It was my physio Sarah who first suggested it. «Have you ever tried climbing?» she asked. It was week eight of my recovery. I was bored, frustrated and desperate to do something physical. She explained that indoor climbing was excellent for rebuilding upper body strength without stressing the knee. I had nothing to lose.
I have been to the climbing wall in Brixton more times than I can count since that first visit. But that first day — I remember it clearly. I had never touched a climbing wall before. I looked up at the overhang, saw people moving up it like it was nothing, and thought: I cannot do that. I am absolutely terrified of heights.
The instructor, a quiet guy called Ben, started me on a beginner route. «Just focus on the next hold,» he said. «Not the top. The next hold.» I have thought about that advice many times since. It applies to so much more than climbing.
Climbing is harder than football in a different way. Football is faster and more physical. But climbing is more technical and more mentally demanding. You cannot force your way up a wall. You have to read it, plan it, and trust your body. I have found that climbing teaches patience in a way that nothing else has.
I have already done three outdoor climbs this year. The first one was in the Peak District — nothing serious, just a beginner route on real rock. But the feeling of standing on top of that cliff, looking out over the valley, was completely different from anything football has ever given me.
Have I become a better athlete since I started climbing? I think I have. My balance is better, my concentration is sharper, and I am more aware of my body. I haven’t reached any serious level yet, but I am not in a hurry. Ben says I have got natural ability. I choose to believe him.
| Form | Use | Jake’s example |
|---|---|---|
| have/has + pp experience |
Life experiences — sometime before now, exact time not important | «Have you ever tried climbing?»«I have been to the climbing wall more times than I can count.» |
| have/has + pp recent result |
A past action with a clear result now | «I have found that climbing teaches patience.»«I have already done three outdoor climbs this year.» |
| ever / never | ever = at any time (questions) · never = at no time | «Have you ever tried climbing?»«I have never been more terrified.» |
| already / yet | already = sooner than expected (affirmative) · yet = by now (negative/question) | «I have already done three outdoor climbs.»«I haven’t reached any serious level yet.» |
| Comparatives short adjectives |
adjective + -er + than | «Football is faster than climbing.»«My balance is better, my concentration is sharper.» |
| Comparatives long adjectives |
more + adjective + than | «Climbing is more technical than football.»«It is more mentally demanding.» |