Does it really matter?
How should we separate between climbing moves and climbing techniques? Is it pure semantics or does it really matter? I stumbled across this problem producing content for my websites and didn't really have a good answer. Wikipedia defines a Move like this: "Application of a specific climbing technique to progress on a climb". Also from Wikipedia on Technique: "Specialized moves given names to help communicate what to do to another person." They both make sense, but also use each other in a circular reference. So where does this leave us?Test it...
Pick a random video of a boulder problem or climb and count all the moves. I guess most of us would come up with similar number of moves. So if you count each specific move, what kind of move were they? (name them, then name all the techniques used in the climb... do they overlap or supplement each other?)
Black and white does not exist, there are only shades of gray
There will always be disputes and variations. Placing a foot on a hold is a move, but then rocking over on it.. does that count as a separate move? How about if the climber flags the other foot while rocking over? Or if she pushes off with the other foot? Is any kind of repositioning of the body a move? How then about a climber with a super smooth style where the entire climb seems like one, long, fluent motion. Are moves defined by the climbing style as well?
The authority on terms
Who really decides: you, me, or the most experienced climbers? I guess it really does not matter what any one authority decides, it is the climbing community as a whole and our usage and common understanding that dictates what is currently correct. Please weigh in and help define climbing technique :-)
May The Normal Force Be With You!
May The Normal Force Be With You!
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