The Rock Warrior’s Way

Rock Warrior’s Way Clinics offer a framework for climbers to develop and apply their attention on the wall. Dustin has been a licensed trainer with Desiderata Institute since 2019.

Falling & Commitment Clinics address falling directly in order to improve commitment.

Traditional Climbing Camps are specifically targeted toward developing better mental focus for leading trad routes. (scroll down for more details)

Falling & Commitment Clinic

Description: This training addresses falling directly to help improve commitment. We do progressive falling practice, followed by movement, breathing, resting, and body/mind awareness exercises. Finally, students apply everything to a goal route. Students leave understanding how to take appropriate risks and how to commit to those risks.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Fall safely

  • Give a dynamic (cushioned) belay

  • Break a climb into smaller risk events

  • Assess risks effectively

  • Distinguish between no- and yes-fall zones

  • Engage no- and yes-fall zones appropriately

  • Make appropriate risk decisions

  • Improve body and mind awareness

  • Rest effectively

  • Improve breathing

  • Create flow and momentum

  • Deal with climbing stress

  • Commit more deliberately

  • Reduce fear, and more

Pre-requisites:

  • Able to toprope 5.8 in a gym with no falls

  • Climb indoors/outdoors at least 1-2 times per week

  • At least 6 months of continuous climbing experience within the last year

Traditional Climbing Camp

Description: This course is specifically targeted toward developing better mental focus for leading trad routes. To accomplish this, we need to develop trust in our equipment and climbing ability. We’ll develop this trust by falling on gear, moving continuously, practicing quick and precise gear placement and improving mental focus through application of the Warrior’s Way. You’ll leave knowing how to take appropriate risks on trad routes with improved mental focus.

You’ll learn:

  • To place and assess trad protection

  • Trusting trad gear by falling on it

  • Assessing risks effectively, allowing you to take appropriate risks

  • Improve commitment and mental focus

  • Improve safety awareness

What we won’t be covering:

  • Equalizing anchors

  • Multi-pitch transitions

  • Other basic trad skills

Pre-requisites:

  • Able to lead 5.8 sport, or top-rope 5.9 with no falls

  • Climb indoors/outdoors at least 1-2 times per week

  • At least 6 months of continuous climbing experience within the last year

  • Some experience following or leading trad routes