Rock climbing is a very natural activity and takes a few techniques to start. The hands are used for balance and the legs push up the rest of the body. This is as basis as it gets. For more difficult climbs, you can learn it by trial and error, picking it from others or from instruction books. The more you practice climbing, the better you will get. It is practice that allows you to improve and progress, to harder climbs and bigger routes perhaps, or simply to climbing with more grace control and skill. Practically every rock climbing wall is a new challenge, especially if the wall climbing is done outdoors. 

Rock climbing is not simply about physical ability. To climb well you must want to do it and have the mental aspect to control your surroundings. It is this blend of the physical and the mental challenges makes rock climbing appealing. With determination, hard work, training and, most importantly, time on the rock, your standard and ability will improve. If you do not really enjoy tackling the problems presented by climbs, strength will only take you so far. 

Patience is a virtue for rock climbing. Many times, I see people climbing walls without regard for technique or their own safety. Unless you are in a speed rock climbing competition, the best part about rock climbing is the process that goes through your mind. How will you approach this climb with the rock climbing equipment you have available? The fun is in how you get to the top, not how fast. 

Seeing and recognizing is essential to all climbing at all different levels. Look to see where the climb goes and pick out your route based on how the rock forms. Get a good look from below. The higher the climb, the further you should step back to get an overall view of the cliff. This initial viewing is invaluable. Holds must be seen and recognized before they can be used. This raises your safety level especially for the outdoors. Rock formations can be very unpredictable if you are going blind.  Focus on a large area and map out your route. Then move on to the small areas of rock in front of you.

Keep your center of gravity above your feet, so your foot holds will press firmly on spaces. Basic rock climbing can be compared to climbing a ladder. The body is held vertically with the weight above the feet. An upright posture helps your center of gravity and provides space between the body and the rock so that holds can be seen. Try and keep your body tight to the wall, if possible, to put less stress on your arms. However, on vertical or overhanging rock the upright body position cannot be maintained. At these angles the arms must work harder to stop you from falling backwards but the legs and the feet are still the main means of progress.

Climbing is a dynamic activity and there is no fixed correct posture. You have to constantly change your body position and find the best way to use the holds. The more you learn rock climbing holds, the better you can progress up walls. Move your body based on your natural abilities. If you have more leg strength, use your legs more for moving. If you have more arm strength, some holds will be easier for you. With more flexibility, you might be able to reach with your legs, rather than your arms.

Much of rock climbing is about balance and this primarily means standing so that the body is evenly placed over one or both feet and the arms are doing the minimum amount of work maintaining this position. Body position and footwork are the two main ingredients in this. Climbers often talk of 'balance climbing' or 'balance moves', and this generally means climbing on rock where good hand holds are few and the feet do most of the work. If you’re using your hands all the time, you will likely exhaust yourself quickly. The last thing you want on a climb is exhaustion. 

If the body's center of gravity runs through your base, you will be in balance; if this base is small, such as one foot, you must act to put the center of gravity over that foot, either to move or stay still unless the hands are also used. This can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the rock, but in a pure balance position over one foot the body is leant to one side while the free leg counter-balances to the other side.

The only way to step up with no rockclimbing hand holds is to have the center of gravity over the base foot. When holds are available they make the body position less critical but put strain on the arms. Balance in climbing is a continual shifting of body position to allow progress to be made in the most efficient manner.

You just learned some of the basics of rock climbing, involving balance, body position and rock climbing with your eyes. Take advantage of any rock climbing instruction that you get. If you are a beginner, please take some rock climbing lessons. Remember, to get better at rock climbing, you need to practice often.