Movement Blog

Climbing grades. Love them, hate them, argue about them in the parking lot—they're a root part of climbing culture. There are a ton of grading systems across the world of climbing, but the goal is to come to a shared understanding of what you can expect when venturing into the vertical unknown. Here at Movement, we like to use the Yosemite Decimal System (more on this later).

Finding a sport you love doesn’t always happen early in life. Sometimes, it takes years to discover an activity that excites you, challenges you, and keeps you returning for more. For Movement San Francisco members Diarmuid and Mary, climbing became that sport—proving that it’s never too late to start something new. We caught up with them to talk about their climbing journey and what keeps them coming back to the gym. Check out our conversation below!

So, you’re new to climbing, maybe you got really stoked and recently became a member at your local gym. You’re in the honeymoon phase of your climbing journey, and it’s a beautiful, magical time. The energy is through the roof, you’re starting to crush grades you once thought impossible, and maybe you’re even meeting some solid people who could end up being lifelong belay buddies. You’re pumped, you’re psyched, and every fiber of your being wants to be on the wall 24/7. But here’s the thing—take a deep breath. The classic mistake? Charging in every single day like you’re training for the World Cup. Look, I’m not here to kill your vibe or tell you to tone down the excitement. Stoke is good. Great, even! But there’s a sweet spot—a balance between climbing all the time and progressing in a way that keeps you strong and injury-free.

When we aim to level up our climbing, many of us tend to focus on finger strength, endurance, technique, or power. While these aspects of training are crucial to climbers, one element we often overlook is mobility. Before diving into how mobility can supercharge your climbing, let’s clarify what it really means.

Walk into any climbing gear shop and you might feel like you've entered a hardware store on another planet. Walls lined with technicolor shoes, endless arrays of ropes, and about 80 different kinds of metal bits and pieces with names like "grigri" and "ATC" that sound more like Pokémon than climbing gear. But here's the good news: getting started is actually pretty simple. While experienced climbers might geek out over their trad rack or the latest belay device, beginners only need a few key pieces of gear. The rest can come later as you grow into your climbing journey. Planning your first visit? Check out our beginner's guide here.

We’ve all been there. You’re crushing your gym projects, feeling like royalty in the V4 realm, and then someone says, “Let’s take it outside.” “Everything’s a hold because it’s not color-coded,” they claim. “And the scenery is epic—c’mon, it’ll be an adventure,” they add. Suddenly, you’re in the back of a Subaru, headed to a crag you’ve never heard of, fumbling with a topo map and guidebook, trying to decode cryptic beta while sweating over the great unknown.

What is a Spray Wall?

Fear is a natural response when climbing, whether you're scaling towering walls or tackling tricky boulders. It can keep you sharp, but it can also paralyze you if left unchecked. Managing fear is key to building confidence and finding joy in climbing, and one of the most effective tools you have is your breath. Here are some breathing techniques to help you stay calm and focused during your climbs.