9 Life Lessons From Rock Climbing - Matthew Childs

Rating: ****

After physical and mental preparation, all you need to know are a few key lessons before going rock climbing. Matthew Childs offers an excellent TED talk about the do's and dont's of climbing. 

The presentation summarizes 9 life lessons about climbing that Childs has learned from his own experiences. Lesson 1 is don't let go. Childs explains how the mind starts considering letting go before the body does. Hold on as long as you can. Lesson 2: hesitation is bad. You need momentum to climb a rock face. Lesson 3: have a plan. You don't want to be deciding your path up while you are on a rock face; you need to remain focused on climbing. Lesson 4: the move is the end. You must take steps in order to complete your climb. If you are too exerted, the consequences of failing the next move could be fatal. Lesson 5: know how to rest. On a large wall, it is important to be able to rest on the way up and refocus. Lesson 6: fear sucks. While climbing, you must be focused on what you're doing, not failing at what you're doing. Lesson 7: opposites are good. You can't apply this rule to all walls, but if two surfaces oppose each other, wedge yourself in between and climb up. Lesson 8: strength doesn't always equal success. Technique is more important than strength. The final lesson is learn how to let go. If you need to let go, be prepared so you won't get hurt. 

In under 5 minutes, Matthew Childs gives helpful rules to follow for climbers. All these tips can be applied to different situations, and would benefit anyone tackling a rock face. The video is quick, and it is easy to remember the 9 lessons and use them in real life. Even for experienced climbers, some of these lessons could mean the difference between an efficient climb or a difficult climb. Since the TED talk covers most aspects of rock climbing, all climbers can use the video to their benefit.

Childs, Matthew. "9 Life Lessons from Rock Climbing." Matthew Childs:. TED, Feb. 2009. Web. Nov. 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_childs_9_rules_of_rock_climbing?language=en#t-169248>.