Rock climbing is a challenging and rewarding sport that’s growing in popularity. It can also be a difficult sport to get into without ‘knowing the ropes’, or without having someone who can introduce you to the sport. I can be that guy! I’m a freelance (indoor) climbing instructor operating in the Milton Keynes area. Just get in touch, tell me what you’re after, we’ll agree a time and climbing centre to meet at, then go from there! It really is that simple. I’ll liaise with the climbing center and meet you there 15 minutes before we start. Please find my pricing and details below.
All climbers are responsible for paying their own entry to the climbing wall as well as for any equipment they wish to hire (i.e. shoes & harness). Please check with your local climbing centre for prices and details (usually £9 ~ £12). If you'd like me to sort this for you and include it in my costings, then please let me know.
Learn the Ropes
Top rope climbing for beginners. Let's start from scratch! I’ll help you choose and use the right equipment, tie in and belay correctly. We’ll practise setting up ground anchors and learn how to take and catch falls! Don’t worry, it sounds scarier than it is. We’ll get to know the entire gym including the bouldering room and auto-belays. My aim by the end of the course is for you to be able to access any climbing gym independently.
-£50/climber
-x4, 2 hr sessions
Freshen up
A one-off refresher session. Great if you've just finished a course and want further tuition, or your mate taught you to belay and you want to check if you're doing it right! (Always a good idea). Available for top rope and lead climbers who want to push through to the next grade.
- £20 + £5/climber
-x1, 2 hr session
Boulder Buddy
Did yo turn up at a climbing wall and need an introduction to bouldering but no one’s available? I’m your guy. Got a boulder problem you just can’t suss the beta on? I’ll show you how to crush it, or die trying (metaphorically). Unless you’re at V6(+), then I’m not your guy. You need a better guy; but I can introduce you to him!
-£15 + £5/climber
-x1, 1.5 hr session
Drive the Kids Up the Wall
Kids party? Let’s do it! I’ve been a primary school teacher for longer than I care to admit and guarantee a good time for all, complete with games and friendly competitions. Adults, don’t be afraid to get involved too! (Ratio of 1:8 max)
-£25 + £5/climber
-x1, 2 hr session
Lead On
Been top roping for a while and fancy giving lead climbing a go? If you can climb 5+, and don’t mind taking a fall, then you’re ready! I’ll ease you into lead climbing like a climbing into a warm bath. It’s nowhere near as terrifying as you think! We’ll practise clipping in, lead belay and falls. You ready for a whipper?!
-£50/climber
-x4, 2 hr sessions
Adults Belay, Kids Climb
Did you know that some climbing walls charge for use of the wall only? Once you’re trained, you only pay entry if you climb! (Ask your local centre for more details). I’ll teach you how to take your little sprog climbing and point out problems you might encounter specific to children at a climbing centre. You’ll learn how to fit and adjust equipment specific to children, belay, use the auto-belays and even boulder if you and your mini-you is up for it.
-£50/adult climber + £10/child climber
-x4, 2 hr sessions
Bespoke Just for You
Did you have something else in mind? Give me a shout. I’ll design a program based on you and your needs. Just let me know what you’re after and I’ll do my utmost to accommodate you. Whether your little one wants practise before a school residential trip (actual client), or your child fancies completing their GCSE in climbing and requires some video evidence, then gimme a shout! I’ll design a series of lessons just for you!
-£20 + £5/climber
-x1, 2 hr session
A Bit About Me
I’ve been a teacher in one form or another for most of my life. In the distant past I’ve been a Wado-Kai Karate Sensei, a Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor, First-Aid and CPR Instructor as well as English teacher in Japan. I currently work as a Primary School Teacher and have done so for over a decade now, specialising in music and collaborative art. I’m also a blues musician, music promoter and host of a popular weekly open mic night. I’ve recently decided to steer my career away from the classroom and instead combine my passion for climbing with my love of teaching. This has resulted in the founding of True Grit Climbing.
In starting this business, I hope to build a foundation of clients whom I can train and mentor throughout their climbing career. I intend to develop myself as an instructor as a result too. I am determined to qualify as an outdoors climbing instructor within the next year and introduce you good people to the next stage after training indoors; the real world, with real rock, simply referred to as ‘Outdoors’ in the climbing world.
My Philosophy
Climbing is not only great for the body, it’s also does wonders for your mind and overall well-being. It challenges you, teaches you focus and control and pushes you past limits you didn’t know you had. You’ll find yourself crushing climbs that seemed literally impossible just a few months previously! Climbing teaches you plenty about yourself too, as there can be no ego or excuses on the wall. The sense of pride you gain from topping out a route that you’ve been working on is diminished only by the realisation that there is always more progression to be made. Each and every climb is different, so each and every workout is different. It’s hard at first, but gets easier the more you do it. If you commit to it, you’ll notice positive changes in your physique, attitude and overall fitness. All in all, climbing becomes a way of life with so many different avenues it’s difficult to know where to start; but I’ll help you.
Having spent the past five years learning to climb indoors, working as a freelance instructor and exploring the outdoors, I’ve gone through the process many new climbers go through of trying to figure out just how and where to gain the strength, skills, knowledge and technique needed to trust yourself enough to commit to that next big move. I’ve experienced the fear of leading my first sport climb outdoors, scrambling to summits in North Wales and trad multi-pitch climbing my first crag. I’ve still got a ways to go with outdoors climbing before being able to offer it to you, but having navigated the indoor world, I would like to make climbing accessible to everyone. Yes, even if your are ‘scared of heights’ or have ‘no upper body strength’! I’ll help to dispel those myths and gain the confidence, technique and knowledge you need.
Whether you’ve never touched a rope before, or have just had a few months off and would like a refresher; I’m there. Whether you’ve belayed for months but aren’t certain your mate taught you properly, or just completed a course and would like more tuition; get in touch! I thoroughly enjoy instructing and will do my utmost to ensure you are taught best-practise with the most up to date equipment and training available in order to ensure you leave my company a safe climber who’s well tooled up for the job at hand. Then it’s up to you! Have you committed?
See you at the gym and welcome to the tribe! Have you got True Grit?
Jeff Sewell
Freelance Climbing Instructor
True Grit Climbing
