Smell the hand
4 steep boulders 2-3 grades below flash, 3 times each, pulling your nose to your hand every move.
- Slot
- On the wall
- Focus
- Pulling strength
- Time
- 26 min
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Injury risk
- Moderate
- Intervals
- 12 rounds, 2:00 rest
- Equipment
- Boulders, Overhang
How to do it
Pick 4 overhanging boulders 2-3 grades below your flash level. On every move, after grabbing the hold, pull in until your nose almost touches your hand, keeping your shoulders engaged, then make the next move. Climb each boulder 3 times, resting 2 minutes between climbs.
Who it’s for
Lock-off strength in the position steep climbing actually uses. Pulling in on every move turns an easy boulder into a strength session without extra weight.
Common mistakes
- Only pulling in on the easy moves. Every move, or the drill is decoration.
- Shoulders disengaged at the top of the pull. Keep them down and back.
- Boulders that are too hard. Two to three grades below flash, or you won’t manage the pull.
How to progress
Move up a grade, or take it onto steeper ground. Three laps on four boulders is enough volume for one session.
When it fits
The training periods this exercise fits into in Blok Sessions.
- Strength Stronger fingers and pulling, with weight you control.
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.