Rock Climbing Moves Glossary

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Information Articles As mentioned before, Rock Climbing is a challenging and physically-demanding sport. Climbers need to undergo physical training to prepare the body. Moreover, they should be knowledgeable enough about the different Climbing moves or maneuvers. In this section, know the various Rock Climbing Moves. Bump To use an intermediate handhold to shift to a higher hold without changing the body position.

Campus

To climb using only the arms. A method of training grip, contact, and upper body strength.

Crimp

A grip in which the first knuckle is extended, allowing the fingertips to rest on a small ledge while the second knuckle is flexed.

Gaston

Grip a handhold that is above and to the side of the body with the hand in a thumbs down position. This is a potentially dangerous body position because of the stress placed on the rotator cuff of the shoulder.

Lock Off

Grip a single handhold with enough strength to allow the other hand to shift to a new handhold.

Latch

Successfully grip a hold, a skill that is dependent on contact strength, accuracy, and timing.

Slap

To touch a handhold but fail to latch it.

Match

Bring both hands to the same handhold.

Side Pull

A hold that is oriented to the side of the body and cannot be pulled in a downward direction.

Cross-Over

Bring one arm across the other as you reach for a new hold.

Undercling

A hold which is oriented in a downward direction. Opposition can be created by pulling upward and maintaining body tension through the feet. Backstep Placing a foot behind the body with the foot on its outside edge, allowing the hip to roll inward, closer to the wall.

Drop Knee

Similar to the backstep, but the knee is rotated inside and downward allowing the foot to push sideways or toe hook on a hold that is too high to backstep.

Flag

An extended leg that counterbalances the body and prevents the center of mass from barn dooring.

Hand-Foot Match

To place a foot on the same hold as a hand.

Heel Hook

Rest the heel on a hold, thereby taking some weight off of the arms, usually employed on steep or overhanging terrain.

Knee Bar

A resting position achieved by caming the top of the knee and a foot between two holds.

Frog Step

A frontal body position in which both legs are extended simultaneously to reach higher handholds.

Knee-Bar

A rest position that can be useful when climbing steep or overhanging terrain, achieved by camming the upper thigh and foot against two holds.

Rock On

To shift body weight from one foot to the other.

High Step

Lift up a leg to reach a high foot hold.

Step-Through

To step sideways in front of the leg that you are standing, usually in a traverse.

Swap Feet

To exchange feet on the same hold.

Smear Placing the foot directly on the rock where there are no obvious holds and gaining purchase solely from the friction between the shoe and rock (no pun intended).
Barn Door The tendency of the body to swing outward away from the wall on steep terrain when the center of gravity is not centered between points of contact.

Dyno

A dynamic movement to reach a distant hold where momentum is required to propel the body.

Hip Roll

Rotating the hips from a frontal position to face sideways, bringing the hip closer to the wall. Used in conjunction with a backstep, the Hip Roll can be used to maintain body tension on overhanging routes by putting the leg in a more biomechanically effective position to push off of the foothold.

Lay Back

To support the body by creating opposition between pulling arms and pushing feet.

Mantle

A hand-foot match in which the body rocks on to a ledge similar to the motion you would use to get out of a swimming pool.

Turnout

To extend the hips and draw the body closer to the rock in a frontal position.

Twist Lock

A transitional movement in which the body is twisted towards the hold being locked off, allowing the locking off arm to straighten and bringing the reaching shoulder higher and closer to the wall extending its reach.

Stem

To support the body using opposition created by pressing the hands and/or feet outward in opposite directions. Arete
A protruding corner of rock.

Big Wall

A multi-pitch climb that typically takes more than a day to complete.

Chimney

A crack wide enough to fit your entire body in.

Crux

The hardest move on a route.

Dihedral

An inside corner formed by two intersecting rock faces.

Features

The unique features of the rock that allow climbing – (i.e. holds, cracks etc.) At indoor gyms, people refer to features as the permanent textures or holds in the wall itself as opposed to holds which are bolted on and can be moved around the create routes and boulder problems.

Flash

On-sight with beta.

Jugs

Big, deep holds.

Mono

A small pocket that will fit only one finger.

Nubbins

Small holds that may make decent footholds, but are often too small to use as handholds.

Off-Width

An awkward sized crack that is too big for decent hand and foot jams, but too small for your entire body.

On-Sight

Lead climb from top to bottom without falling and without previous knowledge of the route.

Red-Point

Lead climb from bottom to top without falling after rehearsing the moves.

Sloper

A hold without a definite ledge, typically requiring an open grip and subtle shifts in hand and/or body position to achieve maximum friction. These are the different Rock Climbing Moves. Make sure to know these maneuvers and learn how they are properly done.

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