Blog | Bliss Climbing and Fitness

Rock Climbing near Wichita RSS Feed

How to climb V9 in six months. Why some climbers progress at breakneck speeds.

“ That is so cool. How do you do that? ” “ Wow!You’re strong!! How long have you been climbing? ” “ I am totally jealous of you right now. ” I probably hear some version of those comments every month or so. I must be awesome, right? (My mom thinks so).OK, maybe not. Actually it’s probably more representative that someone of my age is climbing at all (just wanted to get that comment in before you did).The truth though is that to a newer climber, even modest skill can look very impressive.However, after three years of running a climbing gym, I’ve learned to not let the praise go to my head.More often than not, those ....
Read more
How Exercise Can Help You Fight Your Addiction

Recovering from an addiction is far more complex than just stopping the habit and showing up to counseling. You need to give yourself the tools to cope with withdrawal and for the hole in your life left behind by your habit. Exercise, with its myriad mental health benefits and its potential for an immediate feel-good rush, is amongst the best of these tools. How Does Fitness Help?
There are several ways in which physical fitness can help when recovering from an addiction. The most obvious one is that intense exercise can create a “high” that can act as a healthy substitute for the high from a drug. According to Shape, you are more likely to experience this after ....
Read more
23 Mar 2018
The Importance of Hands (In Climbing)

If you have been in the gym for more than 5 minutes, you have probably heard me yelling at some one to use their feet either better or at all. I hear gumby-esque people telling it to their new friends and long time climbers screaming at their partners alike. So much easier said than done, right?! Every climber starts off trying to pull themselves up the wall with their minuscule arms. Most people have teeny tiny arms compared to their legs. We usually stand and walk around on our legs, not our arms. Our leg muscles are just bigger, so why do we always want to pull with the weak biceps? There is a switch in our brain that tells you “If I am going up I need to use my arms to pull ....
Read more
19 Mar 2018
Injury Prevention

Injury prevention is one of those things we tend to look past until we wind up hurt. Regardless if you are training for a big event, training to climb one grade higher, climbing for fitness or simply climbing for the fun of it, it’s always best to remember to take care of your body! Given the extreme load that we climbers place on our bodies, injuries are likely to happen; but with restraint and discipline, much can be done to prevent them. From the words of Benjamin Franklin “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are several ways to encourage the healing of micro-trauma between workouts. Eliminating inactive joint stress, stretching, massage, and icing ....
Read more
110% Determination: Keys to creating Olympic-style greatness

Have you been watching the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics? It’s just so fascinating to me to watch young athletes who have devoted their entire lives to being the best in the world at one thing. The focus, the determination, the commitment, the passion. It is nothing short of inspiring. And the power the Olympics have to bring a world together is nothing short of miraculous. One of my favorite parts of the broadcasts is when the network decides to show an athlete’s back story. So often we just assume that these kids were handed a magic wand that transformed them into something extraordinary. While it is true that many of them have exceptional natural talent; what sets them ....
Read more
A lonely climber's tale of finding true love

I remember it well. Feb 14, 1971. Valentine’s Day. THE day of the year to show that true love the depth of your adoration for the very ground that they walked on. Oh, and I WAS in love! Mary was her name. School teacher glasses, long wavy hair (black as midnight), quiet and shy in the cutest way. Today was the day that I was going to ask Mary to be mine – forever! I had held back no expense for my goddess. Carefully choosing the shiniest, most highly polished stone from my rock collection, I spent hours the evening before carefully setting it in a stunning golden ring that I had procured from the 25-cent gumball machine (that’s right, the one with the good stuff, not ....
Read more
Super Bowl Focus: Eight lessons to take your climbing to the next level.

Who would have believed it? A second-string quarterback who had never won a playoff game prior to this year, on an underdog team, catches a pass in the end zone thrown by a tight end who had perfectly deceived the most successful team in the NFL by receiving a hand-off from an undrafted running back playing quarterback. And on 4 th down none-the-less! In case you missed it, that was probably the play of the night at Super Bowl LII as the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots. What really got my attention during that play and the whole of that back and forth game, was Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles incredible finesse and focus the entire night. He was clearly in ....
Read more
2 Feb 2018
5 ways to improve heart health - National Red Day

You may have noticed our employees sporting red shirts at the gym today. That is because today is National Red Day. According to the CDC about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. Cardiovascular disease in the U.S. kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017) Go Red for Women advocates for more research for women’s heart health so Bliss is wearing red to help bring awareness to Wichita. As a fitness gym we have put together five ways you can improve your heart health! 1. Rock Climbing.
I am sure you have figured out that rock climbing is an intense sport but ....
Read more
Respect the toes, an essential climbing skill.

Toes just don’t get the recognition that they deserve. On the very end of your body, they are the last to get blood flow and so also the last to warm up on these recent sub-zero mornings. Toes spend most their lives hidden in foot wear or terribly embarrassing stockings, get bumped and bruised daily, and generally have the fragrance of a rotting trout. Even for those who are lucky enough to receive the occasional pedicure, it is with the understanding not so much of creating beauty, but of diminishing ugliness. But don’t let their lack of sex-appeal lure you into a complacent feel as to their importance. I remember once when my children were very young, chasing my toddler ....
Read more
Rock Climbing and Youth Programs in Wichita!

Check out our new website for Bliss Bouldering And Climbing Complex!
We proudly serve the Wichita, Andover, and Derby areas! Come see the programs and deals we have to offer. Rock Climbing, Youth Programs, Adult Programs and SO MUCH MORE! Fill out the "Request Information" form on the side of the page and stop in for a visit today! Don't forget to click below to visit us on our social media pages!! Facebook YouTube Instagram ....
Read more

Request More Information

Jason Kruse

From a vacant field to a full service bouldering and climbing complex David Kortje and his family made this place a reality. It didn't take long for a community of climbers to grow and improve when you have the available resources and route setters busting out new routes and cleaning holds every week. The staff has taken climber feedback and made the gym a symbiotic facility that has flourished. Myself and others are very grateful that he brought this to Wichita. Even our grass routes climbing club that was our main climbing location has grown and changed along with the growing climbing needs of the community. It is great to see such a strong climbing community emerge out of all of this development.

Priya Fernandes

Bliss is a great place for climbers for all levels of experience. The routes are fantastic, and whether you are just trying out rock climbing for the first time or someone who is skilled, Bliss has something for everyone. They have fabulous, encouraging and friendly staff members who are ever ready to help if you have questions or need climbing tips. It is a wonderful place to not only get a good workout (and have fun doing it) but also meet new people. Recommend it if you are looking for something fun and challenging to do.

Alex Hogan

Having been to many gyms (not necessarily climbing), Bliss is the most welcoming and friendly one I've ever been to. The staff is amazing and always willing to help; the other members are encouraging and will always give advice to try and make you better. Far from being just a place to work out, it's becoming a place where I can meet up with my friends. It's clean, the routes change frequently enough to not get bored, and has additional amenities such as a treadmill, elliptical, and kettle bells.

Request Information Now!