What happened to Josh Waitzkin?

It's hard for me to believe because I read a book that was written by him, and published when he was 18, and an IM. He truly had ambitions to become a GM. He studied for another 9 years after he became a IM, and still didn't reach GM, so he "Lost the Love" for chess.

He studied for nine years after reaching IM, and didn't reach GM. That's pretty strong evidence.  He's just a god to you, because he had a movie made about him, and he's got the gift of gab.

Morphy, and Fischer were GMs.

Or at least Morphy played near that level. The didn't have the title back then, but they were both at the very top of the game.

He just bought a 1.8 mio loft in new york, so he must be making the right choices somehow.

Once again, he indeed studied for nine years after becoming an IM, with all the best opportunities that most don't have, and didn't make it. How come there's not all this hero worship, and grandiose speculation about every other IM? Because they don't have the gift of gab, and didn't have a movie made about them, so they could become famous?

I wonder if losing the gold also affected his passion for chess?

Josh entered a zone where fiction and fact mind-melt into a gooey mass. He became one with Fischer.

I doubt you can make a living of being good at push hand tai chi which he picked up instead.

Considering his Chessmaster deal and chess books, i'd say he makes a good enough living at chess.

But not winning money playing it Good night all.

+1. Just consider politics...

I don't think much about Waitzkin quitting professional chess but it's really sad that he hasn't become a full time chess coach or lecturer. According to his web site, he now seems to work as a "performance coach" for higher end capitalists, I'm pretty sure he's earning well but it's pretty pathetic where he has ended up morally. His talent for teaching and understanding of psychology of learning etc. could be of much better use for humanity.

He was easily the best chess instructor I had ever seen. His videos at chessmaster are so great.

... teaching chess?

... or selling used cars...

he became a  "world champion" (laff) in some mediocre martial art for goofs that no natural athlete would even think about entering

How does anybody here actually know why he never continued his chess career to become a GM? Does anybody here know him personally? Maybe he just wasn't talented enough to become a GM, or perhaps he was and simply found other interests. But regardless unless somebody josh and what his intentions really were, how can anybody say with certainty why he stopped having a passion for chess?

Go to a BJJ academy, tell them their black belt doesn't mean much and that you'd like to test their skill. See what happens.

I know he became an IM at 16, but the book came out when he was 18. It was obvious he then wanted to be a GM. At that time he was studying under world class coaches, and did for several years after becoming a IM. He also admitted in the book that a GM could make his best efforts "Blow up in his face." I say now, and always will that if he could have become a GM, he would have. That movie crap is just an excuse.

dude... even 100 year old chinese women can do tai chi

brazilian jiu jitsu also sucks, for example everyone knows punches are the most common attack in self defence and the most effective..

how do jiu jitsu goofs train for self defence? by rolling around on the floor! laughable