Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Guest Post
    • Contact Us
    Trek AmazeTrek Amaze
    • Climbing
    • Ice Climbing
      • Snowball
      • Avalanche
    • Rock Climbing
      • Rappelling
    • Hiking
    • Bouldering
    • Mountaineering
    Trek AmazeTrek Amaze
    Home»Climbing»How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide

    How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide

    By Sneha Saha
    drop knee escalada 2 1 1 | How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp


    Particularly Dropknee made climbing overhangs a lot smoother and less wasteful of energy. Although often underrated and underused, the dropknee remains one of the most effective techniques. Our goal today is to share with you my findings about the climbing technique known as the ‘Dropknee’ (also known as the ‘Egyptian’), so that you too can have your epiphany!

    What exactly is a ‘dropknee’? The technique involves dropping either your knees inwardly, then turning your hip (that’s on the same side as you dropped the knee) towards the wall, to create tension between your two footholds so you can gain access to the next one.

    With a dropknee move properly executed, you’ll create enough tension between your feet to allow you to reach for the next hold, which you’ll always reach for with the hand that’s parallel to the leg that’s being dropped and the hip that’s turned in.

    However, there are other things to consider when it comes to the drop knee. Getting the footholds in the right position is extremely important to do the drop knee safely and effectively. Knowing how to deal with high footholds and avoiding injuries are other crucial aspects when doing the drop knee.

    Drop Knee Climbing | How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide
    Contents
    1. Dropknees are a great addition to a climber's repertoire for several reasons
    2. Utilizing the Dropknee involves certain risks
    3. Step-by-step instructions on how to Dropknee
    4. When using a dropknee, use a high foothold
    5. These are some common mistakes with dropknees
    6. Applying the Dropknee method to an overhang
    7. Before using a dropknee, you should warm up

    Dropknees are a great addition to a climber’s repertoire for several reasons

    Learning dropknee is one of the best ways to advance in your climbing career. You want to master this technique for three major reasons.

    • Expand your horizons

    Your first and foremost reason for using the dropknee technique is that it allows you to reach holds that are farther away than you normally could. When you move your knee hip and shoulder close to the wall you are bringing one side of your body closer to the wall. You become bigger because you minimize the angle between your hand, hips, and feet.

    • Stabilize yourself

    In order to set up your next move, you need to get into a very stable position. The tension you create locks you in place because of the tension you create.

    • Conserve energy

    When you build outward tension between your feet, you’ll not only relieve your arms of some weight, you’ll also be able to hang from extended arms for as long as possible before grabbing the next hold. When compared to bent arms, hanging from extended arms saves a great deal of energy.

    Untitled design 13 | How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide
    adam ondra drop knee climbing edited | How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide

    Utilizing the Dropknee involves certain risks

    Dropknees are among the most injury sensitive climbing techniques you’ll come across. When you are not properly warmed up, never use it. Injuries that can be caused by the dropknee include:

    • Knee strain. A minor stretch of one of your knee ligaments. After a couple of days, it should heal.
    • ‘Unhappy Triad’ injuries affect the meniscus and knee ligaments. They can leave you incapacitated for a long time. You should avoid problems with your meniscus in particular.
    • A dislocated knee. When you dropknee and follow it up with a very dynamic move or when you lose your balance and fall awkwardly, this can happen.

    If you were guaranteed to get these kinds of injuries, the dropknee move wouldn’t be used. Injury can certainly be avoided altogether. It is nevertheless important to acknowledge the risks involved and to take the necessary precautions.

    Step-by-step instructions on how to Dropknee

    Let’s take a look at how to perform the dropknee properly.

    We have outlined all the steps below.

    Also, the video above is extremely helpful for explaining and showing it, so you might want to watch it first.

    1. The starting position

    Dropknees should be performed with four points of contact, that is, with both hands and feet on holds.

    2. Place your foot correctly

    Be sure you have enough space between your toes and the wall so that you can rotate your foot without getting stuck. The ideal point of contact will vary from hold to hold, but is usually close to your big toe and ball of your foot.

    3. Rotate your feet

    Make sure one of your feet is pointing parallel to the wall so that it is pointing in the direction of the centre of your body.

    4. Pull your hips in and point your knee down

    Bend your knee so that it is in a straight line between your two feet, wherever they are located. Sometimes you may even be able to squat lower, but don’t put too much strain on your ligaments.

