In my experience, climbing tends to involve muscles that very few other things do -- which is why they hurt like hell right now. *g*
It also involves a lot of small tendons, which get stronger much more slowly than the associated muscles do.
So when you're starting out, it's probably best to focus on climbing and acquiring technique (which will take a lot of the weight off your hands and arms). Grip strength will develop on its own. "The best training for climbing is climbing" is the usual advice.
If you want to do cross-training stuff, then something like yoga for flexibility and/or strength training that works the "push" muscles (to prevent muscular imbalances, which can lead to overuse injuries) would be a good bet.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2011-05-21 04:53 pm (UTC)In my experience, climbing tends to involve muscles that very few other things do -- which is why they hurt like hell right now. *g*
It also involves a lot of small tendons, which get stronger much more slowly than the associated muscles do.
So when you're starting out, it's probably best to focus on climbing and acquiring technique (which will take a lot of the weight off your hands and arms). Grip strength will develop on its own. "The best training for climbing is climbing" is the usual advice.
If you want to do cross-training stuff, then something like yoga for flexibility and/or strength training that works the "push" muscles (to prevent muscular imbalances, which can lead to overuse injuries) would be a good bet.