Since you’ve made your way to TrainingBeta, it’s a pretty safe bet you want to improve your climbing. You probably want to climb higher and higher grades and are looking for information about how training can help you make that happen.

While you’ve definitely come to the right place for training advice, it’s important to remember that improving at climbing isn’t just about physical training. Climbing is a skill sport and we need to devote time an energy to practicing those skills if we want to improve. Hangboards will make your fingers stronger, but they won’t teach you to stand on your feet.

To highlight just how important actually going climbing is for climbing improvement, here’s an article from Climbing Magazine by professional climber Jonathan Siegrist.

“Climbers often ask me, “What’s the fastest way to reach double-digit boulders or 5.14? What’s the secret!?” They expect that some savage hangboarding, heavy lifting, or campus routine is the singular key. But my suggestions tend to be simple: Go climbing often, try hard, and take the long view.” – Jonathan Siegrist

Jonathan Siegrist on Improving Your Climbing

While we all want to get stronger, more powerful, and fitter, Jonathan is quick to remind us of two things. First, there are no shortcuts. Improving your climbing takes time, patience, and hard work.  Second, while accessing the upper grades requires lots of strength, power, and endurance, it also requires a high level of technical proficiency.

To help you keep training in perspective, Jonathan provides a series of tips on how to ensure you will continue to improve through climbing regularly. This article isn’t going to give you the secret workout that will get you 5.15 fingers, but that’s precisely the point. There is no secret workout. It takes just consistent hard work and practice.

Click through below to read Jonathan’s tips. He does a great job of keeping everything in perspective.

Full Article: Climbing Magazine – Jonathan Siegrist on Improving Your Climbing

(Cover photo: Jonathan Siegrist sending Lungfish 5.14b; courtesy of Matt Pincus | @mpincus87)

Other Articles You Might Like:

• Jonathan Siegrist – How Bouldering Has Helped his Sport Climbing
• Jonathan Siegrist Interview – Three 5.15s in Three Weeks
• TBP 061 :: Jonathan Siegrist’s Minimal Training Regime and Meticulous Skin Care
• Training vs Practice with Steve Bechtel