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The present Climbing Terms Glossary is a list of definitions of terms, jargon and lingo related to all styles of rock climbing covered on theCrag.
As for the content on theCrag, this glossary relies on the input of you, the users of theCrag for updates, corrections and more precise definitions. If you want to have a new term added - funny or serious - or think a definition requires correction or more details please add a comment in the Climbing Terms Glossary forum on theCrag.
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23 terms found in glossary
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Using the outside edge of a foot to stand on a hold.
If all points of contact a climber has with the wall are on a straight axis, or close to it, their body may be vulnerable to swinging uncontrollably outward around this axis, like a door on a hinge.
description missing
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Descending a pitch often requires more skill than climbing up and therefore provides good practice for the climber and, sometimes, the belayer. Because down climbing is statistically safer than rappelling, down climbing is preferred to rappelling when time allows.
A method for reducing muscle strain in arms when holding a side grip. One knee ends up in a lower position with the body twisted towards the other leg. It can give a longer reach as the body and shoulders twist towards a hold.
A dynamic move is a climbing movement where the climber makes use of their body momentum in order to grab a hold that would otherwise be out of reach, as opposed to static moves where three-point suspension and slow, controlled movement is the rule. When both feet leave the rock, it is called a dyno. When one or both feet maintain contact with the rock, it is called a deadpoint. See also static move.
A jump or leap in which both feet leave the rock face and return again once the target hold is caught.
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Using the edge of a climbing shoe on a foothold. In the absence of footholds, smearing is used.
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Camming fingers into cracks. There are a variety of fingerlocks, used for different crack sizes.
jam used for fist-sized cracks, accomplished by wedging a fist into the crack.
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A climbing grip using one hand with the thumb down and elbow out, often thought of as a reverse side pull. The grip maintains friction against a hold by pressing outward toward the elbow.
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Technique used to climb hand cracks by slotting/camming a cupped hand into a crack.
Using the back of the heel to apply pressure to a hold for balance or leverage; this technique requires pulling with the heel of the foot by flexing the hamstring. This technique is notable since in most forms of climbing one uses the toes to push.
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To wedge or jam body parts — fingers, a hand, a foot, etc. — into cracks and apply torque to adhere to the rock. Both strenuous and remote from ordinary experience, jamming is difficult to learn and requires real rock to do so as gyms do not replicate cracks well. Once mastered, jamming often becomes the hold of choice by crackmasters.
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Locking the lower half of your leg in a gap by pressing with the knee and pushing with the foot against two opposing rock features.
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Climbing a vertical edge by side-pulling the edge with both hands and relying on friction or very small holds for the feet.
Using tendon strength to support weight on a handhold without overly tiring muscles.
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A move used to surmount a ledge or feature in the rock in the absence of any useful holds directly above. It involves pushing down on a ledge or feature instead of pulling oneself up. In ice climbing, manteling is done by moving the hands from the shaft to the top of the ice tool and pushing down on the head of the tool. Abbreviation of mantelshelf.
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Method for gripping a vertical edge that entails pulling with the hand and pushing with the feet.
Starting a climb from a position in which the climber is sitting on the floor. Typically used for boulder routes to add additional difficulty. Often abbreviated by 'SD' or 'SS'.
A foot move that relies purely on the friction of the rubber of the climbing shoes.
A static move is a climbing movement of a limb to a new hold without the simultaneous transfer of weight. Instead weight transfer occurs after the limb has moved. See also dynamic move.
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Wrapping the top of the foot up or around a rock feature.
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We thank our partner GoToClimb for the initial contribution of climbing terms.