WHY BENKYO LEAGUE

"BenKyo League is excellent, and it continues to grow. It is the heart of the BenKyo community, populated with friendly people who watch each other play league games with interest. Stronger players leave variations in game records and there is lively discussion on the BenKyo Discord server. This community is so special that it's hard to put into words. Rather than go into detail about all the great things you can get from Ben, I urge you to check out his Patreon tiers. I strongly recommend players from DDK to 3 Dan to consider instruction from Ben Mantle. "

— Buzzsaw, 8 Kyu

OUR TEACHER

I'm Ben Mantle, Canadian 5 Dan/Fox 8 Dan. I stepped through the Hikaru no Go gateway to this world in 2006, started teaching in 2008, and in 2009 trained in South Korea. After that I took the usual path of university and beyond until finally In 2021 I left my software career to Go full-time. Now I'm teaching, streaming, building the BenKyo community and training to achieve a solid rank of 9 Dan on Fox to challenge the North American Pro Qualifiers!

I think believing in your own potential is the cornerstone of improvement. I like to understand my students on a deep level and draw from my own past experiences to resonate with the student and offer relatable advice and conceptual solutions. "The journey is the reward" is my mantra.

WHAT YOU GET

 

Two Leagues

Main League games in divisions, which works for busy people & the BenKyo League Title Tournament with everyone, all the games you could want!

 

Teaching Games

Main League games are played with players around your level, but the Title Tournament is a giant free-for-all that lets you play any member at any handicap agreed upon! Interested members can learn from BenKyo and other members how to effectively conduct a teaching game.

 

Game Reviews from BenKyo

One or more of your league games get reviewed every month during a Twitch live-stream that can also be watched later as a recording.

 

Comes with Study Group

Study Group benefits are mentioned in the next section (classes, videos, study files, daily posts, homework, homework answer videos, member-run study activities)

 

Game Reviews from Stronger Members

We have a give-and-take game review system called the BenKyo League Dojo! DDK members are exempt from reviewing for others. Members of the strongest group can request a game review from BenKyo if they review enough for others in the Dojo.

 

League Prizes

1st & 2nd Place in Main League groups get lessons with BenKyo. Title Tournament participants get fun titles based on various criteria. Winners of either kind get permanent recognition in our Hall of Fame.

BENKYO STUDY GROUP

BenKyo League also comes with BenKyo Study Group, which includes...

○ Three 1.5-hour interactive group classes per month
○ All group class videos
○ NEW! Daily posts on Discord for members (homework, answer videos, lessons with text & images, more)
○ Additional SGF study files & OGS demos that Ben makes and shares for the group
○ NEW! Member-run study activities (class video watch & discuss sessions, book studies, tsumego solving etc.)
○ Exclusive Study Group channel, where Ben and members share helpful resources and advice

WORKS FOR ANYONE

 

No Participation Requirement

Play any number of games per month. Busy people will love the grouped Main League, super active players will love the free-for-all Title Tournament, and you can play in both!

 

Fully International

With 45+ members so far, we stretch across much of the globe! Members in vastly different time zones are getting their league games in.

 

Flexible Scheduling

Games can be impromptu or scheduled, and set up either by chatting in the Discord channel or scheduled in seconds via time slots shared with the Calendly app. Most members have a Calendly but it's not required.

WORDS OF A STUDENT

"To me, a teacher is someone who takes your hand to show you the way. They accompany you on your journey and equip you with tips and new ideas. They are your map and compass, steering you back on course when you lose your way. They have the patience to answer even the dumbest questions in a calm and constructive manner and don't mind repeating themselves. A good teacher always considers the pupil's current level and praises or criticizes them accordingly. A teacher should have empathy and the ability to put themselves in their pupil's shoes.

In my eyes Ben demonstrates all of the qualities that constitute my definition of a real 'teacher.' He's really patient, flexible and adaptable."

— Erik
English Instructor, 3-Kyu Go Player

FOR PASSIONATE PLAYERS

Tier 2 — BenKyo Study Group

$10/Month
  • ● Three 1.5-Hour Interactive Group Classes
  • ○ All Class Videos
  • ● Daily Posts (homework, homework answer videos, lessons etc.)
  • ○ Member-run Study Activities
  • ● Exclusive Study Group Discord Channel
Sign Up

Tier 3 — BenKyo League

MOST POPULAR
$25/Month
  • ○ INCLUDES Tier 2 (BenKyo Study Group)
  • ● Two Fun and Active Leagues
  • ○ Games with Stronger Members
  • ● Game Reviews from BenKyo
  • ○ Games Reviews from Stronger Members
  • ● Play & Review with BenKyo (for Strongest Members)
  • ○ League Prizes (1-on-1 Lessons, Fun Titles)
Sign Up

