My experience with a go teacher

[Hanmanchu]

Hi Stephany93, I the OP was not paid to post my experience. On the contrary I pay for my lessons.

My idea to post my experience came from a few other threads in which people talked about problems to overcome a gap, which I experienced (at least) twice.

I am not new to this forum, I made a few posts, I also made some minor contributions to sensei's library, and wrote a go book review.

I wanted to share my experience with you.

@ Stephany93:
Please do not bad-mouth me or talk ill of me, I find that unfair.

Well, on the other hand, on some level this is an "advertisement". I took go lessons, and they where positive for me. But I wasn't paid to write this.

@singular
You asked how often I take lessons? In the beginning 3 times a month, now only 1-2 times because of work and family at the moment.

Do I look at the board in a different way now? This is so incredibly hard to answer!

Well I play "safer" now, try to calculate the L&D and connection of my groups.
I count the score during the game to decide whether to invade or to reduce. I learned that there is such thing as "reducing". Before, I knew only "invading" and "leaning attack", but "leaning attack" is probably not the same as "reducing"???
So the answer to your question is yes, I look at the board a bit differently...?
Cheers!

[Knotwilg]

I think it is possible for anyone with a certain intellectual disposal and a certain stamina in their attitude to reach 1 dan without a teacher, using the path that most of us agree upon, being
- playing games with the intention of implementing some new ideas an eradicating bad habits, maintaining some winning attitude
- reviewing these games
- doing tsumego
- and getting some source of new ideas

I do believe however that it is much easier to get there with a teacher because of three main reasons
- paying a teacher will motivate you to keep up the discipline and also puts the lead for the project in someone else's hands
- you get positive feedback from a teacher for good moves, regardless of the result (a major let down for many aspiring players who are rank driven)
- the teacher will select the new ideas that befit your current level and will point out mistakes confidently

For some people, the things you need to do to become 1d are just too hard, intellectually or mentally. I don't think though that these people will often aspire for that path in the first place. So, for most people who find Go an attractive leisure, I do believe 1d is within reach. I actually even think 5d is in reach for most of us, but it requires an enormous amount of time and a deliberate choice to work very hard on go, almost as if it is a professional activity. Only a happy few get to 5d leisurely. For 6d, I believe one needs to be trained professionally and from a young age at that, on top of being gifted.

[RobertJasiek]

this sounds like someone paid the OP to advertise these two go teachers?

1) Your suggestion casts very severe doubts on - and therefore let me defend - the reputation, integrity and credibility of Hanmanchu, myself and other teachers. I have never paid any pupil to express an (or even a particular) opinion about me. In particular, I have not paid my pupil Hanmanchu for this purpose, but he has paid me for taking lessons.

2) It is not apparent why you have not cast similar doubts about one-time or repeated positive statements by other pupils on other teachers.

[Magicwand]

1) i used to think that everyone can reach 1d.

after tutoring multiple dumb students simple math...
my opinion has changed.

2) Robert should have skills and DEDICATION to teach kyu level plays.
you will have hard time finding someone who has more dedication than Robert.

3) I don't think Hanmanchu was paid.

Hanmanchu: Instead of paying for your lecture...I suggest youtube Korean professional game and commentary.
although they comment in Korean, they will show you variations which you can understand their points.
If you really want to be strong...learn from the best.

[Abyssinica]

I actually even think 5d is in reach for most of us, but it requires an enormous amount of time and a deliberate choice to work very hard on go, almost as if it is a professional activity. Only a happy few get to 5d leisurely. For 6d, I believe one needs to be trained professionally and from a young age at that, on top of being gifted.

Go is weird. What is it about this "simple" game that causes people to constantly get stuck at a certain rank, ignoring the fact that they might not be trying to improve. I'm not talking about someone who only plays casually and hasn't improved from 9k after 10,000 games, I'm talking about the people who comment that if you start too late, then you can only hope to become 5d at best, even with a lot of dedication. What is it about simple black and white stones on 361 intersections that bars all but the most dedicated and gifted from becoming such a strength even if they try hard, and long, enough?

The closer I get to 1d, the more and more I understand how someone (I think Edlee) can say that 1d is where you actually do understand the basics of the game, and that was back when I thought 8ks new everything about everything.

[EdLee]

I understand how someone (I think Edlee) can say that 1d is where you actually do understand the basics of the game,
and that was back when I thought 8ks new everything about everything.

Definitely not me. 1d basics are very, very basic.

Some (I don't know the percentage) high school students also think they "know everything about everything."

See also Dunning–Kruger effect .

[moboy78]

Some (I don't know the percentage) high school students also think they "know everything about everything."

Oh Yeah! This kid right here

[Bantari]

I actually even think 5d is in reach for most of us, but it requires an enormous amount of time and a deliberate choice to work very hard on go, almost as if it is a professional activity. Only a happy few get to 5d leisurely. For 6d, I believe one needs to be trained professionally and from a young age at that, on top of being gifted.

Go is weird. What is it about this "simple" game that causes people to constantly get stuck at a certain rank, ignoring the fact that they might not be trying to improve. I'm not talking about someone who only plays casually and hasn't improved from 9k after 10,000 games, I'm talking about the people who comment that if you start too late, then you can only hope to become 5d at best, even with a lot of dedication. What is it about simple black and white stones on 361 intersections that bars all but the most dedicated and gifted from becoming such a strength even if they try hard, and long, enough?

The closer I get to 1d, the more and more I understand how someone (I think Edlee) can say that 1d is where you actually do understand the basics of the game, and that was back when I thought 8ks new everything about everything.

1d players only think they understand the basics. Just like 2d players, 3d players, and so on...
I am not sure at which level you actually *do* start to understand the basics, I have never been that strong.

[Dante31]

1) i used to think that everyone can reach 1d.

after tutoring multiple dumb students simple math...
my opinion has changed.

Are there funny stories that come with that?