Falling is an integral part of climbing. But for many of us it's also a consistent source of fear and limitation. In this article series, Arno Ilgner, author and founder of the Warrior's Way, provides a series of lessons about how we should think about our fear of falling and, as importantly, how we can practice our way past it.
Falling is as integral to climbing as climbing itself, yet it creates fear that you must address correctly—and you must learn proper falling technique in order to fall safely.
Warrior's Way pioneer Arno Ilgner lays out the specifics for why we often fail on a climb, and how to push past the barriers.
One of the easiest ways to improve as a climber is to get comfortable falling. It just takes some incremental practice.
It's virtually impossible to try your hardest when you're worried about taking a whip.
When we practice falling, we’re practicing a physical skill, but we’re also addressing fear and how the mind uses attention, which are mental-training issues.
Your mind is motivated by achievement, causing you to easily slip into practicing falling to get it over with.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
This lesson builds on everything you've learned by outlining components for building your falling skill incrementally.
You may do everything right and still injure yourself. Climbing and falling are like that. But, you can mitigate this possibility by being skeptical of the mind—your mind.
Falling isn’t something you can decide not to do, it’s one consequence of your choice to climb. Embrace it responsibly.
Why “get ‘er done” doesn’t work
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Develop a ritual to ground you in the moment
Get comfortable going airborne so you can let go and climb
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.
Check out Arno Ilgner's author page.