Want to improve as a climber? Watch the pros.

Climbing is often an aggravating sport, and it is really easy to feel like you have plateaued. It’s important to remember to focus on your technique and not overdo your training. In short, learn from those who do it best.

1. Chris Sharma — Control Your Breath

Sharma is one of the best in the world right now, and is constantly pushing the limits of what is possible to climb. Most of us will never be able to come close to his sends, but there is a lot he can teach us. The fundamentals are consistent, no matter what level you climb.

Sharma gets a lot right, as does anyone who can climb at the level he does. The biggest takeaway I want to highlight, though, is breath control. Sharma has an incredible ability to control his breathing. Listen to him as he climbs. Remember to control your breath.

2. Adam Ondra — Focus on Footwork

Ondra may look unassuming, but don’t let his boyish appearance fool you. He is one of the most promising young climbers alive today, and has already pushed the sport to new horizons despite his young age. He is also chase fast on the heels of climbing legend Chris Sharma, having just conquered Spain’s giant La Dura Dura (The Hard Hard).

Ondra is not as powerful as some other professional climbers, but he more than makes up for it with his technique. He is incredibly smooth and intentional as he climbs. He does not flail with his feet, and place them accurately and calmly. Watch his climb in the video above and focus on his ability to place his feet.

3. Sasha Digiulian — Embrace Your Differences

Digiulian is one of the best female climbers active right now. She has recently branched out of competitive sport climbing to focus on ice climbing and even a bit of alpine. No matter what discipline she is active in though, she always climbs smoothly and powerfully. She can definitely hang with the boys.

One of the major challenges facing Digiulian is her size. The hardest routes in the world require consistent powerful endurance, and her height can make her do extra work at times. The challenge is not enough to keep her down, though. She is phenomenally talented at using her height as an advantage. She does this by utilizing strong footwork and using her core as much as possible to move her to better positions.