Rope Climbing

Rope climbing is a great activity. Not only is it fun but an excellent way to build strength. It works the same muscles at pullups or chinnups but with an added emphasis on the grip depending on the ropes thickness.

Because one arm is higher than the other as you pull yourself hand over hand rope climbing can be more difficult than traditional pullups. For this reason, it can be a great help toward eventually working to a one-arm chinnup.

For beginners the feet are wrapped around the rope to assist in the climb. Moving beyond this you can keep the legs hanging freely, or even in an L-sit position to increase the difficulty.

Once one rope is easy you can climb with one in each hand. Once climbing upwards is easy, try climbing a rope upside down. And if that’s easy go for two ropes upside down as I demonstrate here.

Other methods of progression involve climbing faster and of course just more times up and down.

Make sure to stay within your limits and have a safe place to land should you have to come off the rope. You don’t want to drop from the top of a 30′ rope.