Josh Waitzkin

Joshua Waitzkin (born December 4, 1976) is an American author, martial arts competitor, and former chess prodigy recognized for his early mastery of chess, subsequent achievements in Tai Chi Chuan push hands and Brazilian jiu-jitsu , and his influential writings on learning and performance.

Born in New York City , Waitzkin discovered chess at age six while observing games in Washington Square Park , quickly emerging as a prodigy under the guidance of coach Bruce Pandolfini . By age nine, he had won his first National Primary Chess Championship, and he went on to secure eight U.S. national youth titles, including the National Junior High Championship in 1989 and 1990, and the National High School Championship in 1993. At 13, Waitzkin earned the National Master title, and in 1993, he achieved the International Master (IM) rating from the World Chess Federation ( FIDE ), with a peak rating of 2480. His early career inspired his father Fred Waitzkin's 1988 memoir Searching for Bobby Fischer , which was adapted into a 1993 film starring Max Pomeranc as the young Josh.

In his late teens and early twenties, Waitzkin transitioned from chess to martial arts , beginning with Tai Chi Chuan under coach William C. C. Chen while attending Columbia University . He dominated U.S. national competitions, winning the Tai Chi push hands middleweight division championships in both fixed-step and moving-step categories for five consecutive years from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Waitzkin captained the U.S. team to victory at the Tai Chi World Cup in Taiwan , claiming two world titles in the 65 kg push hands divisions—fixed-step and moving-step—becoming the first American to win in these categories. Later, he pursued Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Marcelo Garcia, earning a black belt in 2011 and co-founding the Marcelo Garcia Academy in New York City in 2010. He also trained in San Shou kickboxing, winning the U.S. national championship in 2004.

Waitzkin has authored two notable books: Attacking Chess: Aggressive Strategies and Inside Moves from the U.S. Junior Chess Champion (1995), which distills his chess insights for young players, and The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance (2007), a bestseller drawing on his experiences across disciplines to explore learning methodologies, resilience, and peak performance. The latter has sold over a million copies and influenced fields from sports to business.

Waitzkin applies his expertise as a performance coach to elite performers, including CEOs, athletes, and artists, through personalized training, online programs like MGInAction.com for jiu-jitsu, and public speaking on mindset and creativity. In 2025, he began serving as a performance consultant for the Boston Celtics of the NBA.

Joshua Waitzkin was born on December 4, 1976, in New York City to Fred Waitzkin , a writer and avid fisherman, and Bonnie Waitzkin, a chess teacher. His father, who later chronicled Joshua's early chess development in the book Searching for Bobby Fischer , provided a creative influence through his own pursuits in writing and journalism . The family resided in Manhattan , where Fred and Bonnie raised their two children in a vibrant urban setting.

Waitzkin has a younger sister, Katya Waitzkin, who occasionally appeared alongside him in family -related contexts, including a cameo in the film adaptation of their father's book. Growing up in downtown Manhattan , Waitzkin benefited from an intellectually stimulating environment shaped by his parents' interests; summers often involved family outings on their fishing boat, Ebb Tide , exploring Bahamian waters and engaging in activities like spearfishing , which fostered a sense of adventure and exploration. His father's dedication to storytelling and the arts encouraged early exposure to imaginative and analytical thinking.