Zen the Climber

I always wondered what makes a climber an actual climber. When did I become a climber? It's hard to tell really. I was once told as soon as I can sport climb 5.10, then I would be a real climber. Once I did, I didn't really feel any different. My urge to climb was the same, my urge to improve didn't change, my love for the sport was no different than before. It was when I met Zen that I realized something I always knew.

Zen was in diapers when I first saw him, in a bouldering gym in Yokosuka Japan. Running around my local gym like many kids do. Some kids climb a little then run off, others just sit and wait until their parents are done. Zen, once he got away from his mother, I thought would be in the latter of the group. I was wrong, he ran to the walls, grabbed the holds, and climbed up. Not once, or for a few minutes, but for hours. I watched in amazement as he kept his arms straight, used his legs for strength, balanced his weight properly. I actually pointed out his technic to my friend who was climbing for his first time. The first time I climbed my buddy dragged me to a climbing gym in California. He was better than me and I had an issue with that. I wasn't a big fan of heights, but I was an even worse fan at being shown up at something (specially by my friend).

I continued to climb and little by little I improved to surpass my friend. Normally that would of been good enough, but kept on going. It was my escape from work, girl problems, and whatever life through at me. I loved the challenge of a new route, specially one on the next grade. The utter joy of finally getting that route and the community of climbers that where there to support me. Climbers are a special breed of people, who climb solely to prove to themselves. Not often do you see a cocky climber teasing the new guy who can't climb a V2 like you do in other sports. Climbers tend to be supportive of each other, like we want everyone to climb and feel our joy.

So when I realized that a two year old boy was on the wall, and thats all he wanted to do it made sense to me. You become a climber when you love it! Zen taught me that because it was him who wanted to be on the wall. It was him who got upset when his parents told him it was time to go home. It just goes to show that sometimes it's the young ones who can teach us some great lessons in life. Please watch the video I made for him. Thanks for reading and climb on!