Wei qi life: go clubs

Let's talk about go clubs! Go clubs are starting to thrive here in the united states. I've been to several in the bay area since I started playing go. When I go to a club meeting, I make sure I'm ready to play for at least a couple hours. I usually play more than one game and it is a good time.

What's a go club?

A go club is not different from other clubs. It is usually run by someone who isn't paid but a big fan of the game and wants to connect with others like them. The meeting place could be a house, cafe, a room at a store or even a park. Parks are quite popular when it comes to go club meetings. When the sun is out and the flowers are blooming, it creates a nice and tranquil environment to play the game with others.

The go clubs I've been to have been simple and serious. Go requires that kind of concentration and attitude. If you decide to go to a club meeting, be prepared to show up and play or you'll find yourself rather bored. There's going to be nothing there but go playing and go players. The atmosphere is mostly serious and quiet because people need to focus.

I do like meeting at cafes and I'm glad to grab a latte or drink and something to eat before or after playing. It is a refreshing feeling. It's a time to calm down and cleanse your mind and thoughts. Your opponent isn't going to ask you about your bad week or problems going on in your personal life. They are just there to play a game with you. No talking is needed aside from greeting them and ending the game. You don't even have to review the game after if you don't want to.

Now that I've been to a few clubs, there's a few things I want to talk about. That is that as the interest grows, more and more people will want to join. They'll be looking for a teacher or ways to improve their game. As a club you may need to find a bigger space for your club to meet as you grow in number. A cafe, the library or room at a store may not be enough anymore. If you find yourself heaving a heavy burden, try to find others to help you carry it. This goes back to my point on why we'll need go centers or schools where there is a strong interest in go.

When people join a club they want to feel like they are joining a community that supports them. The clubs are pretty good when it comes to meeting consistently and playing games but there can be other activities too. When people connect with each other on a more personal level, they will feel more comfortable and want to be more involved. They may not be that good at the game but when it comes to organizing activities, summer camps and things like that, a helping hand goes a long way.

And summer camps! Summer camps are a good way to promote and teach the game, especially to kids. This is something go clubs can really get involved in. Get together with other clubs in your area and gather those who can teach. There can be other activities like picnics, barbecuing, baking, hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, painting, reading and more. Do what it takes to get the creative juices and energy flowing because that will transfer over to their go playing. If you've never done a summer camp before, you can try one week first. Experiment and once you know what works for you and your club, you can do more. 

Summer camps are a place and time to relax, have fun yet still be serious about learning and playing go. I feel that's really what go clubs are about. Don't take it lightly that you've been able to start one. There are plenty of things you and your club can do to help new and old players learn, improve and find inspiration to continue on their journey as a go player.

We do have a shortage of well-qualified teachers right now but if you're a parent looking for someone to teach your kid(s), I recommend going to a go club. Take them to a go club in your area that's meeting consistently and you should be able to find someone who is intermediate or moderately advanced to teach you and your kids.

Clubs, please make sure you're information is up to date on the web so people can easily look you up and see your meeting place and times or if it is no longer in operation.

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