Life In 19x19

Weight training is a common practice among basketball and baseball players in order to be more competitive. A website has designed two weightlifting methods for Go players as shown below.

1) Using professional game record, the first 5 moves are revealed first. If player can repeat this sequence, the next 6 moves are then revealed. If player needs hint to repeat the sequence, less moves are revealed. The goal is to repeat as many moves as possible in 5 minutes. Higher score is given to player who can repeat longer sequence. For player who has not acquired a habit of studying professional game record, this is a good method to start.

2) Using classical life and death puzzle, three variations are revealed with one move each. If player can repeat these three variations, two moves of each variation are then revealed. The goal is also to repeat as many moves as possible in 5 minutes. Again higher score is given to player who can repeat longer sequence. This method reinforces short term memory on variations which is critical during a Go game.

That's. an interesting idea. Got a URL?

They are challenges in GoChild.
You don't need to sign in to use them.

Edit: You do need to sign in to use them.

Alternatively, buy a huge stack of go problem books. Stack them up high and try to do a set of problems from the book at the bottom of the stack. Do not cause the stack to fall over when taking out the bottom book. Replace the book thereafter on top of the stack. Repeat again as many times as necessary to condition both your body and your mind

There for a minute I thought you were talking about really big stones.

an app/program for the professional game idea would be pretty cool. a lot of effort on a real board though

Screenshots from GoChild challenges.

"1 2 3 4 5"


"1 1 1"

Interesting, but the idea of building muscular capacity is to induce controlled muscular strain and damage so that the muscle 'heals up' stronger than before.

Hopefully we're not suffering brain damage from playing and studying Go (though that would explain some of my stranger quirks...)

I've spent a fair amount of time practising both of these challenges for about a month, and I don't think it has helped my Go at all. It can be pretty fun, but you might just as well memorize random numbers. Solving normal tsumegos is better "weightlifting".