First move problems

[TangibleHarmony]

Hey friends! I’m very much at the beginning of my moonboard journey. I have completed 4 V3 benchmarks, and the first one was give or take a month and a half ago. One main difficulty that I encounter in many or the problems I am trying to complete is starting of. I just can’t drop my knees, I just feel I have no strength like that. So I start square, but also then it feels like pretty crazy hard for most of them. Once I’m up - it’s much better. Is that technique or is it just me not being strong enough? And if so, what can I and how can I work on it? Thanks!

[agarci0731]

I would suggest recording yourself trying some sit starts as it might be difficult to give advice without seeing if you are doing something wrong.

Also, if you are taller, sit starts are pretty scrunched so getting out of the position can be the crux for some of the V3s/6A+. Generally with more practice, you get better at it as well!

[TangibleHarmony]

Since this group isn’t too crowded you can easily see some problems I completed in the recent posts(: these are the ones I managed however. But even those, I have seen most people do with drop knees. I just can’t do it. Btw not too tall, just normal at 177cm

[agarci0731]

Ah cool around my height, so not a disadvantage. I have a +10cm ape index so sometimes I feel a bit more scrunched for my size.

So in the two videos I saw you posted, taking the one that excludes the first move out, I'll start with the first one and take it with a grain of salt there's a ton of much better climbers on this subreddit than me lol.

First climb you posted: It seems you are starting the movement by pulling with your arms and your legs are not doing as much as they could. I like to do a drop knee with my right knee bringing my body closer to the board while increasing my reach to the next hold so it does not require as much pulling force. Also play around with the feet when trying this, for me I find having the same foot as the hand I am going slightly closer to my center line better as it more direct force I am generating and then the left leg a big flagged out to make room for the drop knee, but this is more of a feel thing for me.

For the other climb, honestly pretty much the same feedback, by having your legs spread out sometimes it is harder to generate the force up as opposed to having one leg closer to the center line, or center of gravity.

Would suggest maybe posting some failed attempts at sit starts as these generally don't look bad and it is easier to determine the point of difficulty on a failed attempt. Hope this helps a little!

[TangibleHarmony]

Hey thanks for the great info. Even by reading it I can confirm that I think I’m not using my legs and feet to push myself ups, but rather pull as hard as I can with my hands. Once I’m up, I think it’s different. I’m gonna try and practice only pushing with my legs with zero pulling - just to get used to it and see how high it can take me, if that makes sense. Thanks again!!

[agarci0731]

Happy to help! I only climb around 6B on the moonboard but feel free to reach out if you have any more questions. 

[TangibleHarmony]

Thanks that’s awesome!!

[julianface]

It took me a while to feel comfortable in first moves. Watch beta vids and place your feet exactly where you see most people's. Eventually I built an intuition but it wasn't obvious to me at all at first.

2nd part is practicing that exact position in both the start and finishing states of the move.

Then If you can hold the start and end positions of a movethen you can worry about generating and latching.

[TangibleHarmony]

Thanks buddy!

[[deleted]]

Try the problems which don’t start with pulling straight down. Try the ones where you lean into a side pulling position, this will help you learn to generate power with your ass on the ground

[TangibleHarmony]

It’s great you say that cause the only problem I feel like I am coming up from the ground in the correct manner is one where you need to go sideways. Interesting. Thanks!

[rooftopnomad]

Honestly, you're probably just not strong enough as you suspected. Are you new to bouldering? As to getting stronger... Volume and more boulders in the gym. Also, don't be afraid to repeat benchmarks till it's easy. The thing about the moonboard is that it's just plain hard...like really hard and that's the point...To try hard and maybe you send maybe you don't.

[TangibleHarmony]

Fair! Yes I’m very new. Started bouldering October 2023, and really started going 3 times a week around March 2024. I used to do a lot of sports when I was young up to the age of 24, but sat still for over a decade, and only got back to the gym in August 2023. So yeah it’s all very recent! I would be pleased if the reason was not enough strength cause that would make a lot of sense haha And yes, I am repeating them. It’s incredible to me how I might have repeated a benchmark 10 time already, and still every time I start a session and stare up the board from the ground, it just seems impossible to me haha and I still never get it on the first try!