Wishtank
RZA, Chess and the HHCF
by: Garrett Heaney
A few days ago, I posted a Blog with links to three Josh Waitzkin interviews from the Profitable Magic podcast, in which he discusses chess, martial arts and his book The Art of Learning. At the tail end of one of these interviews, Waitzkin talks about RZA and compliments his creative thinking and his chess game. This prompted me to do some digging on RZA as a chess player, and I found some interesting reading materials and a video of RZA, Josh and Adisa Banjoko, founder of the Hip Hop Chess Federation.
So, first, what is the Hip Hop Chess Federation?
From the HHCF Website:
“Founded by award wining lecturer and author Adisa Banjoko and Leo “Blast” Libiran, the HHCF is dedicated to providing an inclusive setting for individuals to interact, play and develop life strategy skills with people they perceive as mentors.
“Despite the school system’s best efforts and intentions, and the efforts of overworked parents, the past generations have suffered from lack of suitable education and essential resources required for a successful life,” states co-founder Adisa Banjoko. “We recognize that chess, martial arts and hip-hop unify people from multiple cultural, religious and social backgrounds. These black and white squares do not care what color you are or if you are rich or poor. The only thing they ask is that you come with your strategy, your patience and your skills.”
Along with recreational activities, the Hip Hop Chess Federation also provides life strategy workshops and sponsor-supported education scholarships. Studies show chess provides invaluable life lessons such as patience, personal accountability, focus, emotional intelligence and understanding the consequences of one’s actions before one acts.
I came across this October 21 article in the New York Times that shed light on the HHCF Kings Invitational tournament, of which RZA reigned victorious with a perfect 4-0 record:
From the NYT article:
“Hip-hop, martial arts, chess. An odd trio? Not at all, according to RZA, a founder of the rap group Wu-Tang Clan.
“Hip-hop is a battle game,” he said. “Chess is a battle. Martial arts is a battle.”
The three disciplines came together on Oct. 13 in the Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center, where the Hip-Hop Chess Federation held the Kings Invitational tournament. The federation, founded by the writer and lecturer Adisa Banjoko and Leo Libiran, a visual artist, seeks to use “music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence,” according to its Web site.
The tournament’s competitors included six hip-hop stars — RZA; GZA, another founder of the Wu-Tang Clan; Monk of the Black Knights, a Wu-Tang affiliate; Casual, of the group Hieroglyphics; Sunspot Jonz, from Living Legends Crew; and Paris. Rounding out the field were Ralek Gracie, a martial arts fighter, and Amir Sulaiman, a poet who has appeared on the HBO program “Def Poetry Jam.”
... Additionally, there was a special match that took place during the tournament as well. MMA fighter Ralek Gracie faced Emma Bentley, the 10-year-old Jr. World Champion who journeyed from the UK to participate. The young chess player reportedly checkmated the fight in an astounding thirty seconds.
By far, the most informative piece of literature that I found on the RZA’s chess game was this Jason Handelsman Interview with the RZA in Chess Life magazine.
From the interview:
Jason Handelsman-The title of the new album is 8 Diagrams?
RZA- Yep. It is an ode to hip-hop. Hip-hop could use my services right now.
The name 8 Diagrams comes from a classic kung fu film. But I have also been studying the I Ching. It is an ancient way of predicting the future. I Ching is about change, and it contains eight diagrams. Each diagram represents the way the stars are, the way life is, the destiny of a person, the destiny of a nation, and the destiny of our planet. The ancient Chinese used it over 4000 years ago to predict and calculate harvests, good times, bad times. The right time to do this, and the right time to do that. Each diagram represents a Wu-Tang member and the position that we play.
It is time for a change in hip-hop. We look forward to ushering in a new change with this album. Nothing happens by chance or coincidence. It’s actually based on experience. Everything in the universe travels in a circle. The Earth goes in the same circle every year; you understand ... there are small circles and big circles. I use the I-Ching to stay in tune with things.
There are eight points of the sun. In my lyrics I say, “I am the seven in the center of the eight-pointed sun.” I see myself as the abbot, the center of Wu-Tang. The eight points are the Wu-Tang members that shine out in all directions. We are like each point of that sun.
JH- In the Wu-Tang Manual Volume 1, you discuss chess as a game and its role in the Wu-Tang philosophy. As a chess player and a Wu-Tang fan. I have always wanted to see the algebraic notations of some of your best games.
RZA- Oh! (laughter) You know what? We’re gonna start doin’ that. I’ve actually joined the Hip-Hop Chess Federation.
There’s a few grandmasters involved with it. Josh Waitzkin, the subject of that movie, Searching For Bobby Fischer...is a buddy of mine now. He’s helping me improve my game. There is Maurice Ashley, of course. He came to the studio while we were doing the album actually and busted everybody’s ass (laughter). At the same time, he actually came there to measure our strength. He thinks that some Wu-Tang members...me, GZA and Masta Killa are at tournament level now. We didn’t have no real chess training, our ratings would probably be around 13...1400. Not bad though, you know?”
For more info on the upcoming Wu-Tang album, 8 Diagrams, check out this article in the Village Voice, who’s author Tom Breihan reported back from a screening session where several music writers were allowed to preview segments of eight tracks:
• The Wu-Tang Clan’s 8 Diagrams: A Preview
And finally, here’s that video of RZA, Adiso and Waitzkin:
Trivia:
GZA, who played RZA in the championship game of the HHCF Kings Invitational titled most of the tracks on his 2005 Grandmasters album with chess jargon:
“Opening,” “Destruction of a Guard,” “Exploitation of Mistakes,” “General Principles,” “Advance Pawns,” “Queen’s Gambit,” “Unstoppable Threats,” “Unprotected Pieces” and “Smothered Mate.”
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