    Pull your hips closer to the wall while turning your knee downward in one smooth motion. The hip nearest the wall should be closest to the bent knee hip.

    5. Bring your opposite hand towards you for additional reach

    If you want to save energy in some cases and skip this step, you may do so. The distance towards the next hold determines what happens. To gain momentum for the next hold, you’ll want to begin pulling the remaining hand that is still on the hold.

    Take away one thing from this article: Don’t start pulling before your knee has dropped. Hold your arms out until then!

    6. With the right hand, grab the next hold

    Last but not least, reach out for the next hold and grab it. It’s that easy!

    It is now possible to place your hips parallel to the wall’s face once again. As soon as you can, you should move onto the next dropknee, thereby reestablishing a hip-to-wall angle.

    When you do the drop knee, your hips are no longer parallel to the wall. You can allow the arm that is holding onto a hold to remain as extended as possible by twisting your hips as you reach for the next hold. In the long run, this saves a lot of energy.

    When using a dropknee, use a high foothold

    Your elbow can actually block you from rotating your knee down when a hold is really high. In addition, pull off a dropknee when the footholds are relatively high requires you to be more flexible.

    Too high footholds put you at risk of not being able to lock in your knee properly. If the tension is not right, the foothold can shoot off.

    Make sure you finish the move completely before moving onto the next hold. A dropknee that isn’t perfect may actually be better than playing it safe and climbing to the next hold in a less efficient manner.

    These are some common mistakes with dropknees

    • We are not committing. Not fully committing will result in insufficient pressure between your two legs, which will render many of the benefits of the dropknee ineffective. Build up the pressure you need by going deeper!
    • Rather than twisting into the dropknee, place the foot in the dropped position right from the start. This makes the move unnecessarily difficult. Occasionally, you may need to place your foot like this, but in most cases you can simply start the dropknee from a normal position with your hips parallel to the wall. From there, twist it.
    • It’s reaching out with the wrong hand after a dropknee has been inserted. Due to this, your position becomes unstable and you may start to pull away from the wall.

    Applying the Dropknee method to an overhang

    Especially for beginners, it is not uncommon to find yourself dangling freely from your arms, without using your feet as anchors, when it comes to overhangs.

    In any case, climbing beginners quickly learn to keep their hips closer to the wall as they ascend.

    adam ondra drop knee climbing edited | How to Dropknee: Step-By-Step Climbing Technique Guide

    You must have strong core muscles to balance on overhangs, since gravity constantly pulls your back away from the wall.

    Dropknees have the advantage of making it easy to keep your hips close to the wall. Due to the tension built up between your two feet, pressing your hip to the wall requires less core strength.

    It’s quite possible to maintain this tension while you lunge for the next hold. Once you master this technique, it will be easier to not lose your footing all the time when climbing overhangs.

    Using the dropknee will encourage you to utilize the wall more efficiently, instead of campussing like a calisthenics enthusiast without climbing experience would. Even if you’re less strong, you’ll be able to stick to the wall longer!

    Before using a dropknee, you should warm up

    Warm up properly before trying dropknees.

    Your meniscus will be less likely to be injured if your joint capsule is warmed up.

    We recommend that you warm up by using the skipping rope, doing squats, and stretching. After fully warming up, climbers begin dropping on their knees to ensure I don’t damage my knee. Climbing consistently is what we are interested in, after all. To know more about different type of rock climbing technique, check out this article.

    Previous ArticleHow Do Climbers Poop on Big Walls and at High Altitudes?
    Next Article How to Use Rappelling Rings?

    Related Posts

    Are Steel Toed Boots Good for Hiking

    Are Steel Toed Boots Good for Hiking

    best climbing pants | Exciting benefits of climbing pants?

    Exciting benefits of climbing pants?

    maxresdefault | Why K2 Is More Dangerous Than Everest

    Why K2 Is More Dangerous Than Everest

    eric molten2edit social | 11 Simple Projecting Tips for Rock Climbing

    11 Simple Projecting Tips for Rock Climbing

    helmet buying guide | Climbing Helmet vs Bike Helmet – Can I Wear my Bike Helmet for Climbing?

    Climbing Helmet vs Bike Helmet – Can I Wear my Bike Helmet for Climbing?

