The Rock Warrior’s Way
Rock Warrior’s Way Clinics offer a framework for climbers to develop and apply their attention on the wall. Dustin has been a licensed trainer with Desiderata Institute since 2019.
Falling & Commitment Clinics address falling directly in order to improve commitment.
Traditional Climbing Camps are specifically targeted toward developing better mental focus for leading trad routes. (scroll down for more details)
Curious about hosting a clinic? Want to arrange private sessions? We can do that. Email dustin@advancedrockcraft.com.
Falling & Commitment Clinic
Description: This training addresses falling directly to help improve commitment. We do progressive falling practice, followed by movement, breathing, resting, and body/mind awareness exercises. Finally, students apply everything to a goal route. Students leave understanding how to take appropriate risks and how to commit to those risks.
You’ll learn how to:
Fall safely
Give a dynamic (cushioned) belay
Break a climb into smaller risk events
Assess risks effectively
Distinguish between no- and yes-fall zones
Engage no- and yes-fall zones appropriately
Make appropriate risk decisions
Improve body and mind awareness
Rest effectively
Improve breathing
Create flow and momentum
Deal with climbing stress
Commit more deliberately
Reduce fear, and more
Pre-requisites:
Able to toprope 5.8 in a gym with no falls
Climb indoors/outdoors at least 1-2 times per week
At least 6 months of continuous climbing experience within the last year
Traditional Climbing Camp
Description: This course is specifically targeted toward developing better mental focus for leading trad routes. To accomplish this, we need to develop trust in our equipment and climbing ability. We’ll develop this trust by falling on gear, moving continuously, practicing quick and precise gear placement and improving mental focus through application of the Warrior’s Way. You’ll leave knowing how to take appropriate risks on trad routes with improved mental focus.
You’ll learn:
To place and assess trad protection
Trusting trad gear by falling on it
Assessing risks effectively, allowing you to take appropriate risks
Improve commitment and mental focus
Improve safety awareness
What we won’t be covering:
Equalizing anchors
Multi-pitch transitions
Other basic trad skills
Pre-requisites:
Able to lead 5.8 sport, or top-rope 5.9 with no falls
Climb indoors/outdoors at least 1-2 times per week
At least 6 months of continuous climbing experience within the last year
Some experience following or leading trad routes
Student Testimonials
“I took a Falling & Commitment course at my local climbing gym with Dustin. It was a great experience for me and my climbing partner and opened up more possibilities and options for me as I push my limits!”
Audrey H.I recently took the Rock Warrior's Way clinic with Dustin and would absolutely recommend this course for anyone looking to focus on the mental aspects of climbing that are so easily overlooked. Dustin led us through the various tasks in a way that was easy to understand and also apply to each of our sessions going forward. I've already found this clinic to be super helpful and recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to sign up.
Courtney L.Dustin's expertise is only the foundation of why working with him is great. He has phenomenal processes by which a climber can learn and practice the skills that they personally need. The fact is, every climber benefits from an outside eye, and Dustin is a great mentor to offer guidance for climbers!
Torsten J.“Dustin is a consummate professional, and an excellent guide and instructor. I have been out with him multiple times in various climbing situations using warriors way curriculum as well as other rock climbing material. It is always an enjoyable and enriching experience. Highly recommend Dustin.”
Neil S.“I completed an outdoor, 2-day Rock Warrior clinic with Dustin in 2022, and more recently an indoor clinic at my local gym. Dustin's approach to the mental aspects of lead climbing has been super helpful for me, a relatively novice lead climber. He is patient, clear, and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommended!”
Ted E.
“I took the "Falling and Commitment" clinic with Dustin and had an enlightening, empowering, and super fun day. Dustin is an approachable, kind, and skilled coach who takes the time to ask questions and tailor his teaching to individual student goals. He created a safe, controlled environment for climbers to practice minimizing the hazards of falling while developing commitment strategies. He also works with students to flesh out some key philosophical and metaphysical concepts about the whats/whys/hows of our sport. I've been climbing for 25 years and wish I had known Dustin 25 years ago. You'll be in good hands with Dustin! He's a consummate professional, deep thinker, and all-around five-star guide and guy.”
Derin T.“I attended the Warrior's Way clinic with Dustin and would definitely recommend. It was incredibly helpful in practicing mindfulness when climbing, focusing on breathing and risk assessment and maintaining a presence in the body while climbing. The techniques were thoughtful and help work with fear of falling. Dustin was very professional and friendly, and made the class super approachable.”
<a few weeks later>
“Hey Dustin, I wanted to reach out and just provide personal feedback based on my progress these past few weeks! Gosia and I have been actively practicing falling and I’ve honestly noticed HUGE progress. We constantly remind ourselves of the techniques and tips you taught us, communicate about them, and I’m climbing more mindfully. I’ve been pushing myself out of my comfort zone more and climbing harder, have climbed a 10 in the arch I was previously too scared to try, and even started trying the rainbow 10 in the arch! Just wanted to share cause I truly have seen a positive impact following your workshop and am so excited to be progressing. Thank you, again!!”
Meagan B.“I booked gym falling and commitment classes with the instructor Dustin at 2 gyms that I run. I cannot overstate how happy I am with them. Dustin gave personalized attention to all the participants, kept them engaged, and most importantly left them with knowledge to progress in their hobbies. I asked each participant afterwards about their experience and all of them, with big grins on their faces and excitement in their eyes, said that they loved it and felt that they had received more than what they were hoping for. I was glad to see this class wasn't just about taking big falls and whips over and over but taught everyone theories, concepts, and mindsets to be utilized in the future. 10/10”
Adam S., General Manager, The Gravity Vaults Chatham, NJ and Upper Saddle River, NJ