A Beginners Guide to Rock Climbing

Ron Fawcett is a natural-born climber. In 1969, while still at school in his native Yorkshire, he tied into a climbing rope for the first time and was instantly hooked. From that moment on, it seemed nothing else in his life mattered nearly as much as his next vertical fix. Ten years later, Fawcett was the most famous rock climber in Britain and among the best in the world, part of a new wave whose dedication to training transformed the sport, pushing standards further and faster than ever before - or since. His legacy of new climbs ranks him alongside the very best in the history of the sport. He was also the first to style himself a professional rock climber, starring in the landmark television documentary "Rock Athlete", and appearing on the covers of magazines around the world. But far from enjoying the fame, Fawcett found the pressures of the limelight too much to bear, and at the end of the 1980s he faded from view. Now, for the first time, he tells his extraordinary story, of how his love of nature and the outdoors developed into a passion for climbing that took him to the top - and almost consumed him. Winner of the 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature.

Traditional Lead Climbing is the first and only guidebook intended to teach rock climbers how to lead with gear. Unlike other types of climbing such as sport and direct-aid climbing, trad” climbing relies on placing your own gear as you climb from the ground. It’s also one of the more dangerous climbing activities, where expert guidance is a must. This invaluable guide gives step-by-step descriptions of equipment, rope management, and techniques. Dozens of close-up photos and fun yet informative drawings show situations climbers might encounter and how to deal with them. In addition to covering the basics, the book showcases the experience and wisdom of a number of world-class climbers in self-revealing sidebars.

I was aware that I was cold - beyond cold. I was a lump of meat left for too long in a freezer, a body trapped beneath the ice, sinking down into the dark. 'I was freezing to death.' In this brilliant sequel to his award-winning debut "Psychovertical", mountaineering stand-up Andy Kirkpatrick has achieved his life's ambition to become one of the world's leading climbers. Pushing himself to new extremes, he embarks on his toughest climbs yet - on big walls in the Alps and Patagonia - in the depths of winter. Kirkpatrick has more success, but the savagery and danger of these encounters comes at huge personal cost. Questioning his commitment to his chosen craft, Kirkpatrick is torn between family life and the dangerous path he has chosen. Written with his trademark wit and honesty, "Cold Wars" is a gripping account of modern adventure.

This book could actually be considered two books in one: a thorough history of Japanese karate-do and a profusely illustrated instruction manual for students of the martial art who have advanced beyond the beginning stages. Concerned about the misinterpretation of Japanese culture in general and karate in particular by many Western practitioners of karate, the author sets out in Part One of his book to trace the history of karate from its probable origins in India (or perhaps Greece) and its transmission in successively more developed forms to China, Okinawa, and then Japan. Relevant aspects of the history of Japan and influences-the samurai ethos, bushido, and Zen Buddhism-on its martial arts are then pointed out. Finally, the author discusses the changes made on the karate brought in from Okinawa due to these influences. Even with all this martial background, however, it is stressed that current karate-do is different in form and philosophy from the early traditions in that modern practice emphasizes karate as a sport, a means of self-defense, or even a way of life, but not as a means of dispatching an opponent. In Part Two the author first demonstrates important points of etiquette to be used in the karate dojo. He follows with well-illustrated instructions of kumite (sparring drills), including those involving two practitioners and those such as the doubleline drill and the circle drill which give practice in facing a number of opponents. Descriptions of many of these are not readily found in other English-language publications. The final chapter presents nine kata, introductory the advanced kata, Sochin and Nijushiho, are rarely seen in print in English. Often de-emphasized in the modern Western practice of karate, the important place of kata in the martial arts as well as their application to self-defense is here stressed. Further features include a history of karate in the United States, an Appendix listing rank requirements in Shotokan karate, and a recommended reading list. All in all, this book will prove to be an excellent source for martial arts historians and practitioners alike.