    1 Q95Z70grwqX85tLCdK YeA | 12 Amazing Lessons I've Learned From Rock Climbing

    12 Amazing Lessons I’ve Learned From Rock Climbing

    181012 mens health degree clint carter 0177 1540924129 | 8 great tips for rock climbing preparation and bouldering

    8 great tips for rock climbing preparation and bouldering

    Climbing Shoes Advice How to Clean Climbing Shoes | Exciting Way to Clean Climbing and Bouldering Shoes

    Exciting Way to Clean Climbing and Bouldering Shoes

    COMMONMISTAKES | How to Avoid these 7 Dreadful Climbing and Bouldering Training Mistakes

    How to Avoid these 7 Dreadful Climbing and Bouldering Training Mistakes

    d02cf9af 6bbf 4d7b 993e 4c0981c9fe65 | 21 Reasons Why Bouldering Is So Popular

    21 Reasons Why Bouldering Is So Popular

    DSC9428 | 5 Best Bouldering Shoes and Climbing Shoes for Women

    5 Best Bouldering Shoes and Climbing Shoes for Women

    img 5907 margo e294ace28c90jenniejariel | Why Climbers Need Mobility, The Exciting Way To Get It

    Why Climbers Need Mobility, The Exciting Way To Get It

    gunks alan scaled 1 | The Gunks, New York Climbing Destination Guide

    The Gunks, New York Climbing Destination Guide

    muscular man doing pull ups on horizontal bar royalty free image 1578937146 | The Exciting Scapular Pull-Up For Climbing

    The Exciting Scapular Pull-Up For Climbing

    barbell lift squat 1200x628 facebook | 4 Exciting Ways for Conditioning of Climbers : Fitness and Strength Are Not the Same

    4 Exciting Ways for Conditioning of Climbers : Fitness and Strength Are Not the Same

    dsc06775 | How to Stretch Climbing Shoes: Ultimate Guide

    How to Stretch Climbing Shoes: Ultimate Guide

    icb 050817 008 ice snow protection lg | Can you ice climb a waterfall?

    Can you ice climb a waterfall?

    Rock Climbing Moves Techniques 1 | 7 EXCITING BOULDERING & CLIMBING MOVES FOR BEGINNERS

    7 EXCITING BOULDERING & CLIMBING MOVES FOR BEGINNERS

    1.SRX CLIMBING TRANSITION1.JPG Nsf4piC | How to Transition from Indoor to Exciting Outdoor Climbing

    How to Transition from Indoor to Exciting Outdoor Climbing

    maxresdefault e1460585315200 1024x684 1 | Top 10 Best Climbing Movies of All Time

    Top 10 Best Climbing Movies of All Time

    adam ondra scream climbing h | Why Do Rock Climbers Scream?

    Why Do Rock Climbers Scream?

    slabs article 1400x | What Is Slab Climbing? + 7 Exciting Slab Climbing Technique Tips

    What Is Slab Climbing? + 7 Exciting Slab Climbing Technique Tips

    main qimg 6b26d392ce283aeb649cfebf86dc5b44 | How Do Rock Climbers Get Down?- It Can Be A Challenge !

    How Do Rock Climbers Get Down?- It Can Be A Challenge !

    431A3955 min 1024x683 2 | What Is Sport Climbing? – Everything in 1 Article!

    What Is Sport Climbing? – Everything in 1 Article!

    alex honnold from above | What Is Free Climbing? – Rock Climbing’s Most Commonly Mistaken Term

    What Is Free Climbing? – Rock Climbing’s Most Commonly Mistaken Term

    maxresdefault 5 | What Is A Sandbag In Climbing? – Climbing Jargon Explained

    What Is A Sandbag In Climbing? – Climbing Jargon Explained

    rinckenberger 111815 1821 main lg | What Does Climbing Onsight Mean? – Climbing Jargon Explained

    What Does Climbing Onsight Mean? – Climbing Jargon Explained

    StickClips 0 1200x630 1 | Best Clip Stick – The Secret To Safer Climbing

    Best Clip Stick – The Secret To Safer Climbing

    chalk | Best Liquid Chalk For Climbing | Why Some Prefer It

    Best Liquid Chalk For Climbing | Why Some Prefer It

    8526 | What To Wear Indoor Rock Climbing – 11 Surprisingly Simple Tips + Answers

    What To Wear Indoor Rock Climbing – 11 Surprisingly Simple Tips + Answers

    learn speed climbing 1545136441 | What is Speed Climbing? The Basics You Need to Know

    What is Speed Climbing? The Basics You Need to Know

    zsrvyafypjxgqyoxdost | What Is Speed Climbing? – The New Olympic Sport Explained

    What Is Speed Climbing? – The New Olympic Sport Explained

    maxresdefault 4 | Can You Wear Socks with Rock Climbing Shoes?

