Getting Over the Fear of Falling (Bouldering)

Hello all! This was such a highly requested video, and to be honest, I'm glad it's all over! My palms are getting sweaty (mom spaghetti) just by remembering all that editing I did!
We are all on our own journeys getting over this (pretty rational!) fear of falling and injuring ourselves. Some of us experience it more intensely than others, and that's okay! The point of bouldering is to have fun, and if your fears are interfering with your bouldering, then hopefully this video is somewhat helpful for you!
...Perhaps, though, you're nervous to take a fall outside? Or maybe the idea of falling while sport climbing makes your head spin? These are all ideas for future videos that I will make WHEN and only WHEN I get over those fears myself! AHHHHhh!

✰ TABLE OF CONTENTS ✰
:54 – Proper falling technique
3:57 – Desensitization
8:07 – Why some fear (IMO) is actually beneficial
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I edit my videos using Final Cut Pro X, and I film using a Canon 80D and a Canon G7X Mark ii.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

There is danger and risk involved when you boulder or engage in other climbing-related activities. Know that when climbing, or training in general, you might injure yourself or others. Do not climb, train, or engage in any related activities unless you accept responsibility for any potential risks or injuries!

later,

J

[KizanMusic]

im a personal fan of rolling across the whole pad after falling

[ChEeSeInYoUrEpAnTs]

You roll or crumple down when you fall to increase the time of impact, not the area. If an increased area was the cause, belly flops wouldn't hurt. Rolling also helps when falling because you use the energy from the fall to fuel the roll, rather than all that energy being transferred into you. hope that explanation makes sense. Great video though

[kikushhhh]

Normal people: "how to get over the fear of falling?"
Alex Honnold: "start freesoloing" :D

[sblade]

Thank you Jenn. I get all the panic symptoms. I definitely have a fear of falling.

[SarahMitroff]

Thank you for this. I had my worst fall ever a few weeks ago — I was trying to top out, panicked, down climbed as much as I could and then had to let go. I didn’t really injure myself, but mentally I was shaken. My first time back in the gym after that, I struggled to climb even the easiest routes because I didn’t think I could do it and fear kept kicking in. I know that if I just keep going back, the fear will get easier to manage.

[CrossoverGenius]

in re: fear response. it is advantageous to have a fear response, but it is not always advantageous to act on the fear response. you should always have a realistic view of the risks you are taking (even top rope/ lead climbing incurs risk!) because accidents DO happen, and they can happen to you. the impact these exercises have may not eliminate a fear of heights but they will increase your confidence in managing your reactions in those situations. and that confidence is what will lead to safe decision making in potentially dangerous situations. furthermore, the more practice you have with falling the more muscle memory you will have to rely on when you do take unanticipated falls. this muscle memory can go far in helping keep you safe in those split second moments when it really matters.

[Phoenixhunter]

So far, you’re the only channel that mentions tucking the head. Thank you. Because I thought that was so important and didn’t understand why no one else was mentioning that.

[deanhunter]

Thank you for this video. I was petrified to start bouldering with my colleagues and I struggled at my first session. This video helped so much when I went back today to try and get over the fear

[MovIEsLveR]

Not really scared of falling, but hate to jump back to ground after reaching the top.. Most of time I climb down

[laxislazuli]

Hey Jenn! I usually don't really comment, but I just have to now to say that I love and appreciate your videos! I've been climbing for a little more than a year now and unfortunately, I've never gotten over the fear of falling and never really learnt how to properly land (which I want to change now!). I always downclimb when possible but when I'm too exhausted or there's no good way to downclimb I sometimes panic and when I do actually jump I don't land that well (recently a video was taken where I can totally see my mistakes like sticking arms out etc). I've been looking up advice for the past few weeks (saw that vid by geek climber too, love it haha) and tried a bit of properly falling last time, so this was perfect timing! I'll try again after seeing your video. And for what it's worth @ imposter syndrome, in my opinion it actually makes you much more relatable to me that you're also struggling with fear of heights/falling and that you haven't been climbing for thaaat long as some of the other climbers making videos. I somehow feel that you understand the anxiety of us newbies better lol, and that's what I also really like about your channel besides the wholesome content itself, the great music choices, your funny editing and your likability as a person. :) Thanks and keep up the good work :D !

[simonrowe]

Thank you ! Very helpful. I’ve recently started bouldering & need to practice falling more.

[IcyThaneProductions]

One time climbing I slipped and banged my chin on a hold as I fell. Anyways falling doesn't really bother me because you'll be fine, it's more important to get that sweet sweet send

[kaiwenhuang]

I'm not really fearful of falling, but the advice on looking down at the pad the split second when you fall was great as it helped me make softer landings from the better anticipation :)

[mdoyleproductions]

Great point on the practicing falls notion. I did martial arts and they taught us how to fall, as well. We spend an hour throwing each other around, so it is really important to know how to repeatedly hit the ground without getting hurt. It was such an incredible lesson that applies to so many things. Same idea, your back is WAY stronger and better suited for impact than any of your limbs. Rolling also helps distribute the impact to next to nothing. However, it is natural to try and "catch yourself" so it doesn't look worse than it is. The reality is, you'll jump right back up if you do it correctly, unlike how well you would get up with broken limbs, or worse, a neck injury. Great advice for people getting into climbing. It will probably help tremendously with all-around confidence.

[theamethyst]

I don’t even climb but your videos inspire me to start.

[jennybrockartist]

Very helpful, thank you! I've just started bouldering and am so afraid of falling that I'm not pushing myself at all. This gave very handy tips which I'll start putting into practice :)

[trailchums]

This was just the video I needed when I first started out! Can't wait to send this to everyone I introduce to climbing! I' struggle so much with a fear of falling, and then as a result with frustration that it's holding me back from becoming a better climber. Thank you so much for this video!
(Kat)

[stray]

I watched this awhile back when i was starting out and I gotta say the advice given in this vid, esp starting out by doing some falls at a lower height before proceeding to a higher height one really helped! so thank you :)

[MS-rxit]

I think it helps that Touchstone has such cushy mats. When I switched to Sender One and their stiffer mats, I got a lot more terrified of unanticipated falls. And then I sprained my ankle after downclimbing and hopping off the wall from like 1 foot up. Definitely prefer taking falls on lead, though you have to trust your belayer to give a soft catch.

[escapemymind]

This is so, so important to consider- especially the thing with complacency! I'm currently on week 8 of a healing ankle fracture and sprain that resulted from me trying a slab route well above my skill range...caught my foot on a hold on the way down after slipping on a volume and had to stop doing the sport that I absolutely fell in love with after just two months. Been super bummed out but it's taught me how essential patience and building up a solid foundation of skills are for bouldering! So glad I found your channel- you're helping me figure out what precautions I need to take when I can get back on the wall! Thanks dude!!!