Ronnie White Memory Champ on his toughest memory challenge ever performed on a stage
I have done a lot of memory demonstrations.
In 2009, I set a USA record by memorizing a deck of 52 shuffled cards in 1 minute and 17 seconds. That same year I also memorized a 167 digit number in 5 minutes for a USA record.
The Afghanistan Memory Wall where I memorized all the fallen heroes from the war in Afghanistan is without question the most massive and most significant.
However, this toughest demonstration I ever did before a live audience is here:
Why was this show Superhuman the most challenging memory demonstration that I have ever done?
After all, I’ve made my name as Ronnie White memory champion.
1. I was having to talk at the same time and interact!
For example, some people say, ‘I could be a Navy SEAL, I can hold my breath for 2 minutes under water.’ Ok? You can? Cool. But can you hold your breath while someone is punching you, kicking you and dragging you through the water?
Holding your breath in a controlled environment is not the same as what someone would experience training for the SEALs.
In a memory tournament when I am in a room that is quiet I can easily memorize a 150 digit number in 5 minutes and 128 names in 15 minutes.
HOWEVER, in memory challenges there are 2 stages:
1. Memorization stage
2. Recall stage
The memorization stage in a tournament is quiet, no distractions and focused. If on the show I had to look at the phone numbers and names in a controlled environment I say 8 minutes I would have had it solid (easily). That’s how I made my name as Ronnie White Memory Champion.
But that wasn’t the case.
I had to walk around, hear the audience noise, the hosts talking, talk to the girls and keep my focus. This made it without question the toughest memory challenge I have ever performed on a a stage.
2. The stakes were high
I have proven myself over and over for 24 years in the memory field. But the stakes were high. This was a HUGE audience. If I didn’t get it then I would have to live with that for the rest of my life. It is kind of like the NFL player who has a great career but if he chokes in the Super Bowl that is all people would remember.
The stakes being so high is big added pressure
3. The girls were selected at random
If I was simply memorizing a 150 digit number and 15 names and then had to repeat them back in order then it would have been easier. But instead they would say, ‘Ronnie White memory guy, girl #7 give me her phone number.’ That makes it much tougher
4. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
5. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
6. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
7. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
8. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
9. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
10. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
12. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
13. I had to do the memorization stage talking, interacting and in front of a live studio audience!!!!
I think you get my point. haha
So I’ve made my name as Ronnie White memory champion but even at that this was without question the toughest memory challenge of my life.
In the clip above you see Dr. Jandial talking about a concept called the Memory Palace. This is the system that I use and he described it a little about in the above clip. If you would like to get more understanding on this concept here it is
So the concept is true.
Each of these girls had their own spot in my Mind Palace.
Toughest memory challenge EVER!
You can hold your breath for 2 minutes? Good! But can you do it while getting punched in the gut? That’s the Navy SEAL standard :)
