I've been working on my arms-only climb for a month now and I'm finally making some progress. At first I literally couldn't pull myself up at all; I just hung there. But I've been working on it at home, even if I do nothing else on the pole. I'll just walk up to it, do a few pulls, and then go on my merry way.
Yesterday I dropped in on Kate's level 3 class after going to Power Yoga at the Monkey Bar Gym and a really boring, pointless weapons class at karate; and despite having very tired arms, I managed 3 solid pulls up the pole. The most I've gotten is 3 pulls in the past, but these were the first time that they've felt totally controlled with my arms bent almost the entire time.
I've felt envious at the other girls in my level 6 class because they've been able to do this climb since Day 1, but the more I watch them the more I realize they're actually using their legs like a straddle climb. So they're not actually doing the move, although they're pretty close. Tiffany can do it, but she's kicking back and forth to give herself momentum up, like Brittney was doing when I dropped in on her class. They call it monkeying up.
I don't actually know how to monkey up in this way. I think I tried it once and got confused. Or maybe I don't have the strength to do that yet. Either way, I decided to do it the hard way - no leg momentum, no cheating - when I first started; and although it's been a harder journey, I think it's more beneficial. I've just been focusing on activating my forearms, shoulders, and biceps to pull myself into a bent position and grabbing above. I'm not progressing as fast as everyone else, but I look more controlled when I do, and I'm not using my legs at all.
I read someone online say that rock climbing really helps with this kind of climb, and oddly enough, I went rock climbing with Charlotte at Turner Hall this past weekend for the first time in at least a year and a half. God, I forgot how much of a toll that takes on your forearms and hands! I literally couldn't close my fingers for the rest of the day, and my entire arm was numb for a good 24 hours. I can still feel it now, almost 2 full days later. But at the time, while I was climbing, I didn't feel as worn out as I have in the past; and I think I was holding up a lot better than Charlotte. Although I was sweating considerably more. But then again, I made it up to the top more than she did and did harder routes.
Anyway, I was planning on going rock climbing more now that I've gone once, and Charlotte wants to go more often, as well. So maybe it will help with my pole climb?
I also read online that the arms-only climb is easier if you engage your lats more, which I don't know how to do but makes sense. It's basically the big muscle in your back. I'm going to have to research this more.
Yesterday I dropped in on Kate's level 3 class after going to Power Yoga at the Monkey Bar Gym and a really boring, pointless weapons class at karate; and despite having very tired arms, I managed 3 solid pulls up the pole. The most I've gotten is 3 pulls in the past, but these were the first time that they've felt totally controlled with my arms bent almost the entire time.
I've felt envious at the other girls in my level 6 class because they've been able to do this climb since Day 1, but the more I watch them the more I realize they're actually using their legs like a straddle climb. So they're not actually doing the move, although they're pretty close. Tiffany can do it, but she's kicking back and forth to give herself momentum up, like Brittney was doing when I dropped in on her class. They call it monkeying up.
I don't actually know how to monkey up in this way. I think I tried it once and got confused. Or maybe I don't have the strength to do that yet. Either way, I decided to do it the hard way - no leg momentum, no cheating - when I first started; and although it's been a harder journey, I think it's more beneficial. I've just been focusing on activating my forearms, shoulders, and biceps to pull myself into a bent position and grabbing above. I'm not progressing as fast as everyone else, but I look more controlled when I do, and I'm not using my legs at all.
I read someone online say that rock climbing really helps with this kind of climb, and oddly enough, I went rock climbing with Charlotte at Turner Hall this past weekend for the first time in at least a year and a half. God, I forgot how much of a toll that takes on your forearms and hands! I literally couldn't close my fingers for the rest of the day, and my entire arm was numb for a good 24 hours. I can still feel it now, almost 2 full days later. But at the time, while I was climbing, I didn't feel as worn out as I have in the past; and I think I was holding up a lot better than Charlotte. Although I was sweating considerably more. But then again, I made it up to the top more than she did and did harder routes.
Anyway, I was planning on going rock climbing more now that I've gone once, and Charlotte wants to go more often, as well. So maybe it will help with my pole climb?
I also read online that the arms-only climb is easier if you engage your lats more, which I don't know how to do but makes sense. It's basically the big muscle in your back. I'm going to have to research this more.
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