robynpaula started this discussion ·
Does anyone have any tips on gripping with your legs when you climb so you can let go with your hands? I just can't seem to do it, not even for a bit. Thanks! Robyn
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Personally, I like wearing tall boots because they grip very securely and I never have to worry I'll slide off! You could try using Mighty Grip or iTac on your legs, make sure to shave (and not apply lotion) before class. How long have you been poling? It does take a while to become comfortable with it 😀
Thanks for the reply. I just started taking classes in April and in the last few weeks have been able to climb, so I am a newbie. I've tried Mighty Grip and itac for my sweaty hands and have put some on my thighs...not much luck. For my hands, so far the thing that has worked the best is nail polish remover. I have tried putting it on my thighs, but no luck with that yet. Perhaps I need to apply more, don't know. I do think I just am not holding strong enough with my legs and need to develop more strength. Hopefully it will come along like the climbing did! And for the boots, we are not allowed to wear boots at the studio I study at....the owner wants everyone to work on their strength, and not rely on the boots. Maybe when I get a pole at home, I'll try the boots so I can at least start getting the feel of the moves.
if you're just learning to climb... DONT put anything on your legs, DONT wear boots! you will develop the squeezing muscle over time and it needs to get stronger with practice! it's like using a thighmaster. literally =) when i have my students start climbing-- when you stand up and pull up and bring your body to the pole to stand, bend your left leg, have your foot pointing behind you, and bring JUST your left KNEE and thigh to the pole. don't put your left calf along the pole, don't do anything with that foot or calf. just have your left leg bent at the knee, and squeeze the bejesus out of hte pole with your knees/sides of your legs, right where your calf muscle starts and right next to your knee. get a feel for that-- how hard you have to squeeze-- first, and work up to standing without your hands. then you can put your left leg in position for a regular climb-- keeping that knee squeezing just as hard-- with the calf laid along the front of the pole, toes pointed. a lot of times people rely on the skin of their calf, etc, to help them not slide down, when really the whole point in first learning the climb is to have your knees squeezing super hard to keep you up and do all the work for you. make sure the pole isn't between your thighs-- you have no squeezing power there, keep it between the sides of your knees and make sure you are really applying pressure with your right foot onto the pole too. if you're a more curvy gal, you have more weight to hold up. also make sure your skin isn't DRY-- you'll slide right down-- moisturize the night before class and wash it off in the morning. good luck! you'll get it =)
Thanks, that gives me some stuff to think about. By the time I climb up to the top, I might have the pole more in between my thighs then my knees. I will have to check that out next time in class. Though one quick question regarding using the thighs: I've been practicing the secretary dismount, and with that one my knees are out in front of the pole, closed together while my legs kick one by one, so I am gripping with my thighs. I can't seem to be able to do it with only one hand as I feel my grip on my legs is too weak. Is my positioning wrong with that? Should I still be gripping the pole between my knees and do the kicking from that position? (I hope that made sense!). Interesting about the moisturizing my legs the night before class. I'll give it a try. And no I am not curvy, except for big breasts (naturally); rather petite everywhere else though. Thanks again for the tips. Super appreciate it!
We allow students to try climbing with boots for the first few times they go up the pole so that they learn leg placement and how/where to grip without struggling with sliding. Then after a few tries they are no longer allowed to use the boots. We keep a pair of "studio boots" just for this purpose. With or without the boots, just climbing will help you to build the muscle you need, in the exact places you need every time you climb. We teach a fireman climb...one leg in front, one in back, gripping from knees to ankles. Lock the knees in place as you reach standing position so that you can let go and reach up higher to grip with your hands. Developing thigh muscles increases your ability to grip with your calves.
I can climb no problem; I just can't do anything once I'm up there where I let go of my hands and use only my legs. I slip like crazy!
I have the opposite problem. My legs are super strong and my arms are still developing. I keep working on the same trick that I am struggling with due to the weakness and therefore my lack of trust in my upper body.
I'll echo what the other ladies said, and add this: part of climbing and sticking is figuring out where your own body's best points of contact are. As you continue to do this and play around with leg positioning, you'll eventually find a magic spot that allows you to engage the right muscles and get the right amount of skin on the pole.
Using boots is fine when you just learning the position of a move, but you should not rely on them! Once you understand placement then take them off or you'll have a hard time working without boots in the future. Like the other ladies said it helps to understand where the points of contact are. You said you could climb, once your up then you can move into a pole hold then a pole sit. From there you can do many moves. 🥂 If your taking my online lessons.... Here is the lesson for the Crucifix, it will list your P.O.Cs something you should master before the pole climb http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4874 And here is the pole climb lesson and it will also point out your P.O.C (points of contact). 🌸 http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4862
It took me ages to be able to hold the crucifix, I could invert before I could hold the crucifix so I thought I'd never be able to do it! But it did come the more I practiced because each time I did it I could feel my grip getting slightly stronger, so all though it took a while, I got there in the end 🥂 I didn't try it when I was learning but a friend told me that hairspray can sometimes help with grip too Good luck!
I didn't try the inverted crucifix until I could hold it from the floor (in a handstand then releasing my hands, so if I slipped I didn't break something...like my HEAD! LOL). I slowly increased my time of holding until I felt comfortable and strong enough...when I could hold for 3 minutes or more then I went up on the pole. I'm really careful because I don't have a crash mat or loose sofa cushions to use. Everything I've done I started with the floor.
