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Climb and reverse the crux

Climb a crux, reverse 1-3 moves, climb it again. 4-5 sets, 3 min rest.

On the wall
Power endurance
20 min
High intensity
Moderate injury risk
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.

Run it now

The same timer as the app: a five-second get-ready, then every round and rest counted down with a beep. Keep this page open while you train.

Climb and reverse the crux

0:00 / 20:05

Ready

20:05

4 rounds

Climb a crux, reverse 1-3 moves, climb it again. 4-5 sets, 3 min rest.

4
rounds
3:00
rest
20:05
total

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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.