Mental Training Made Simple with Neil Gresham

We always hear that climbing is equal parts mental and physical.  However, when it comes to training the focus is almost exclusively on the physical aspects like how to improve finger strength or how to make the most endurance gains.  This approach of only training the physical attributes and not having any effective mental training is only addressing one side of the coin and will not produce climbers capable of continually improving and becoming well rounded.

“Many climbers shy away from the subject of mental training, partly because the benefits can seem less tangible than those of physical training, and also because the subject can appear excessively complicated. Entire books are devoted to mental training, but the topic can be boiled down to a relatively short list of fundamental problems and solutions.” – Neil Gresham 

To help simplify the process of mental training, here’s an article from Rock and Ice by British climber and coach Neil Gresham in which he lays out ten easy to implement strategies to help you stop only focusing on physical improvement, address the mental side of climbing, and begin ironing out any mental deficiencies in your climbing.

The ten mental training tips that Gresham out lines are:

1. Do a pre-climb mental routine
2. Shift the focus from training
3. Improve preparation tactics
4. Shift the focus from preparation tactics
5. Take regular falls
6. Flip the negative
7. Move the finishing line
8. Believe in the next position
9. Stay in the present tense
10. Don’t wish for it to be different

Take a look at the complete article by clicking through bellow to read more about these ten strategies and remember while mental training gains may not be as tangible as improvements on the campus board they are just as important if you are really looking to continually improve as a climber and come anywhere near reaching your potential.

Click Here: Mental Training Made Simple with Neil Gresham

(photo credit: Bernd Zangerl; courtesy of rockandice.com)

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