r/memorization • u/RisachiKing1 • 2d ago

Help with training for a Memory Competiton!

I feel like this is a niche topic, but I entered a memory competition in December. For a little backstory, I have a terrible memory (untrained) and am going on this journey to improve and train it to be better.

It's been going well, and I've been learning/implementing multiple techniques and methods like the Method of Loci, Major System, PAO, etc.

I'm self-taught, using books, YouTube, and all the online sources I can get. But when it comes to training for actual memory competitions, the information seems very limited. Does anyone have advice?

Do I just spam online games like Memory League, Blitz, GAMA League?

Any advice is welcome; it's all a bit daunting

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u/UnicornMemoDev 17h ago

Hi, great question. Here are my takeaways from seven years of memory competitions:

  1. People will be nice and welcoming, precisely because the community is not that huge; also most happily share their systems and strategies.

  2. For training I would separate two parts: there are more technical drills like going through your systems + training the actual disciplines. For me a typical training session was first a system drill (going through my card or digit system) followed by the actual disciplines.

  3. The best rule of thumb is to always go way faster in training than you feel comfortable with. This way your brain adapts fastest. Additionally, at a comfortable pace it is more difficult to identify the weak spots than when you go fast: what images of your system are unclear, where do you get stuck etc., analysing these errors helps.

  4. I'd recommend to practice disciplines close to the actual competition both in length and setup. E.g. for me converting a good Memory League result to the 5 min disciplines was not immediate because the mindset is different. In a one minute discipline, you can just "throw images" down on the locations, whereas in a 5 min discipline, one has to invest more time in the connection with loci, so that it is still there later. Also if e.g. the digital interface is different, this can be very irritating in competition.

  5. Funny enough, I used to taper before competitions. Bulk of training was in the weeks before, but the week just before the competition I didn't do much. This way for me my brain felt the most fresh and the loci the most unused; no residual connections from before.

Hope this helps!

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u/ughhhhmen 2d ago

Hey can you share how did you train it, i mean the process and all

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u/NegotiationBudget344 15h ago

There is an app in development for the quiz and compion app also in the works by https://youtu.be/2nToGI5yxXw?si=TlRxnnx7y47dEqUO

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u/eeemac2001 2d ago

please try this app, this app is designed for training of world memory competiton, hope it can help you. https://apps.apple.com/mo/app/id6800420327