January 27, 2025 • 3hr 17min

Josh Waitzkin: The Art of Learning & Living Life

Huberman Lab

Josh Waitzkin is a former chess prodigy who was the subject of the book and film "Searching for Bobby Fischer." He later became a world champion martial artist in Tai Chi Push Hands and achieved high levels in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He now coaches elite performers across domains including finance, sports, and military while pursuing his passion for ocean sports like foiling. Throughout his journey, Josh has developed deep insights into learning, performance, and authenticity that he shares in this wide-ranging conversation.

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Key Takeaways

Learning and growth often come from embracing failure and discomfort - Josh's biggest losses and setbacks ultimately catalyzed his most important life lessons and transformations
Pre-conscious vs post-conscious performance - Moving from natural, unhindered learning to a more complex integrated awareness while maintaining freedom of expression
Quality over quantity - Focus intensely for shorter periods (4-5 hours) rather than grinding at a lower level for longer
The MIQ (Most Important Question) process - End each day by identifying key questions, let the unconscious mind process overnight, and revisit first thing in morning pre-input
Living life authentically - Having a profound "allergy" to being untrue to oneself and only pursuing what you truly love

Introduction

Josh Waitzkin is a former chess prodigy who was the subject of the book and film "Searching for Bobby Fischer." He later became a world champion martial artist in Tai Chi Push Hands and achieved high levels in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He now coaches elite performers across domains including finance, sports, and military while pursuing his passion for ocean sports like foiling. Throughout his journey, Josh has developed deep insights into learning, performance, and authenticity that he shares in this wide-ranging conversation.

Topics Discussed

Early Chess Career and Learning Process (3:21)

Josh discovered chess at age 6 in Washington Square Park, where he was first taught by street hustlers before working with classical teachers. He describes how this combination gave him both tactical street smarts and fundamental principles.

Natural learning process - As a young child, Josh was an "unhindered learner" who loved the battle and chaos of chess
High pressure environment - Competed at national/international level from age 7, dealing with being a constant target
Theory of mind development - Had to learn to understand opponents' psychology and planning at a very young age
Public attention impact - Movie release at age 15 created challenges with self-expression and authenticity

The Nature of Competition and Learning (17:43)

Josh explains his philosophy on competition and the deeper principles that connect different competitive pursuits.

One-on-one competition as truth-teller - Weaknesses will always be exposed at high levels
Shared consciousness - Deep connection between competitors through eye contact, body language, energy
Pattern recognition - Learning to read tells and set traps while maintaining deception
Growth through challenge - Importance of playing against better opponents to improve

Pre-conscious vs Post-conscious Performance (1:44:48)

Josh describes the journey from natural, unhindered performance to a more complex integrated awareness.

Pre-conscious stage - Natural, playful self-expression without self-awareness or existential questioning
Transition period - Crisis of self-consciousness and loss of natural flow
Post-conscious integration - Rediscovering freedom with full awareness of complexity and mortality
Not about returning - Integration of previous experiences rather than trying to recapture past self

The MIQ Process and Day Architecture (1:15:58)

Josh outlines his approach to structuring the day and maintaining peak creative output.

Most Important Question (MIQ) - End day by identifying key questions to let unconscious process overnight
Morning practice - Return to MIQ pre-input, before checking phone or email
Energy management - 4.5 hours of intense creative work with rest of day supporting that output
Quality over quantity - Focus on maintaining high intensity for shorter periods

Working with Fear and Mortality (1:52:02)

Josh shares his experience with near-death and how it shaped his approach to risk and fear.

Integration vs fearlessness - Working with fear rather than trying to eliminate it
Near-death experience - Drowning incident led to deeper commitment to authentic living
Risk assessment - Balancing pushing limits with awareness of mortality
Training approach - Using physical practices like cold exposure to build comfort with discomfort

Ego and Identity (2:19:20)

Discussion of how to maintain healthy relationship with ego while pursuing excellence.

Dynamic vs static - Importance of maintaining flexibility rather than fixed identity
Unbreakable will - Building internal strength while maintaining adaptability
Authenticity - Deep aversion to being untrue to oneself
Relational nature - Understanding interconnectedness rather than absolute identity

Training Others and Future Direction (2:40:37)

Josh describes his current work training elite performers and his vision for impact.

Quality as way of life - Bringing full presence and excellence to everything
Thematic interconnectedness - Understanding how patterns manifest across domains
Scientific innovation - Working to harness AI for breakthrough discoveries
Environmental focus - Particular interest in material science solutions for climate crisis

Conclusion

This wide-ranging conversation reveals Josh Waitzkin's unique approach to learning, performance and life - one built around presence, authenticity, and constant growth through embracing challenge. His journey from chess prodigy to martial arts champion to coach of elite performers demonstrates the power of understanding fundamental principles that connect different pursuits. The discussion provides practical frameworks like the MIQ process while also exploring deeper themes of identity, consciousness, and living life as a work of art. Throughout, Josh emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity, working with fear rather than trying to eliminate it, and maintaining unwavering commitment to truth and authenticity.