Core Stability: Progressing the Posterior Chain Part 2

By William Bateman | November 2, 2016

We are please to have local physiotherapist William Bateman as a guest contributor for this training article.

My last video introduced the concept of stability in the posterior chain. We used the bridge exercise as a means of training static stability in the posterior chain. As a refresher, static stability refers to stability around the joints of the body without movement around any other joint. When training core stability, we typically start with static stability and progress to dynamic. We used the push-up (please link) and pull-up (please link) as a means of training dynamic stability of the anterior chain.

This week we’ll progress the bridge exercise by making it into a dynamic stability exercise.

Posted in Conditioning, Recent News, Training

Core Stability: Introducing the Posterior Chain

By William Bateman | October 17, 2016

We are please to have local physiotherapist William Bateman as a guest contributor for this training article.

In my previous posts, I spent a lot of time talking about how to integrate core stabilizers into exercises many climbers are already doing: the dead-hang, the pull-up and the push-up. Many of the muscles we emphasized work to lift your legs to the next hold or maintain tension in your body if your feet come off the wall. We commonly refer to this group of muscles as the anterior chain.

Posted in Conditioning, Recent News, Training

Core Stability and Pull-Ups Part 2

By | September 19, 2016

We are please to have local physiotherapist William Bateman as a guest contributor for this training article.

Last week we discussed how you can start to integrate your core stabilizers with a basic exercise like the deadhang. Check out the video and article below for a quick recap. In integrating your shoulder and anterior trunk muscles within your dead-hang you’re training static core stability.

Posted in Conditioning, Recent News, Training

Integrating Core Stability in your Training Program

By | September 12, 2016

We are please to have local physiotherapist William Bateman as a guest contributor for this training article.

“Training the core” is a concept mired in ambiguity. Our understanding of the core has changed significantly so let’s dispel its complexities and learn how to integrate it into our training programs. I’ll start by putting “core” to the side and discuss for a moment what has to happen to the different joints and muscles in our body as a climber reaches for their next hold.

Posted in Conditioning, Recent News, Training

Training Article: Skinny Little Climber Legs are Funny

By | August 17, 2015

We are super psyched to have another training article by Tyler Thompson. Tyler is an ACE certified personal trainer, climbing bum and movement enthusiast based out of Vancouver, Canada. He recently launched his own website and can be found at thompsonfitness.ca

What’s the deal with climbers and their fear of developing giant legs? Anytime I bring up the idea of specifically training the legs, climbers get all uppity and say things like, “I don’t want big heavy legs” or “I’d rather spend my time getting better at climbing.” My personal favorite has to be using running and/or cycling as an excuse not to develop their lower body any further. In this article, I am hoping to answer a few questions regarding a progressive lower body strengthening program and highlighting a few points on the positive effect this will have on your climbing performance.

Posted in Articles, Conditioning, Recent News, Training

Random Training = Random Results

By | July 1, 2015

The following article is by Tyler Thompson. Tyler Thompson is an ACE certified personal trainer, climbing bum and movement enthusiast based out of Vancouver, Canada. He recently launched his own website and can be found at thompsonfitness.ca

Being a personal trainer a rock climber and an overall movement geek, I get a lot of questions about training for climbing and many other sports. Popular enquiries are often how to increase strength, and how to develop more power. So here is how I would answer.
The key to increasing strength, power or any other physical ability is consistency. Plain and simple. Unfortunately, this seems to be the hardest behavioral habit for people to develop. Everyone wants to get stronger and more powerful, but few are willing to change their habits to make this possible. Listed below are some basic steps you can take towards continual athletic improvement.