Joshua Waitzkin (born December 4, 1976) is an American former chess player, martial arts competitor, and author. As a child, he was recognized as a prodigy, and won the U.S. Junior Chess championship in 1993 and 1994. The film Searching for Bobby Fischer is based on his early life.
Joshua Waitzkin
Joshua Waitzkin, 2005
Country
United States
Born
(1976-12-04) December 4, 1976 (age 46) New York City
Waitzkin first noticed the game of chess being played while walking with his mother in New York City's Washington Square Park at the age of six. At age seven, Waitzkin began studying the game with his first formal teacher Bruce Pandolfini.[2] During his years as a student at Dalton he led the school to win seven national team championships between the third and ninth grades, in addition to his eight individual titles. In 1999, Waitzkin enrolled at Columbia University, where he studied philosophy.[3][4]
At ten years old, Waitzkin played a notable game featuring a sacrifice of his queen and rook in exchange for a checkmate six moves later. [5] At 11, Waitzkin and fellow prodigy K. K. Karanja were the only two children to draw with World Champion Garry Kasparov in an exhibition event where Kasparov played simultaneously against 59 youngsters.[6][7] At age 13, he earned the title of National Master, and at age 16 became an International Master.[6]
Waitzkin has not played in a US Chess Federation tournament since 1999,[8] and his last FIDE tournament was before 2000.[9] Waitzkin has also stated in an interview his reasoning for leaving chess
When people ask me why I stopped playing chess … I tend to say that I lost the love. And I guess if I were to be a little bit more true, I would say that I became separated from my love; I became alienated from chess somewhat … The need that I felt to win, to win, to win all the time, as opposed to the freedom to explore the art more and more deeply, and I think that started to move me away from the game and also chess for me was so intimate. It was something that I loved so deeply that when I started to become alienated from it, I couldn't do it in an impure way.[10]
Film portrayal
The script for Paramount Pictures' 1993 film Searching for Bobby Fischer (released in the United Kingdom as Innocent Moves) was based on a 1988 book by Waitzkin's father, Fred Waitzkin: Searching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess. Waitzkin makes a cameo in the film, in a scene in the last quarter of the movie (at 1:21:52) where his father is watching a young Josh play Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne) from a bench. The real Waitzkin (16 years old at that time) can be seen wearing a black jacket/white hoodie playing chess right next to the film's version of Waitzkin and is sitting across from Josh's father (Joe Mantegna).[11]
Author
Waitzkin is the author of two books: Attacking Chess: Aggressive Strategies, Inside Moves from the U.S. Junior Chess Champion (1995) and The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance (2008), an autobiographical discussion of the learning process and performance psychology drawn from Waitzkin's experiences in both chess and the martial arts.[12] He is also the spokesperson for the Chessmaster video game series, and is featured in the game giving advice and game analysis.[13][14]
As a young adult, Waitzkin's focus shifted to the martial art Taiji. He holds several US national medals and a 2004 world champion title in the competitive sport of Taiji Push Hands (Taiji Tui Shou).[15] Waitzkin also became a championship coach, leading Grandmaster William C. C. Chen's US Push Hands Team to several titles at the Tai Chi World Cup in Taiwan, guiding teammates Jan Lucanus and Jan C. Childress to their world titles.[16] Waitzkin is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under world champion and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenomenon Marcelo Garcia.[17][18] Waitzkin is the co-founder of MGInAction.com and The Marcelo Garcia Academy, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school located in New York City.
Personal life
On April 23, 2010, Waitzkin married Desiree Cifre,[19] a screenwriter and former contestant on The Amazing Race.
^Archived at Ghostarchive and the : Josh Waitzkin: The Art of Learning(videotape) (News feature segment). ABCNews NOW: Perspectives with JuJu Chang. ABC News. n.d. Event occurs at 2:36–3:49.
^. gs.columbia.edu. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
^Waitzkin, Fred (2017). Searching for Bobby Fischer: A Father's Story of Love and Ambition. Open Road Media. ISBN9781504043038.
