Practical advice for beginners: rock climbing

Footwork

There are four main areas of the feet that we use during climbing:

• Inside edge
• Outside Edge
• Heel
• Toe

The major take home point for beginners is to only use the very edges of your shoe. You can achieve precise and efficient footwork like this. On steep ground, it is better to align your body-feet diagonally to reduce effective weight on your arms. Reach along your body in a diagonal manner. 

One great exercise is to climb with your feet as silent as possible. This will force you to precisely place your foot on the hold. As you gain experience, you will find this easier and easier and your technique and intuition will improve markedly. 

Heels and toes can be used to keep yourself close to the wall via heel and toe hooks. Experiment with different orientations of placements and find what works best for your shoes. 

Body position

Keep your abs engaged, pulling into the wall with your feet and your hips close to the wall. Generate momentum with your hips and keep arms straight as often as possible. Push through your feet instead of pulling directly with your arms where possible.