In Lattice Training's latest video, "10 Things That Will Change Your Climbing Forever," former competitive climber and 8c/5.14b athlete Jen Wood shares ten key insights that have fundamentally improved her climbing. We've summarized them here for you:
10 tips from Jen Wood
- Don’t always expect performance: It's important not to demand a new maximum in every session. Not every session needs to be an improvement.
- ARCing & Aerobic Training: Easy, endurance-oriented climbing (ARCing) helps you improve your endurance. This improves your recovery time between go's and in rest positions on longer routes.
- Doing the little things rightThis includes drinking enough, using the right chalk for your skin and wearing the right clothing on the rock.
- Body tension: Efficient climbing is not only a question of a strong core, but also of consciously using the legs for greater efficiency.
- Document progress: Training diaries or apps allow you to track your progress and gain motivation, especially on days when things aren't going well.
- Don’t neglect boring things: Shoulder stability and flexibility are essential and prevent injuries.
- Break down goals into sub-goals: Break big goals down into small, achievable steps to stay motivated and make progress visible.
- Maintain training even during the performance phase: Especially when the outdoor season is calling and you just want to project on the rock, it's helpful to still "train." Short strength sessions help you maintain your performance level.
- Climb with a plan: Each session should have a small "goal" or purpose. For example, instead of randomly trying out boulders in the gym, you could try all your new boulders on a wall. This forces you to try out different movements.
- Climb projects that don’t match your style: Consciously try to climb routes or boulders that don't suit you ("anti-style") in order to learn new techniques and improve all around.
Watch the Lattice Training video here:
You might be interested in:
- Technique tips from 5 climbing professionals
- Finger strength: Training exercises and methods in the ranking
+ + +
Credits: Pictures: Lattice training