^"Joshua Waitzkin vs Edward A Frumkin (1987) Heaven Can Waitzkin". www.chessgames.com. January 6, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Josh Waitzkin's The Art of Learning. Chess and Martial Arts". Shows Waitzkin's championship round at Chung Hwa Tai Chi World Cup 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
^Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Jan Lucanus vs. Chen Chi-Cheng Fixed Step Push Hands Championship Match ICMAC Orlando, FL 2005". Josh Waitzkin coaches Jan Lucanus' victory over Jiu jitsu World Champ. World Push Hands. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
^. On the Mat. January 25, 2008. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
^"Josh Waitzkin interview « Another neijia blog". Neijia.wordpress.com. May 2, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
^. cranesongphotography.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to Joshua Waitzkin.
Joshua Waitzkin player profile and games at Chessgames.com
"Chess Champion Offers Success Strategies for Life" audio interview by NPR on May 14, 2007 about the book The Art of Learning
The Art of Learning Project
Interviews with Josh Waitzkin
Edward Winter, Searching for Bobby Fischer (Joshua Waitzkin)
January 31, 2023
joshua, waitzkin, born, december, 1976, american, former, chess, player, martial, arts, competitor, author, child, recognized, prodigy, junior, chess, championship, 1993, 1994, film, searching, bobby, fischer, based, early, life, 2005countryunited, statesborn,. Joshua Waitzkin born December 4 1976 is an American former chess player martial arts competitor and author As a child he was recognized as a prodigy and won the U S Junior Chess championship in 1993 and 1994 The film Searching for Bobby Fischer is based on his early life Joshua WaitzkinJoshua Waitzkin 2005CountryUnited StatesBorn 1976 12 04 December 4 1976 age 46 New York CityTitleInternational Master 1993 FIDE rating2464 December 2022 Peak rating2480 July 1998 1 Contents 1 Early life and education 1 1 Film portrayal 2 Author 3 Martial arts 4 Personal life 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and education EditWaitzkin first noticed the game of chess being played while walking with his mother in New York City s Washington Square Park at the age of six At age seven Waitzkin began studying the game with his first formal teacher Bruce Pandolfini 2 During his years as a student at Dalton he led the school to win seven national team championships between the third and ninth grades in addition to his eight individual titles In 1999 Waitzkin enrolled at Columbia University where he studied philosophy 3 4 At ten years old Waitzkin played a notable game featuring a sacrifice of his queen and rook in exchange for a checkmate six moves later 5 At 11 Waitzkin and fellow prodigy K K Karanja were the only two children to draw with World Champion Garry Kasparov in an exhibition event where Kasparov played simultaneously against 59 youngsters 6 7 At age 13 he earned the title of National Master and at age 16 became an International Master 6 Waitzkin has not played in a US Chess Federation tournament since 1999 8 and his last FIDE tournament was before 2000 9 Waitzkin has also stated in an interview his reasoning for leaving chessWhen people ask me why I stopped playing chess I tend to say that I lost the love And I guess if I were to be a little bit more true I would say that I became separated from my love I became alienated from chess somewhat The need that I felt to win to win to win all the time as opposed to the freedom to explore the art more and more deeply and I think that started to move me away from the game and also chess for me was so intimate It was something that I loved so deeply that when I started to become alienated from it I couldn t do it in an impure way 10 Film portrayal Edit The script for Paramount Pictures 1993 film Searching for Bobby Fischer released in the United Kingdom as Innocent Moves was based on a 1988 book by Waitzkin s father Fred Waitzkin Searching for Bobby Fischer The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess Waitzkin makes a cameo in the film in a scene in the last quarter of the movie at 1 21 52 where his father is watching a young Josh play Vinnie Laurence Fishburne from a bench The real Waitzkin 16 years old at that time can be seen wearing a black jacket white hoodie playing chess right next to the film s version of