I am an adventurous individual who is naturally open to giving all sports or outdoor pursuits a go as long as I don't feel like I am pushing too much out of my comfort zone. Putting my life in too much danger, or the activity consumes too much of my spare time or perhaps becomes too expensive.

With that said, Bouldering has always been a sport that I have been interested in giving a real go, consistently and with the purpose of trying to improve my overall technical ability. It is a pursuit that continually fascinates me as to how people make it look so easy when it is so challenging, technical, and taxiing on the body; it is a sport that needs to be shown a great deal of respect.

Having tried Bouldering several times back home in the UK, there is no doubt that Bouldering is a sport that has recently, over the last few years, become increasingly popular in the Netherlands, where I now live. This increased interest could be down to the fact that there are no mountains in the Netherlands or natural rocky outcrops or that the Dutch are generally super fit, active people and are always eager to try something new.

Bouldering is fun; it is social, supportive, and a wonderfully accessible sport for all ages and first-timers. Its popularity has grown significantly, and to enjoy your first Bouldering session, you only need to know a few golden rules. Once those have been covered through a safety briefing, you are good to go and enjoy something we are designed to do: climb.

So much so, and with my eagerness to learn and practice a new sport, I have considered a few thoughts from my previous visits to the Bouldering Gym and then written a summary of points below that might be helpful for any newbie climber wishing to have a go at this challenging and exhilarating sport.

What is a Bouldering Gym?

Bouldering is hugely popular worldwide, and Bouldering Gyms regularly open up here, there, and everywhere. Whether housed in new or old industrial spaces, they have been redesigned to create an attractive, artificial climbing playground for enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to explore and enjoy.

Generally, an indoor boulder gym has several walls to choose from, with an abundance of colourful Climbing holds attached to them, forming a designated graded climbing route. The wall is about four to five meters tall. Some routes are straight up and down, while others have artificial lumps and bumps that resemble a natural rock formation. Underneath the climbing route and at the foot of the wall, there's thick and comfy matting, allowing you to fall on safely and allow you become more confident making moves on the wall itself.

A combination of climbing holds are carefully positioned to form a Boulder route, where you will start at the bottom and continue to navigate a course up to the final finishing hold at the top. These routes always vary in difficulty and complexity, so all paths are different, and it is generally up to the climber to establish the most straightforward way possible. It is important, before setting off, to look at the grading charts positioned around the gym. These are coloured-coded and graded to tell you how challenging the route might be. As a result, there is no point starting on the most difficult climbs, as success will not be possible without practice and patience. It is clear from my own experiences that Bouldering requires a combination of technique, strength, and thinking as you move:

Technique - using and refining the proper climbing technique, you can climb efficiently and effectively and use your body more successfully, for example, by improving your reach, using your legs for power, and how your feet touch the wall.
Strength - it is essential to consider relative strength compared to your body weight. Strength and stability are important; they are necessary from the arms and fingers to help with the holds to eventually reach out for new holds. The legs provide stability and power as it is naturally transferred through pushing and lifting the body weight upwards or from side to side. To improve the way you Boulder, avoid injury and make it more achievable and fun, it is important to pay particular attention to how you strengthen your body to maximise enjoyment and reach your potential. Core strength exercises, push-ups, pull up, and resistance bands all help, and these exercises can easily be done at home.
Thinking - believing that all Bouldering routes are like a series of puzzles is an important concept to grasp. To climb more efficiently, it is necessary to imagine and picture the course you want to do beforehand. Consider your path carefully while standing on the mat and how you intend to climb to the top, using the most straightforward route. This is not an easy thing to do, and it does take a shift in your thought process, but it does help immensely, especially when you don't want to waste energy mid-route and are stuck wondering what to do next.

Bouldering can be enjoyed as part of a group or alone.

Bouldering is a unique sport that presents many new challenges for would-be participants, not only through the process of actually climbing but also through the ever-changing routes found in the Bouldering Gym. It is common practice to switch up the courses frequently to keep them exciting and challenging. Bouldering is fun to do as a small group or with a friend, as it enables you to encourage each other and provides a bonus of challenge, which certainly makes it fun.

