Bouldering at bloc Climbing: How a Manga Sparked George's New Obsession

Finding a new activity that genuinely excites your child isn’t always easy. For us, bouldering wasn’t something we planned — it started with a book.

After reading the manga The Climber, George became fascinated by climbing. Not just the physical challenge, but the mindset behind it: focus, resilience, and working through difficult problems alone. That curiosity led us to bouldering at Bloc Climbing, and after four visits, it’s safe to say it’s become a firm favourite.

What Is Bouldering?

Bouldering is a form of indoor climbing that focuses on short but challenging routes, known as “problems”. Unlike traditional climbing, there are no ropes or harnesses. The walls are lower, and thick padded mats provide a safe landing.

Each route is designed to test:

• Strength

• Balance

• Coordination

• Problem-solving skills

It’s as much a mental challenge as a physical one, which is exactly why it appealed to George after reading The Climber.

Our First Visit to Bloc Climbing

Walking into Bloc Climbing, the atmosphere was welcoming and calm. Colourful climbing holds covered the walls, and climbers of all ages were working through routes at their own pace.

George's first session was an Instructor led induction which talked through safety, started with a warmup and then onto trying various 'problems'. When he did start climbing, it wasn’t about reaching the top straight away. It was about experimenting, failing, adjusting, and trying again.

That mindset has stayed with him through every visit.

How George Developed a Love for Bouldering

After four sessions at Bloc Climbing, the change in George has been clear.

He’s more confident approaching difficult routes and more patient when things don’t work the first time. He talks about climbs like puzzles, analysing what went wrong and what he’ll try next time. Falling off isn’t a failure — it’s part of the process.

Bouldering has become something he genuinely looks forward to, not something we have to encourage. At Bloc, I will say this, the team there are genuinely friendly and helpful. If they see George struggling, they pop over to offer words of encouragement as well as offering suggestions on how to tackle routes or improving his hold/technique.

Why Bouldering Is Great for Kids and Families

Bouldering is one of those rare activities that works brilliantly for both children and adults. From our experience at Bloc Climbing, the benefits include:

• Improved problem-solving skills

• Full-body strength and coordination

• Mental focus and calmness

• Resilience and perseverance

• Confidence gained through self-led progress

Because everyone climbs at their own level, there’s no pressure to compete. Kids climb alongside adults, beginners alongside experienced climbers, creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

Is Bloc Climbing Worth Visiting?

Yes — especially for families looking for something different.

If your child enjoys problem-solving, needs a confidence boost, or prefers individual challenges over team sports, bouldering at Bloc Climbing is well worth trying, BUT if the thought of climbing without a rope scares you, there is a big selection of Clip and Climb challenges too. It’s active without being overwhelming, challenging without being intimidating, and genuinely rewarding.

For us, Bloc Climbing has become a place where George feels capable, focused, and proud of himself — and that’s something we’ll always encourage.