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Elbow Grip Caterpillar Climb
Hi ladies!
I have just learnt how to do the Caterpillar Climb recently using the Elbow Grip. Just wondering when you set that hooked elbow to the pole, where should the elbow sit? My instructor has been telling us to set it parallel to the shoulder whereas I found it easier closer to my knees.
I spoke to another instructor friend of mine and she also said she sets her elbow closer to her knees than her shoulders.When I do this, my instructor tells me I’m doing it incorrectly and when I try to have my elbow parallel to my shoulder, I don’t feel secure in my push-pull motion than I do with the elbow closer to my knees.
Is there a correct way in doing the Elbow Grip version?
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5 Replies
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I just typed a search for this on the forum as my previous search on this topic didn’t bring up any direct answers to my question and I managed to watch 2 x videos of different people do the Elbow Grip Caterpillar Climb. I noticed that both polers also had their bent elbow closer to their knees than parallel to their shoulders.
I feel safer and more secure in this position than sliding that elbow down to my shoulder height and it seems that other people are also doing it the way I feel comfortable!Maybe my instructor doesn’t know what she is talking about?!
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Have you watched your instructor do the cat climb? Is she actually doing what she's describing?Trying to think it through in my head, how would you get any climb UP the pole if you're not moving the elbow UP the pole (ie toward the knees)?
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Hey joyful! got your message, responding here as maybe it will add to the discussion 🙂
You should have your elbow closer to your knees than your shoulder… if you caterpillar all the way up, so that your thighs are parallel to the floor, you do definitely want to hook under your knees. if you are not caterpillaring up all the way, and your legs are not completely bent 90 degrees at hte knees, then hooking too high will make the elbow grip less stable because it causes your arm to be too parallel to the pole and your weight will make that grip more of a "hang" then a pull. Does that make sense?
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@ Sparrow – Yes, my instructor has done the Caterpillar climb with her bent elbow parallel to her shoulder. I can't remember why she described doing it this way…maybe it is to do with the pull-push sensation although in this position, I actually feel it less.
@ Amy – I totally get what you are trying to say. I would say that my bum and calves are pretty much right-angle to the pole when I caterpillar so it would make sense to hook the elbow closer to the knees rather than having it parallel to the shoulders.
I will try this again tonight.Will try to approach this with my instructor and see what she says.
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Hi guys,
So my instructor was on holidays and we had a substitute teacher last night. She was more helpful and knowledgable than my normal instructor. Haha.
So it looks like I have now nailed this move!!! *Happy Dance*
I just need to work on getting it stronger and feeling more secure in this move.Is it normal not to be climbing very much at first in this move? I feel as though I am only making small climbs up the pole rather than a big climb at a time.
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