Inside Edge: Toe Precision on the Wall Bars

A technique session on placing the foot with the toe and inside edge instead of the arch. Good feet let you turn the hips and move with less effort from the arms.

How to play

1. Demo: foot on the arch versus foot on the inside edge of the toe; how the heel pivots (3 min).
2. Standing on the first rung holding on, pivot on the toes and turn the hips to one side and the other (4 min).
3. Traverse three sections using only the toe: inside edge toward where you're going and outside edge when crossing feet (5 min).
4. In pairs: the observer counts arch placements and gives one tip to improve (4 min).
5. Challenge: traverse stepping on every other rung, skipping one each time (4 min).

Rules

• Feet below the marked height.
• Watch your foot until it's placed.
• Mat underneath and one student per section.
• Partner tips are about the foot, never about the person.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with low vision: the partner guides the foot to the rung by hand the first few times.
• Limited mobility: practice the hip pivot seated on a bench next to the wall bars, toe on the low rung.
• Ankle injury: acts as observer and notes the group's most common mistakes.

Learning goals

• Place the foot with the toe and inside edge.
• Turn the hips using the foot pivot.
• Watch a partner and give useful tips.

Equipment for a class of 25

• wall bars: 8
• mats: 12

Teacher tip

Thick, soft-soled sneakers make it hard to feel the rung; give a heads-up the day before. Common mistake: sliding the whole foot in up to the arch; ask that half the shoe stays outside the rung.

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