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Some of these guys can do pullups all day, but they only train within a strict range of motion and they aren't necessarily any good at doing anything outside of

Some of these guys can do pullups all day, but they only train within a strict range of motion and they aren't necessarily any good at doing anything outside of that range. When I started climbing I could do 3 pullups, and now I can do 18 in a set. I don't train pull-ups, just climbing.

tuatoru 4y ago
For good climbing, I'd have thought you need to be able to do muscle-ups (pullups that end with you balanced over the bar, pushing down to support yourself).
- pcthrowaway 4y ago
  That's probably a level beyond where the majority of people who frequent the climbing gym get to. Even pro climbers might not be able to do any muscle ups. Here's Alex Honnold talking about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDUeh8nyLT0&t=490s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDUeh8nyLT0&t=490s He demonstrates he can only do 5 pullups (though it's possible he was being modest).
  - tuatoru 4y ago
    Thanks - my preconceptions about climbing are corrected! (A little.)
- Fricken 4y ago
  For some styles of climbing powerful muscle-up type dynamic movements are an effective way of solving a problem, especially in competetive indoor bouldering. Climbing is adaptive, and usually there is more than one way to solve a problem, and one is encouraged to use their body any way they can to get through a section. Climbers learn to be resourceful with the assets they have. Many elite climbers have distinctive trademark styles and are instantly tecognizeable just by how they move. However, points are not awarded for style. Jan Hoyer is an outlier who posesses both a freakish abundance of power and span. He trained the muscle up to outrageous extremes. Jan is the only climber to ever throw a 1-9 on the campus board. He performs many outrageous stupid climber tricks throughout this 8 minute video; https://youtu.be/Ho_rzpQGrq8 https://youtu.be/Ho_rzpQGrq8
- SamoyedFurFluff 4y ago
  Climbing is less about upper body muscle and more about body positioning and squats, actually. Your legs have more muscles than your arms, and being super buff limits necessary flexibility to perform maneuvers like swinging your foot up on a perch and pulling up with your leg, often more effective than the same maneuver with an arm.
  - steve_gh 4y ago
    Climbing is also about core strength. I started bouldering much more regularly about a year ago, and was amazed by how much my trail running improved without any special effort.
  - bradlys 4y ago
    At a beginner level, maybe. As you get past beginner levels, you need strength… especially upper body strength. Rock climbing is especially upper body strength intensive. It’s why the guys have ripped upper bodies and tiny legs.

tuatoru 4y ago

For good climbing, I'd have thought you need to be able to do muscle-ups (pullups that end with you balanced over the bar, pushing down to support yourself).

pcthrowaway 4y ago
That's probably a level beyond where the majority of people who frequent the climbing gym get to. Even pro climbers might not be able to do any muscle ups. Here's Alex Honnold talking about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDUeh8nyLT0&t=490s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDUeh8nyLT0&t=490s He demonstrates he can only do 5 pullups (though it's possible he was being modest).
- tuatoru 4y ago
  Thanks - my preconceptions about climbing are corrected! (A little.)
Fricken 4y ago
For some styles of climbing powerful muscle-up type dynamic movements are an effective way of solving a problem, especially in competetive indoor bouldering. Climbing is adaptive, and usually there is more than one way to solve a problem, and one is encouraged to use their body any way they can to get through a section. Climbers learn to be resourceful with the assets they have. Many elite climbers have distinctive trademark styles and are instantly tecognizeable just by how they move. However, points are not awarded for style. Jan Hoyer is an outlier who posesses both a freakish abundance of power and span. He trained the muscle up to outrageous extremes. Jan is the only climber to ever throw a 1-9 on the campus board. He performs many outrageous stupid climber tricks throughout this 8 minute video; https://youtu.be/Ho_rzpQGrq8 https://youtu.be/Ho_rzpQGrq8
SamoyedFurFluff 4y ago
Climbing is less about upper body muscle and more about body positioning and squats, actually. Your legs have more muscles than your arms, and being super buff limits necessary flexibility to perform maneuvers like swinging your foot up on a perch and pulling up with your leg, often more effective than the same maneuver with an arm.
- steve_gh 4y ago
  Climbing is also about core strength. I started bouldering much more regularly about a year ago, and was amazed by how much my trail running improved without any special effort.
- bradlys 4y ago
  At a beginner level, maybe. As you get past beginner levels, you need strength… especially upper body strength. Rock climbing is especially upper body strength intensive. It’s why the guys have ripped upper bodies and tiny legs.