Footwork

• Stand on the inside edge of your big toe on most footholds. This position gives you the most power and versatility. Standing on your big toe's inside edge allows to you pivot and shift your body position more easily than standing on the ball of your foot. It also gives you more height and reach. You should also master the back-step, in which you stand on the outside edge of your foot and turn your hip into the wall.
  
  

Arms

• Keep your arms straight at all possible times when you're climbing, only bending them when a movement requires it. The straighter you keep your arms, the less fatigued they will become. Maintain straighter arms by focusing on foot placements that use your more powerful, less-fatigue-prone legs to propel your upward movements. When you're thinking about how to do the next move, revert to a straight-arm position while you consider your options.
  
  

Grip

• Relax your hands as much as possible on each hold you grab. Use only the minimal amount of strength required to keep your hand on the hold and to move off it effectively. The less effort you put into hanging on to each handhold, the more you can mitigate the dreaded climbing "pump," in which the forearm muscles become so filled with lactic acid that you cannot close your hands on handholds anymore.
  
  

Turn Your Body

• Don't feel as though you should keep your hips square to the climbing wall. Turning your body can allow for more efficient climbing movements, especially on overhanging terrain. Turning your body goes hand-in-hand with other basic climbing techniques, including back-stepping, a looser grip and straight arms. When you pivot into a back-step position, it often allows you to loosen your grip and relax into a straight-armed position.
  
  

Pacing

• Move quickly through difficult sections of a route. Rest when you reach a hold you can easily hang on to in a straight-armed position. Sink your weight down and bend your legs to straighten your arms out. Release the hold with one hand, shaking it out over your head and behind your back, and then switch hands. As soon as your breathing and heart rate have slowed down, start moving up the route again.