    Can You Wear Socks with Rock Climbing Shoes?

    rock climbing shoes wall outdoors h | Different Types of Climbing Shoes

    Different Types of Climbing Shoes

    hiking | What Material Provides Warmth Even When Wet

    What Material Provides Warmth Even When Wet

    Gym to Crag 2 | Is Outdoor Bouldering Harder than Indoor Bouldering?

    Is Outdoor Bouldering Harder than Indoor Bouldering?

    9 Benefits of Hiking | Top 10 benefits of Mountaineering

    Top 10 benefits of Mountaineering

    unnamed 3 | How Much Water Do You Need for Hiking and Mountaineering?

    How Much Water Do You Need for Hiking and Mountaineering?

    mountain climbing dog Don Wargowsky and Mera the Dog Facebook | Complete Guide to Bringing Your Dog with You When Climbing

    Complete Guide to Bringing Your Dog with You When Climbing

    111332335 medium 1494348223 | What Is A Gaston In Climbing? Powerful Moves for Beginners

    What Is A Gaston In Climbing? Powerful Moves for Beginners

    Comments are closed.

    Buy Me A Coffee
    Are Steel Toed Boots Good for Hiking

    Are Steel Toed Boots Good for Hiking

    February 16, 2022
    best climbing pants | Exciting benefits of climbing pants?

    Exciting benefits of climbing pants?

    February 16, 2022
    maxresdefault | Why K2 Is More Dangerous Than Everest

    Why K2 Is More Dangerous Than Everest

    January 23, 2022
    eric molten2edit social | 11 Simple Projecting Tips for Rock Climbing

    11 Simple Projecting Tips for Rock Climbing

    November 23, 2021
    9 Benefits of Hiking | Top 10 benefits of Mountaineering

    Top 10 benefits of Mountaineering

    October 24, 2021
    download 10 | Is Rappelling Dangerous? Tips on How to Stay Safe!

    Is Rappelling Dangerous? Tips on How to Stay Safe!

    July 29, 2021
    climb 1044713 1280 | Can You Wear Gloves While Rock Climbing ?

    Can You Wear Gloves While Rock Climbing ?

    June 8, 2021
    nima sarram Nkt1hrf2bBI unsplash compressed 1 | Does Climbing Chalk Really Help?

    Does Climbing Chalk Really Help?

    September 18, 2021
    winter mountaineering Bernd Eberle 1024x683 1 | Mountaineering vs Rock Climbing: What is the Difference?

    Mountaineering vs Rock Climbing: What is the Difference?

    July 15, 2021
    Best Camping Lanterns FB | Should I buy a gas camping lantern or led camping lantern?

    Should I buy a gas camping lantern or led camping lantern?

    August 31, 2021
    AndyEarl 03282019 BDE 4903 2048px 1 e1563303271838 | Can You Rock Climb in Jeans?

    Can You Rock Climb in Jeans?

    July 13, 2021
    couple hiking mountain climbing 1296x728 header | All You Need To about Hiking (Complete Guide)!

    All You Need To about Hiking (Complete Guide)!

    August 15, 2021
    climber mountain valley h | How Long Does it Take a Beginner to Get “Good” at Climbing?

    How Long Does it Take a Beginner to Get “Good” at Climbing?

    October 18, 2021
    download 10 | Is Rappelling Dangerous? Tips on How to Stay Safe!

    Is Rappelling Dangerous? Tips on How to Stay Safe!

    July 29, 2021
    gunks alan scaled 1 | The Gunks, New York Climbing Destination Guide

    The Gunks, New York Climbing Destination Guide

    November 13, 2021
    coyote and pup 1024x535 1 | How dangerous is a pack of coyotes to a lone, unarmed human?

    How dangerous is a pack of coyotes to a lone, unarmed human?

    October 20, 2021
    Trek Amaze
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Vimeo YouTube
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Disclaimer
    • End-User License Agreement (“Agreement”)
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Guest Post
    © 2022 Trekamaze. Designed by Trekamaze.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.