How to Climb a Wall

Last Updated: January 1, 2022 References

Wall climbing can be a fun activity and good exercise. It is also one of the more common elements used by practitioners of parkour. This article will teach you all you need to know if you too would like to learn to climb a wall.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:
Learning the Basic Wall Climb

1
Stretch yourself and loosen up. Climbing a wall can strain a number of your muscles that you may not have stressed much before. Perform some light exercise and stretch before attempting the wall climb.^{[1]
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2
Find a short wall to practice on. Try to find one that is low enough that your hands can reach over the top of the wall while your feet are still on the ground, but one that is also high enough that your arms will have to be extended to reach the top.^{[2]
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Research source} Make sure you can grip the wall appropriately. A highly slick or polished surface is not ideal for practice.
3
Grab the top of the wall. Use both hands, and attempt to get as much of your palm on to the top of the wall as you can.^{[3]
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- Even though your feet remain on the ground, it should appear that you are dangling by your arms. They must remain extended as you grasp the wall.
4
Place your feet on the wall. One foot should be high--nearly to the height of your waist--while the other should remain eighteen inches below that. Keep your feet underneath you, not spread out to the sides. Your toes and the front of your feet should be flexing so that they are in contact with the wall surface.^{[4]
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5
Push and pull yourself upward. This should appear as one fluid motion. First push yourself up with your legs, and then pull yourself up with your arms.^{[5]
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- Push into the wall with your legs. Your body should be parallel to the wall at first, and this would seem to be pushing you away. However, your arms are holding your close, so all momentum that pushed you away from the wall will also force you up.
- Just as you are beginning to develop momentum with your leg push, begin to pull with your upper body.
6
Go over the wall. As you are pulling yourself over the top edge of the wall, kick your back leg out and bring your upper body over the top of the wall. Continue this move until your center of gravity (in your lower torso) over the edge of the wall.
7
Circle your back leg forwards. Get your first leg over the wall, and then finish the climb.You can also swing one of your legs upwards right under your body followed by the other leg.If you are on a roof now, stand up. If you are instead climbing a free-standing wall, you can slide over it and pull your feet underneath you as you come down on the other side.^{[6]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:
Climbing along Two Walls

1
Find two walls that are close together. In many cities, it is common to find two buildings separated by only a narrow alley. The ideal distance would be a little greater than the distance between your elbows when you extent both of your arms out to the side.
2
Place the hand and foot of each side of your body onto one wall. Your left hand and foot will go to one wall, while your right hand and foot will go to the other.^{[7]
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Research source} Apply pressure to both walls simultaneously in order to hold up your body's weight.
3
Move one hand or foot up at a time. As you do so, you will have to increase the pressure you apply with the other hand or foot that is on that particular wall.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I climb the walls in my house?

Community Answer

I wouldn't attempt this as hitting your head is a great risk, as is breaking something in your home. If you must, take a couple of steps back and run up to it. Watch a couple of parkour videos on wall climbing and you'll see what I mean.
Question

How do I climb a wall that has no foot supports?

Community Answer

You have to have grippy shoes, run toward the wall, then put one foot on the wall using it to propel and push you up the wall.
Question

How do I climb the wall without hurting my toes?

Community Answer

Practice flexing your toes to make a 90˚ angle (or as close as possible). Do this as frequently as you can. After about a month or so, your toes should be strong enough to climb without pain.
Question

Do I need any safety equipment like a rope or first aid kit ?

Community Answer

A first aid kit can always be useful, but as long as you are careful and don't rush into it too quickly you shouldn't injure yourself. If you're just starting out, choose a low wall in a grassy area if possible so the landing won't be too hard if you fall.
Question

Which exercises should I do to learn how to climb a wall?

Community Answer

You should be able to do pull ups (preferably at least 20 without stopping) and do some leg workouts like running or biking to build up your strength and endurance. Start out small and build up your workouts over time. Don't try to climb a wall until you're sure you have the strength.
Question

How do I climb a smooth wall?

Community Answer

It's best to get a running start and jump towards it with your hands outstretched. Once you grab the top of the wall and have a good grip, pull yourself up. While you're pulling yourself up, use your legs to help push you upwards.
Question

How do I prevent slipping my foot?

Community Answer

You should use shoes with a good grip to prevent slipping. They can be found at places that sell athletic shoes or hiking or climbing shoes.
Question

How do I climb a wall when I can’t reach the top?

Community Answer

Practice doing a wall run up the wall in order to reach the top. A wall run is simply running towards a wall and then using your feet to push yourself upwards against it. Start by placing your foot on the wall and then jumping off it. Focus on jumping up the wall rather than away from it. Once you feel comfortable doing this simply run at the wall from a few paces back and then try to push yourself upwards. If you still can't reach the top then practice more or finding another way up.
Question

How do I climb up a steel wall?

Community Answer

It's best to get a running start and jump towards it with your hands outstretched. Once you grab the top of the wall and have a good grip, pull yourself up. While you're pulling yourself up, use your legs to help push you upwards.
Question

How can I grip a wall without falling?

Community Answer

You should use shoes with a good grip to prevent slipping. They can be found at places that sell athletic shoes or hiking or climbing shoes. You should also be able to do pull ups (preferably at least 20 without stopping), as upper body strength is critical here.

Warnings

Don't let go too quickly when you're grabbing the wall. This can cause you burns, scratches, and other types of injuries.

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Don't try to climb a wall in public/crowded areas.

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