Indoor Rock Climbing in Gwangju
Gwangju Indoor Rock Climbing gym is certainly unique. Walking through the door, one can see the difference. Instead of towering walls and hanging ropes, this gym boasts slanted beams, grips on the walls and even on the ceiling.
The back walls are staged for beginners with different grip classes and paths. The side walls are reserved for more extreme climbers. As you scale across the walls, the holds and paths become increasingly demanding and more awkward. Each grab brings you closer to the more difficult levels. You can easily feel the burn in your forearms, hands and fingers as you scale across the room.
Climbing to the intermediate side of the gym allows for ceiling suspension and even more challenging and uncomfortable grips. By this point, the grasps are very tiny and almost impossible to grip. Even the foot holds are hard to put your weight on. If you can get to this point, you will find yourself hanging from the skewed walls trying not to fall. Depending on your level though, it is best to get some training. The owner of the gym, who is highly skilled himself, offers training for all levels—beginner, intermediate, advanced and sport competitive. In fact, a student of the gym is on his way to compete in the International Federation of Sport Climbing—the “World Series” for bouldering athletes. This is a great source of pride for the climber and the teachers alike.
The beginning classes consist of two-hour sessions of three to four times a week for one month at a rate of 100,000 won. The first 30 minutes consists of stretching exercises needed for climbing, the next 40 minutes is a warm-up and the remaining 50 minutes is for instruction. In the class, you can expect to learn footing and hand and body techniques. Each hold and technique allows the climber to relieve the most amount of stress while easily remaining on the wall or rock. There are quite a few grabs and positions that help the more experienced climber remain suspended. By a month’s time, it is possible to improve to the more advanced levels.
The more advanced level training classes are at least four to five days a week for three to four hours each session and 200,000 won a month. While in this class, it is possible to join competitions and compete against other local and international climbers. At this stage, you will learn a series of holds. Some of these holds require the suspended boulderer to maintain a hold using only their fingertips. This specific example is called a crimp or crimping. Extreme upper-body strength is needed for this.
While advancing, you will find yourself attempting the extreme angles of the walls and impossible holds. Not only that, but the lanes are also incredibly difficult—expect to see some Mission Impossible wall jumps for the expertly trained dare-devil climbers. In fact, while the jump from the movie seemed impossible, there is actually a name for what Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, attempted. It is called a dyno movement. This is when the climber completely releases his/her holds in order to regain contact with a grip outside of previous reach. While this is an extreme move, you can expect to learn this and other moves/holds such as campusing, chest jam and manteling. Each of these varies in difficulty and requires practice and coaching.
However, if you prefer less competition and more fun, Gwangju Indoor Rock Climbing Gym opens its doors to the public for 10,000 won a day. This admission includes shows and an all-day pass. Their hours are 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The trainers will also offer advice for beginners and help with basic positions and holds in order to get people on their way.
The atmosphere of the gym is very friendly. Climbers and trainers alike offer recommendations and what works for them. Even the owner’s wife and daughter, who are also gifted climbers, offer advice. You can expect to see the family climbing around the room at all levels. It’s quite a sight to see a 10-year-old bouldering at an advanced level. Both the daughter and mother easily spring from grip to grip and dangle around the holds in simple, fluid motions.
Whatever your level or reason for getting in a great workout, Gwangju Indoor Rock Climbing gym is a great way to spend a day. Your body will thank you for the tremendous workout and you will find a sense of accomplishment as you learn how to climb a wall. In addition, you can even take your new skills out and try your hand at Korea’s many mountains and natural bouldering sites. Before then, learn from the best at Gwangju Indoor Rock Climbing gym. Their address is 광주광역시 북구 운암2동 1597번지 (운암동 공구의 거리 171 2층/ 3층) and their contact information is 010-2065-5014 (Lee Yoon-jae / 이윤재).