Climb and reverse the crux
Climb a crux, reverse 1-3 moves, climb it again. 4-5 sets, 3 min rest.
- Slot
- On the wall
- Focus
- Power endurance
- Time
- 20 min
- Intensity
- High
- Injury risk
- Moderate
- Intervals
- 4 rounds, 3:00 rest
- Equipment
- Boulders
How to do it
Pick a boulder with a crux (the hardest section) you can do. Climb through the crux, reverse (climb back down) 1-3 moves, then climb through it again and continue to the top or jump off. That's one set. Rest 3 minutes and do 4-5 sets. Stop before your technique falls apart.
Who it’s for
Power endurance that stays specific to your project. Reversing a few moves doubles the time in the hardest section without needing a different boulder.
Common mistakes
- Reversing too many moves. One to three. Any more and it becomes a different, much harder problem.
- Choosing a crux you can barely do. You need to climb it, reverse and climb it again. If one attempt is a fight, it’s too hard.
- Continuing when technique falls apart. Stop the set. Practising sloppy movement on your crux is worse than nothing.
- Short rests. Three minutes between sets.
How to progress
Reverse more moves, or add a set, not both. It works well in the weeks before a trip, when you know the crux you need to survive.
When it fits
The training periods this exercise fits into in Blok Sessions.
- Power Endurance Keep your power through one hard move after another.
- Performance Peak for a trip or a comp: focus, reading problems, trying hard.
Related blocks
Start with a ready-made block
A six-week strength plan with a deload, as a file for the app, and seven short emails on how to run it.