behind a hold, for balance

[edit] finger jam, hand jam, fist jam

Jamming a body part in a crack and hanging from it

[edit] chest jam

Jamming the torso into a wide crack, for resting

[edit] arm bar, elbow bar

Jamming an arm into a crack and locking it into place

[edit] no-hands rest

Method for resting without using your hands

[edit] holding a grip tendu or arqué

different ways of holding a grip

[edit] piazzing

method for climbing a vertical ledge

[edit] chimneying

Climbing between opposing rock faces, with the back and hands against one face, and the feet against the other face or alternating between both.

[edit] Egyptian or drop knee

method for reducing tension in arms when holding a side grip

[edit] mantling or mantleshelfing

boosting upwards with only one's arms, ending with arms fully extended downwards. The motion is akin to getting out of a swimming pool without using the ladder.

[edit] bridging or stemming

climbing a corner with the legs spread wide apart, one against each face, with the feet relying on friction or very small holds.

[edit] Egyptian bridging

same as bridging, but with one leg in front and one behind the body.

[edit] laybacking

climbing a vertical edge by side-pulling the edge with both hands and relying on friction or very small holds for the feet.

[edit] smearing

Using just friction, usually with the feet

[edit] gaston

Pulling sideways, akin to opening a sliding door

[edit] dyno

Jumping to the next hold that is out of static reach

[edit] See also

• Category:Climbing techniques

[edit] External links

• Climbing Techniques footwork, jamming, dynos and more.
• climbing.tropic.org.uk has lots of info on climbing techniques