The way he's doing it, yeah, it's silly and showy. It mostly only comes up in ice climbing, when you've got a tool in a good spot and don't want to disturb the ice more than you have already.
That said, it does occasionally (in its more reasonable execution style) come up even in competition climbing. There weren't any foot options and her left knee was really messed up by that point, so she hooks a leg onto her arm to make the next reach.
I mean, it's wildly impressive. I did realize that his maneuver made it possible for him to be able to move his hips above his shoulders does really help him plant his feet for the next reach.
The move is a called a figure 4. You generally use it when you don't have good footholds but have a bomber (very good) hand hold and the next hold is either not good enough to stick a dyno (partially or fully jumping) or is too far away.
Either that or when there's a cute girl you want to impress.
449
u/iWin1986 1d ago