Another reason Bouldering is such an accessible sport is that you can easily do it yourself. Bouldering challenges your mind regarding thinking and problem-solving but also tests perseverance and the desire to take risks. You can begin to decide and dictate your own pace and progress by going it alone. You can quickly turn the experience into a relaxed bouldering day, but as you get better, it becomes a serious training day if you wish it to be. The workout can become so intense and purposeful that even some regular gym goers prefer the Bouldering Gym for the total body workout. Some even trade the traditional fitness centre in for the Boulder gym. During my frequent visits, it is great to see a range of ages, from young and old. It is also very social, as people are often there watching you climb, and it is easy to chat with others and share tips, tricks, and experiences along the way.

Bouldering is different from Climbing.

Despite liking Bouldering and the challenges involved, I'm not particularly good with heights. With that said, I love nothing more than looking out of the plane window at what lies beneath, but putting me on a ladder or looking down from a high building, nerves begin to show. It seems strange to be like this, but I'm convinced many others secretly feel like this as a fear of heights may stem from our natural fear and instinct of falling and being injured.

With Climbing, you will need to use a range of additional climbing gear, have a Climbing partner and, in most cases, have a climbing certificate. Bouldering does not require climbing gear, a partner, or a certification. You can climb down from 4 meters onto a thick mat with Bouldering and be safe. When climbing with ropes, you are let loose from the wall, and your partner, which you are strapped to, will lower you down as long as they pay attention! I also feel climbing with ropes requires more preparation time, it is costly, and there is a need to check and use the climbing gear efficiently and effectively constantly.

Boulder routes are much shorter: climbing time varies from 30 seconds to longer, depending on your speed and overall ability. Compare this to rope routes, which are at least three times as long. Entire rope walls are also much higher, between 14 - 20 meters, so it is apparent that Bouldering is more of an explosive movement; incorporating good strength and balance while climbing with ropes requires more patience and stamina.

What to expect

Visiting a boulder gym for the first time

Many different Bouldering Gyms worldwide are different in size, difficulty, and complexity. Where I now live in the Netherlands, many are popping up here, there, and everywhere. Of course, I frequently use my nearest ones in Rotterdam, as they are located so close to home. The biggest and best gyms in the city are Beest Boulders and MONK Rotterdam. They are housed in substantial spaces and provide a great challenge for anyone keen on taking up the sport as a new pastime. Beest Boulders and Monk have many other gyms dotted all over the Netherlands and seem to be growing even more. In addition to this, here are 10 Of The Best Bouldering Walls Across The World - M... (mpora.com) and Netherlands Indoor Climbing Gyms

The Layout of the Gym

Most gyms have a similar layout, with a pay desk, café, changing rooms, and a training facility that includes weights, stretching equipment, and ample space for bouldering activities. Some gyms also have a shop that sells shoes and other essential items, as well as showers and a children's area that focuses on climbing for beginners or those who prefer a lower level of difficulty.

The pay desk is typically located near the entrance of the building, and it is necessary to register there and participate in an induction during your first visit. During the induction, instructors will provide essential safety information and teach you the basics of bouldering. Safety is the top priority, and by following the gym's basic principles and etiquette, you can have a safe and enjoyable experience.

In my experience, the staff at all gyms are accommodating and happy to offer advice before you begin your climb.

Duration - How long would you spend in the gym

It is safe to say that I am no Bouldering expert and still have a lot to learn, but please know that Bouldering is not easy, and it will take a few sessions to get into the swing of things. Suppose you are thinking of taking it seriously. In that case, it is very beneficial to do some extra strength and conditioning exercises regularly, either in the gym training area or at home - it helps. Most first-timers can happily climb for around 1 hour. After that time, they will start fatiguing, and their hands will be worn out and sometimes a little sore, especially if the grips are either small or abrasive if new. Sometimes the skin on your hands can become thin and get blisters. After several visits, your hands start to stiffen, the skin hardens, and your body can endure more, so a climbing session takes about 2-3 hours. It also depends on if you take breaks between climbs.

Most Bouldering centres have a cafe and seating area. This one at MONK Rotterdam serves coffee, beer and food.

Over the last few months, I have been getting back into the swing of things, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Bouldering Gym, whether with friends or on my own. I love seeing it as a new challenge and combining it with regular Yoga at home, I notice the improvements in my overall strength and flexibility, which in turn has positive effects on my cycling and running.

I won’t be conquering anything greater than five metres high anytime soon, but I will continue to enjoy Bouldering and its challenges. Hopefully, making improvements along the way.