 | Bouldering: is the act of climbing small rocks without a rope. It is the least gear and knowledge-intensive type of rock climbing, though the most demanding in a gymnastic sense. This has led to its popularity with the younger crowd. However, bouldering is not something new to the climbing scene, having been practised in one form or another in France and England since the late 1800s.
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 | Traditional Climbing or "Trad climbing" uses removable protection and sometimes fixed protection. It stresses staying connected to the origins of climbing and the idea of starting at the bottom and climbing to the top. Trad climbing will always require a certain amount of boldness and danger is accepted as being part of the game. Trad climbing is considered by most to be "cleaner" as a climber can ascend a cliff and leave no trace of their passage.
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 | Buildering: Buildering (also known as urban climbing, structuring, or stegophily) is the act of climbing the outside of buildings and other urban structures. The word "buildering" is a portmanteau combining the word "building" with the climbing term "bouldering".
Usually involving free climbing in difficult conditions, buildering can be very dangerous and is often practiced outside of legal bounds, and is thus mostly undertaken at night-time. Adepts of buildering who are seen climbing on buildings without authorization are regularly met by police forces upon completing their exploit. Spectacular acts of buildering, such as free climbing skyscrapers, are usually accomplished by lone, experienced climbers, sometimes attracting large crowds of passers-by and media attention. These remain relatively rare.
Buildering can also take a form more akin to bouldering, which tends towards climbing and/or traversing shorter sections of buildings and structures. While still generally frowned upon by property owners, some, such as the University of Colorado at Boulder turn a blind eye towards the practice in many locations.
Although often done as a solo sport, buildering has also become a popular group activity. As in more traditional rock climbing, routes are established and graded for difficulty.
Less impressive forms of urban climbing can be observed in demonstrations, as a means of protest, or at some public events such as street parades or concerts, where people frequently climb on sign posts and other small structures.
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 | Top-Roping: is a technique in climbing in which the rope runs from the belayer at the foot of the route through one or more carabiners connected to an anchor at the top of the route and back down to the climber[1]. Assuming that the anchor holds, the route is predominantly bottom-to-top and the belayer pays attention, the climber cannot fall more than a short distance and can safely attempt the most difficult routes. Most top rope anchors can be reached through non-technical routes.
Top roping is most often done on routes that are otherwise unleadable for one reason or another. Top roping has a long and proud history in the climbing world because of its low envronmental impact. It is also the most commonly used way to climb at indoor climbing walls. It is also used on some areas or types of rock where other methods would be unsafe or damage the rock, for example the sandstone rocks of Kent and Sussex in south-east England. Here the rock is soft and prone to erosion, so placing protection into the rock would be both damaging and unreliable, and is therefore banned. Top-roping from permanent anchors and solo climbing are the only forms of ascent allowed.
By contrast, in some other areas, top roping is frowned upon for various reasons - including possible erosion from people trying routes too difficult for them; lack of suitable top-rope anchor points, or occasionally more esoteric ethical reasons.
For top roping, a low-stretch (static or semi-static) rope is recommended to prevent rope wear, rock erosion and to ensure maximum security in the event of a fall. Most practitioners would recommend the use of two screwgate carabiners, to provide backup in case one becomes undone. A low-stretch sling or additional rope to attach these to the anchor point is also widely used. Where the anchor point is not a firm bolt, at least two seperate points should be used.
It is important to arrange the system in such a way that as little moving rope comes into contact with the rock as possible - it is possible to irreversibly damage ropes otherwise. Multiple slings, or a long, adjustable-length sling are often the best options.
Top roped climbing is often (psychologically) easier and safer than sport climbing, in which the lead climber clips into preplaced bolts in the rock, or traditional climbing, in which protection is placed along the route by a lead climber. Many novice climbers initially experience the sport through top roping.
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 | Sport Climbing: is a style of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors fixed to the rock, especially bolts, for protection. The term is used in opposition to traditional climbing and top roping.Sport climbing emphasizes the gymnastic and athletic aspects of climbing, placing less emphasis on risk, control of fear and placing protection. It can be undertaken with relatively little equipment on established routes. Typically, personal equipment required for sport climbing includes a dynamic rope (up to 70 m/230 ft), quickdraws, and a few runners.
To "lead" a sport climb is to climb a route with a rope tied to the climbing harness with the loose end handled by the belayer. As each bolt is reached along the route, a quickdraw is clipped to the bolt, and the running rope clipped through the hanging end of the quickdraw. This bolt is now 'protecting' the climber, in the case of a fall. At the top of sport routes, there is usually a two-point anchor that can be used to return the climber to the ground. The most practical place for most people to learn the proper techniques for sport climbing and the required "lead belaying" is a rock climbing gym with qualified, trained instructors.
Sport climbing generally takes place on vertical to overhanging cliffs, often with big holds. Rock types that produce good sport climbs include limestone, granite and quartzite, though sport climbs can be found on almost all rock types. By creating an environment where a high degree of safety is easily available, the climber can concentrate on the difficulty of the moves and the flow of the rock climb, rather than making it to the next possible placement. This allows climbers to push their physical limits and fall off with little or no consequences. Indeed, falling off is considered an integral part of sport climbing, and a tool required to learn the moves of a climb.
As sport climbing became popular in the 80's and 90's, the emphasis that it places on strength and stamina led to a significant rise in standards among climbers at all levels of skill.
Sport climbers place an emphasis on the style of an ascent, forming a heirarchy of accomplishment.
On-sight if climbed the first try, without falls and without prior knowledge;
Flash if climbed the first try, without falls but with some prior knowledge such as, but not limited to, watching another person climb it or discussing it with another climber.
Red point climbed from bottom to top without falls or hanging from gear, and placing quickdraws on the way up.
Pink point climbed from bottom to top without falls or hanging from gear, with the quickdraws in place on the route. This is usually considered the minimum requirement for having 'climbed' the route.
Routes that are at or above the individual climber's skill level often require 'work' to pink point. A climber may return to a climb several to hundreds of times, to work out the moves, memorize the movements and develop the strength and stamina required to complete the route.
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 | Fun: Ultimately Rock Climbing is all about having fun. Taking that random and somewhat senseless trip halfway across the nation or world in search of something that appears beyond us in everyday life; but seems so much closer and real on the rock.
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