In this episode, my guest is Josh Waitzkin, former child chess prodigy and the subject of the movie and true story Searching for Bobby Fischer. Josh is also a world champion martial arts competitor and the author of the book The Art of Learning. We discuss Josh’s childhood as a chess prodigy and how he learned to train and compete at the highest levels by facing his fears and overcoming points of weakness. He explains the principles that unify disparate physical and mental pursuits and how understanding the interconnectedness of the learning process enables ultra-high-level performance across disciplines.

We explore how to structure one’s day to tap into the most creative, generative, and unique capabilities. Josh shares his approach to learning, including how to address flaws and mistakes and how to harness the subtle and overt energies of the learning and peak performance process. He also discusses how he structures his life and makes decisions related to career and family. This episode is sure to inspire deep thinking and practical life changes for all who listen.

Read the full episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Josh Waitzkin

00:03:21 Chess, Competition & Performance

00:10:50 Martial Arts, Tai Chi, Jiu-Jitsu, Foiling, Training Others

00:14:41 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Our Place

00:17:43 Theory of Mind, Chess, Strategy & Mindset

00:26:39 Early Chess Training

00:32:30 Failure & Change, Chess, Tension, Power of Empty Space

00:43:22 Sponsors: AG1 & Joovv

00:48:06 Grief, Competition Loss, Growth, Frustration Tolerance

00:57:22 Arousal, Frame Rates, Intense Moments

01:06:17 Frame Rates & Pupil Size; Firewalking, Training

01:13:12 Sponsor: Function

01:15:58 Stress & Recovery, Tools: Doing Less, Most Important Question (MIQ)

01:23:24 Tool: Still Body, Active Mind; Shame, Strengthening Weaknesses

01:32:02 Child Prodigies, Brittle; Chess Principles & Transfer to Life

01:43:22 Sponsor: Eight Sleep

01:44:48 Preconscious vs Postconscious

01:52:02 Hypoxic Breathwork Caution & Drowning; Foiling, Fear, Postconscious

01:57:05 Static vs Dynamic Mindset, High Performers

02:05:48 Comebacks, Hunting Adversity, Living on Other Side of Pain, Tool: Cold Plunge

02:19:20 Ego, Identity, Unbreakable Will

02:29:18 Studying People; Chess, Computers; Science & AI; Ocean & Control

02:40:37 Time, Future Direction, True to Self, Wounds

02:51:07 Daily Routine, Individualization, Waking Up, Tool: MIQ Gap Analysis

03:00:21 Tool: MIQ; Stuck Points, Distraction

03:05:58 Reflective vs Stimulus-Response, Optimize Quality not Quantity

03:14:12 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Social Media, Protocols Book, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures