The majority of strength training you will do for rock climbing is for the upper body. After all, you will be using your back, forearms, and hands the most. However, the lower body also plays an important role in this activity, therefore it needs strength training as well. To be a good and safe climber, you will need to learn good footwork and solid lower body techniques.
You will discover as you get more and more involved with rock climbing that footwork becomes almost an art form. Some moves on the rock are extremely challenging, requiring you to reach or get into an awkward stance. To do this, you have to be in good physical condition, helping control your footing while maintaining good balance.
One of the most important lessons you will learn when rock climbing is that in addition to trusting your hands, you need to trust your feet and the climbing shoes you wear. As you climb, generally you look for flat surfaces on which you can stand or places on the rock that can be used almost like stairs. Unfortunately, flat surfaces and stairs on rocks are non-existent. Instead, you will be maneuvering with some fancy foot work, sliding, and stretching.
By building the lower body, as well as the upper body for rock climbing, you will feel far more confident with the steps you make while on the rock. Sometimes, you will be positioned on small protruding ledges or trying to work around pebbles that move. However, with strength training and a good pair of rubber-soled climbing shoes, you will find positioning the body to be much easier, while providing your feet balance and traction.
When using the lower body while rock climbing, push into the rock. By pushing into the direction of your foothold rather than simply pushing down, you will maximize your contact with the surface between the rock and the shoe. If you find yourself on a sloping area, try lowering the heel, shifting the hips just slightly away from the rock, and spreading the area under the ball of your foot. Keep in mind that your goal is to have more surface area of the shoe touching the rock, which means more traction. By having your lower body in good shape, you will trust the edges and feel more confident with meticulous placement on cracks.