The Monkey Climb, explained
The Monkey Climb pole move is pure play: compact, a little cheeky and full of energy. Your hands reach up, your knees bend and your feet find the pole, so you travel upwards in a crouched, springy shape that really does look like a monkey heading up a tree. It is a fun way to add variety to your climbing once the Basic Climb feels familiar.
What is the Monkey Climb?
Picture yourself facing the pole, hands above you, knees bent and feet against the pole, your body folded into a small, active package. From there you move up in short, rhythmic stages, a bit like climbing a palm tree. Compared to the Basic Climb, the shape is tighter and more athletic, and your feet play a bigger role. The exact placement of your hands and feet and the rhythm of each stage are what the tutorial walks you through, because those details matter.
Is the Monkey Climb pole move for beginners?
It usually comes a little after your very first steps, and that is fine. Once your Basic Climb feels comfortable and you know how it is to be off the floor for a moment, the Monkey Climb is a lovely next challenge. If your first tries end with your feet sliding back down or your arms feeling tired fast, you are in good company. Every climb starts out that way, and the feeling of moving upwards gets lighter with practice.
What it builds: grip, arms and coordination
This climb trains your grip, your forearms and your upper body, because your hands do a lot of the work while your legs find their place. Your core keeps the crouched shape compact, and your whole body learns coordination: hands and feet working together in a rhythm. Regular conditioning makes it feel calmer over time. Bare feet and legs help you feel the pole, and skipping body lotion on training days keeps you from slipping.
Monkey Climb on a static or spinning pole?
Most dancers learn this climb on a static pole first, so the pole stays still while you find your rhythm. On a spinning pole, the pole turns as you climb, which can feel playful but also a bit unpredictable. Once your static version feels steady, trying it in spinning mode is a fun way to see how your climb changes.
How you learn it at POLEPLACE
At POLEPLACE you learn every move with the Floor-Stand-Air Method™. You get to know the crouched shape on the floor first, then practise the hand and foot rhythm standing at the pole, and only then take it into the air. Each stage is a small win, in your own space and at your own pace.
Climbing variations and what comes next
Once your Monkey Climb feels smooth, mix it into your practice: climb a few stages, then pause in a Seat or flow into a spin on the way down. If you love climbing, the Side Climb and the Pull Up Climb are other ways up the pole, each with its own feel and its own kind of strength. The more climbs you know, the freer your combos become.