Waitzkin and is sitting across from Josh s father Joe Mantegna 11 Author EditWaitzkin is the author of two books Attacking Chess Aggressive Strategies Inside Moves from the U S Junior Chess Champion 1995 and The Art of Learning An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance 2008 an autobiographical discussion of the learning process and performance psychology drawn from Waitzkin s experiences in both chess and the martial arts 12 He is also the spokesperson for the Chessmaster video game series and is featured in the game giving advice and game analysis 13 14 Waitzkin has a chapter giving advice in Tim Ferriss book Tools of Titans Martial arts EditAs a young adult Waitzkin s focus shifted to the martial art Taiji He holds several US national medals and a 2004 world champion title in the competitive sport of Taiji Push Hands Taiji Tui Shou 15 Waitzkin also became a championship coach leading Grandmaster William C C Chen s US Push Hands Team to several titles at the Tai Chi World Cup in Taiwan guiding teammates Jan Lucanus and Jan C Childress to their world titles 16 Waitzkin is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under world champion and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenomenon Marcelo Garcia 17 18 Waitzkin is the co founder of MGInAction com and The Marcelo Garcia Academy a Brazilian jiu jitsu school located in New York City Personal life EditOn April 23 2010 Waitzkin married Desiree Cifre 19 a screenwriter and former contestant on The Amazing Race See also EditList of Jewish chess playersReferences Edit Joshua Waitzkin Chess Games chesstempo com Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Josh Waitzkin The Art of Learning videotape News feature segment ABCNews NOW Perspectives with JuJu Chang ABC News n d Event occurs at 2 36 3 49 Notable Alumni gs columbia edu Archived from the original on July 15 2014 Retrieved May 31 2017 Waitzkin Fred 2017 Searching for Bobby Fischer A Father s Story of Love and Ambition Open Road Media ISBN 9781504043038 Joshua Waitzkin vs Edward A Frumkin 1987 Heaven Can Waitzkin www chessgames com January 6 2005 Retrieved October 22 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b Bio Josh Waitzkin Reynolds Maura February 23 1988 Pupils No Match for Kasparov Even Simultaneously The New York Times Retrieved October 22 2022 USCF membership info Main uschess org Retrieved December 4 2011 Waitzkin FIDE card Ratings fide com Retrieved December 4 2011 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Josh Watzkin discusses ideas from his book The Art of Learning martial arts and why he stopped playing chess Searching for Bobby Fischer 1993 IMDb via www imdb com Tim Ferriss November 27 2016 The Tim Ferriss Show 204 Tools of Titans Josh Waitzkin Distilled Podcast Retrieved April 11 2018 The Art of Learning Project Retrieved November 29 2017 Rocky Citro The Old Josh Waitzkin Chessmaster Tutorials We Learn Chess March 14 2016 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Josh Waitzkin s The Art of Learning Chess and Martial Arts Shows Waitzkin s championship round at Chung Hwa Tai Chi World Cup 2004 Retrieved March 24 2014 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Jan Lucanus vs Chen Chi Cheng Fixed Step Push Hands Championship Match ICMAC Orlando FL 2005 Josh Waitzkin coaches Jan Lucanus victory over Jiu jitsu World Champ World Push Hands Retrieved March 24 2014 Josh Waitzkin Interview On the Mat Worlds Largest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi and No Gi Belt Database On the Mat January 25 2008 Archived from the original on November 29 2011 Retrieved December 4 2011 Josh Waitzkin interview Another neijia blog Neijia wordpress com May 2 2008 Retrieved December 4 2011 Wedding Under the Cherry Blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden cranesongphotography com Archived from the original on January 17 2013 Retrieved August 12 2012 External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Joshua Waitzkin Joshua Waitzkin player profile and games at Chessgames com Chess Champion Offers Success Strategies for Life audio interview by NPR on May 14 2007 about the book The Art of Learning The Art of Learning Project Interviews with Josh Waitzkin Edward Winter Searching for Bobby Fischer Joshua Waitzkin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joshua Waitzkin amp oldid 1132412885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
