The Power in a Bent Knee

I watched a climbing comparison video the other day: one year vs. six years. The difference wasn’t power. It was space. The beginner’s movements were linear, direct. The veteran left room for tension to build—more angles, more options. It’s World Cup season, and I’ve been quietly studying Miho Nonaka’s style. She’s a master of drop knees. Not flashy, but efficient. That subtle twist—pulling the wall closer with your body instead of your hands—has become something I’m learning to rely on. At first, my hips refused to stay close. Gravity pulled me out. But I learned not to fight it. With more core, more footwork, it started to click. The drop knee became less of a move, more of a pause—where I could breathe, reset, and shift weight smartly. It also taught me this: Your feet will save you more often than your hands ever will. What’s one technique that quietly changed the way you climb? #sport #climbing #quietstrength