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What is rock climbing?
One of the more exciting aspects of Total Warrior Ninja outdoor training, is climbing. But climbing isn’t what it used to be, at least for me it isn’t. When I was young and training in the arts I climbed everything (or so I thought). I was swinging from branches like a monkey high above the telephone lines, I was pulling hard up ropes in the wrestling gym, I was scaling rooftops, hoping fences and scrambling over rocks. I was a climber. It was part of the training and I loved it.
Then one day I was climbing rock out at a malibu creek (where they used to film the Television series MASH and most recently Race to Witch Mountain.) I was climbing pretty high barefoot and with no gear and I could see a group of people who seemed to be staring at me. When I finally did come down, I went over to talk with the colorful group. I did so out of curiosity. They had a whole bunch of gear and seemed to be doing something with the rock. When I was within talking distance the leader or the group burst out "you’re crazy man!" and he was talking to me.
"What, who me, why do you say that?" I asked.
"You‘re climbing rock unprotected - you remind me of myself when I was young" He was shaking his head.
"Unprotected?" I wondered.
I was about to become enlightened.
On that day I learned about a whole new kind of climbing - it is called, "Rock Climbing" or Technical or Sport rock climbing. I was already a rock climber, but I didn‘t use any gear and would have classified myself as a solo climber. Better yet, a boulderer who went too high.
That day my new masters of rock showed me a few things, but I did not get much experience from the demonstration as it really seemed to be focused around safety and being the Jackie Chan type of rock warrior (if you remember the crazy stunts he performed in his old movies) - I enjoyed climbing about without any strings attached. However, I was open minded and I listened to their view on climbing or SAFE climbing. It was on that day that I started to think about using gear and to protect myself with a rope. In the past, we had always used brown hemp rope and still use them at our martial arts training camps.
So it begins
The next day I went down to the climbing store and bought about $1,000. worth of climbing gear. I purchased a rope, harness, webbing, carabiners, a chalk bag, some books and a few more things. I decided to learn from a book by John Long - How to rock climb. After a short reading lesson, I gathered a couple friends together and dragged my stuff to the place I had first met the real rock climbers.
I figured I would start there, since it was the only place I had seen people climb and it looked like a great place to start. This was really my first day of real rock climbing and I had learned everything from a book. So here we are.
NOTE:
Basically, the technical / sport climbing concept is to follow predesigned route up the rock. The route is layered with bolts that are attached to the rock. The bolts or anchors are where you clip in as you progress up the rock. If you fall, the belayer (the person on the other end of the rope) will create a brake to stop your fall. If you didn‘t have any anchors the belayer would have no way of holding you. If there are not bolts or anchors you would use other gear that is placed into cracks in the rock and create your own anchors. When you go up a route with pre-placed anchors is called a "Sport Climbing" and when you place your own gear, it is called "Traditional Climbing."
I put on the harness and made a swami belt for the belayer as described in the book (though now a harness is always applied). We did not have a belay device, so we also followed the books directions on making one with about 4 carabiners (things were getting messy). Once we were all ready to go, I put the carabiners (attached to runners) or quickdraws, onto my harness and jumped up onto the rock and climbed. It was a good overhang through a cave and directly below were rocks that really stuck out. I didn’t have much trouble getting to the area we marked as the top and I was lowered down with a new love for climbing and a smile on my face.
Limitations
At while later a few guys with some gear and backpacks paid us a visit. They asked me if I knew what the route was rated. This didn’t make any sense to me at the time as I didn’t know anything about rating a climb. They were some what confused by this and even more surprised when I told them this was my first day. They said they had been climbing tackling this route for seven months. Now normally this would boost your ego - but in all actuality from that day on, my climbing skill actually took a dive. Why? Because I started asking about route ratings (like is this a 5.9 or 5.11 route) and levels of difficulty. When I first went to the rocks I had no limitations, so my mind set was well prepared. Once I learned about the limitations of grades, my climbing level dropped. This is also the problem most martial arts place on their students and the reason they don’ t do as well as they could. "You are a yellow belt and that is a black belt kick." It was an important lesson for me.
As I continue to climb, I try to put more focus on the joy I am having living in the moment, rather than the level I am climbing. Of course it is nice to know you’ re not going to get in over your head, but just because someone is a beginner, it does not mean they can’ t climb a hard route. Challenge yourself and have fun.
Another very important lesson I learned about climbing, was that I wasn’t as good as I thought I was. Sure I could do the splits 100 feet up with no rope and learned to turn myself clockwise full circle but when compared to the modern day rock masters I felt pretty small. I could easily jump into a tree or climb the side of a building, but here I learned about climbers who scaled rock that was seemingly impossible to climb. Tiny foot holds and really small cracks can make climbing a true art form.
Today climbing is just another hobby or part of my training, but I am humbled enough to say that there are really good climbers out there and as much as I would like to be the ninja on the rock, I just can’ t compete. Of course I am a great rock climber and I love to take the opportunity to get on the rock, but we must realize that there is always someone better than you. It is a part of being human, a part of being real, and a part of being honest. The quest for being the best is left for brain dead warriors of the past. The journey should be the joy and adventure of your own life and not some kind of race you have with humanity.
Getting Started
So what is climbing? Well if you have not tried it yet, either get out this weekend or join up with us on one of our tours. We make climbing an integral part of our travel program. So if you want a great introduction along with a great vacation and some martial arts training - consider one of our programs. A normal rock climbing course can easily cost you around $400 for about 3-4 days. Why spend so much when you can get it for free as part of our martial arts camps?
Of course we still teach students to climb trees and ropes. Warrior camps just aren’t the same with out these as part of the obstacle courses. But, if you want to get serious about climbing, then look into real rock climbing.
A great way to get introduced to the gear and basic climbing principles, is to visit an indoor climbing gym. At the gym, there are many levels of climbing and if your are a beginner, it is a great place to start.
Climbing is not as hard to get into as many people think. At the gym you can rent the shoes and harness, while the ropes are already set up. You only need to learn the figure 8 tie in knot and how to belay and your ready to go. Once you get into it, you can purchase a pair of climbing shoes (I suggest approach shoes when just starting out), a harness and a chalk bag. Then you’ re ready to climb with the groups.
Once you get more experience you can buy a rope, a belay device and some gear for setting up your own anchors for outdoor climbs. You don’ t even need any gear to get started in rock climbing. You can also just boulder, which is basically scaling or traversing the rock at levels that are safe to fall from. Of course it is nice to have a pair of climbing shoes - they make a huge difference.
As a Martial Science ninjitsu / ninjutsu practitioner, I feel it is important to incorporate these climbing skills. They require a lot more balance and technique than doing a Ninja spider climb over a wall. It is also a great way for you to get together with your school and peers on the weekends. I live in California and Thailand, so there is plenty of climbing - I also go to Yosemite which is about the most famous rock climbing spot in the world. Yosemite is part of our tour and we conduct some multi-pitch climbs for all levels along the route.
If you haven’ t tried climbing then take some time out this week to research it.
Until next time, climb high!
Click here to watch videos of members climbing and hiking
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