Physical exercise and chess

I chanced upon an article about the importance of physical training in relation to improving one’s chess abilities.

As you all know, GM Wesley So’s bodily exercise includes an hour of jogging everyday.

Imagine, Wesley is only 15 years old, yet he does a disciplined physical training as part of his conditioning in preparation for tough chess battles ahead.

How much more with the aged?

In the Philippine scene, it’s common to see chess players who smoke a lot while playing. One push of a pawn, puff. Move again, puff.

Ahh, it’s a punishment for a non-smoker to play against a chain smoker (of course smoking is not allowed in a formal tournament).

And would you believe, there are those who bring a wine with them (in mineral water bottles) when playing a chess game?

A sip of wine, ahh, move a pawn, a puff of cigarette, move a pawn – as if they’re treating their Queens as their GRO.

Without physical exercise, the biological bodies – not their Kings on the board -- of those chess players would be mated instead.

Time for a change. Let’s exercise and keep on playing chess.

You might be interested to read the following article that I sourced online (in case you haven’t read it yet):

Exercise Can Significantly Help Your Chess Game

For years, world class chess players have prepared for important chess tournaments by exercising, but few chess players know how to do this in an optimum way. Serious chess players are intellectuals and not inclined to keep up a regular regimen of exercise. That’s probably one of the reasons that few chess players remain at world class level into their forties and older.

Yes, chess players get older, but with a healthy diet and exercise program, a chess player can stay physically fit and healthy far into old age.Chess players who understand the need to become and stay physically fit, especially to prepare for important matches, will do better if they tailor their exercise program to fit their chess playing goals.

Often, however, even a grandmaster will exercise in a hodgepodge way rather than systematically with his chess playing purposes in mind. He might hire coaches and trainers, but not a physical trainer who understands his purpose in exercising.

Most people exercise to increase their capacity to exercise, but chess players exercise to increase their capacity to sit still for a long time. That's not what physical exercise trainers are used to!Why should you, as a serious chess player, exercise?

First, to increase your brain's ability to concentrate, remember, focus, visualize, and plan ahead. To ensure a steady, rich supply of oxygen to your brain, you have to increase your cardiovascular capacity.

Second, to increase your body's ability to sit still and be comfortable for long periods of time. Keeping your muscles toned and strong and your joints flexible will prevent aches and pains from distracting you and keeping you from concentrating on the game.

The four best ways to increase your cardiovascular capacity are walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling.While exercising, eliminate distractions to the greatest extent possible. You want to be able to let your mind relax and wander without having to deal with interruptions in your environment.

You might take a walk in a quiet neighborhood instead of in a mall or on a busy street so that you don’t have to watch out for traffic. You could jog on a track or jogging trail. If you swim, you could choose a time when you have the pool to yourself, or when there are only a few other adults. If you cycle, you could find a bicycle path in a park or use a stationary bicycle.

To achieve your purposes, you might stay away from sports like golf and tennis, as the exercise benefits are uneven, especially if you ride a golf cart instead of walk. Team sports involve their own set of skills and mindset. If you play tennis, for example, your competitive nature might tempt you to practice your backhand instead of your chess end game.

Two excellent choices for improving your body’s flexibility, energy level, muscle tone, and overall health are yoga and tai chi.Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years to keep the body flexible and healthy.

It was originally developed by yogis in India seeking to be free of any disease or discomfort that would distract them from the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. You might think it's tough to sit for eight hours during a chess tournament, but yogis can meditate for days on end sitting cross-legged on cave floors.

Today it’s easy to join a yoga class where you can learn many good exercises, such as the head stand and shoulder stand, for improving blood flow to the brain, strengthening the back and all the muscles, keeping the joints in good shape, and stimulating the internal organs to work better.

Pilates is a set of exercises developed by Joseph Pilates that combines yoga exercises and exercises from other sports disciplines.Tai chi, a Chinese system of exercise that is also thousands of years old, is another great way to develop physical flexibility and total health.

You can learn tai chi through a local class or you can learn from a video or book.Weight training may be essential for athletes, but a chess player only needs to maintain muscle strength, tone, and mass and good circulation. Aerobic exercise, yoga, tai chi, or Pilates are all excellent ways to accomplish this.

If you want to increase your upper body strength, you can always add a few pushups to your daily routine. The benefits of staying physically fit will repay the time you put into exercising. Not only will your chess playing improve, but you’ll be able to sleep better and therefore need less sleep.

This means you’ll have more time to study chess!Few chess champions know how to get the most out of their exercise regimen. Don’t be one of them. Physically fit, during chess tournaments you’ll find it easier to maintain your competitive zeal and mental focus. This will give you an important edge over your opponent. (source)