But then it hit me… Techniques are just the language we use to name the combination of elements as they show up in usage.

No matter what technique, its success depends on getting the basic elements right: Position, Tension, Rhythm, Commitment, and Effort.

I never thought I’d be recommending this, but some of y’all should be putting less effort into becoming technically better climbers.

Achieving hard things requires sacrifice.

Most of us have never given 100% to an attempt on a rock climb. Most of us just don’t know how.

Big, scary, and tactical.

Really hard climbing is always going to be hard.

During the 8th annual Joe’s Valley Festival, Kris sat down to talk to local legend and longtime crusher Steven Jeffery.

Once you learn the power of good tactics it can be hard to step away from them.

Both are important. Which is your default? Do you value the other?

It’s a thin line, and one that is tricky to navigate.

Troy Fauteux tries harder than you do.

The legendary Professor Bill Ramsey talks getting older, sending anyway, and the effort required.

What good are core exercises if they don’t help your climbing?

It doesn’t matter how good an exercise or a program is, if you aren’t putting in the correct effort then you won’t get the results you’re looking for.

How often do you give 100%? REALLY give 100%? I make my living coaching climbers, and I seldom see a climber try their hardest.  Myself included.

Hazel Findlay has a way of taking mental training concepts that can be tough to connect with and making them seem simple.

It took a ton of courage to completely overhaul a training routine that took him to 14d (9a), but he did it anyway.

It’s fair to say that most climbers would improve if they followed three rules…