Tier 4 — Disciple

$40/Month
  • ● INCLUDES Tiers 2 & 3
  • ○ 30 Minutes of 1-on-1 Lesson Time Live-Streamed on Twitch
  • ● More Lesson Time = More Familiar, Better Teaching & Coaching
Sign Up

FOR SERIOUS PLAYERS

Tier 5 — Elite

MOST POPULAR
$100/Month
  • ● INCLUDES Tiers 2-4
  • ○ 90-minute Private Lesson
  • ● Detailed Baduk Ability Ratings Evaluation & Guidance File Every 6 Months (Bar Graph, Grades on Numerous Go Attributes, Personalized Verbal Feedback)
  • ○ Endless Annotated OGS Correspondence Games with BenKyo Baduk
Sign Up

Tier 6 — Adeptus

$200/Month
  • ○ INCLUDES Tiers 2-5
  • ● Another 90-Minute Private Lesson (Total = 2)
  • ○ 2 More 30-Minute Stackable Live-Streamed Lessons (Total = 3)
  • ○ Special Recognition (Details on Patreon)
Sign Up

Tier 7 — BenKyo VIP

$500/Month
  • ● INCLUDES Tiers 2-6
  • ○ 2 More 90-Minute Private Lessons (Total = 4)
  • ● 2 More 30-Minute Stackable Live-Streamed Lessons (Total = 5)
  • ○ Monthly Content Request—Ask Me to Cover a Topic, Pattern or Game on Stream/Video
  • ● Special VIP-Level Recognition (Details on Patreon)
Sign Up

TEACHING SAMPLES (Update: Lessons are all done in private now)

YOU ARE READY!

Baduk Beginner?

No need to wait, game experience and guidance from BenKyo League's friendly family of helpful members is the best way to race through the DDK levels!

Advanced Player?

We have motivated members of all levels, Beginner to 4 Dan, all striving to improve, sharing what they learn and having a great time together on Discord and OGS!

JOIN NOW

TESTIMONIALS

     

 Joining the BenKyo League has not only helped me improve my Go, but it's given me the sense of community that I'd been missing for years. I've moved up about two stones on OGS in the few months I've been playing in the league (the longer time settings for higher stakes help improve game quality!), and getting to see others grow as well has been great. Lots of room for rivalry, growth and teaching, and it's been fun watching the league grow and more members get involved! 

NotSimple: BenKyo League Member, 1 Kyu
     

 When I was still relatively new to the world of Go, everything was all over the place. I had problems understanding certain concepts. Thinking back to those time, I shudder to where I'd be if not for Ben. He has been a great mentor, instructor and friend to me. He never fails to explain a certain concept in an easy way and always has a solutions for my questions. He is easily the most patient person I know when it comes to teaching people, especially for those who was just starting out like me. If you are looking at the testimonials, don't hesitate and I know for sure Ben will help you to become a better player! 

DeadlyChakra (YongXiang): BenKyo League Member, 4 Kyu
     

 The BKL is a group of players from around the world dedicated to Go. It is a genuine (Go) community. The stronger players are committed to helping the weaker players with reviews, advice and encouragement. 

Holonomy: BenKyo League Member, 11 Kyu
     

 Ben is an excellent teacher. In the short time I took lessons from him my knowledge and skills skyrocketed. He's always open to answer any question I fire at him or give me extra exercises. He shows great understanding of the game and how to improve in it. 

Giovanni: Software Developer, BenKyo League Member, 5 Kyu
     

 I have been a student of Ben Mantle since December of 2021. Ben is a strong go player and has excellent teaching skills. He gets to know his students well and spends time making sure that we all feel welcome in his Discord community. He takes the time to explain go in a way that will allow me to improve my skills, and he is so interested in teaching go that he is known to go into overtime because of his enthusiasm to share more and more go knowledge. The BenKyo League is excellent, and it continues to grow. It is the heart of the BenKyo community and is populated with friendly people who watch each other play their league games with interest. Stronger players leave variations in game records, and there is often lively discussion on the BenKyo Discord Server. Actually the community is so special that it is hard to put into words. Rather than go into detail about all the great things you can get from Ben, I urge you to check out his Tiers on Patreon. I strongly recommend players from DDK up to 3 dan to consider instruction from Ben Mantle. 

Buzzsaw (Terri Schurter): BenKyo League Member, 8 Kyu
     

 Ben is an amazing Go teacher with an expansive knowledge not only in beginning, middle, and ending phases of the game, but also useful tesuji that many of your opponents won’t know. With help from him, I improved my rank from 3 kyu to 1 dan. I have always been apprehensive to take lessons of any kind with anyone, but Ben is also the kind of person you can get comfortable with and be friends! That to me is very important between students and teachers. Plus, if you happen to have an easy question that needs to be answered about homework or something that happened in a game, he’s good at responding. If you haven’t had a lesson with him yet, your game is suffering. 

Austin: Student, 2 Dan
     

 When I started BKL in November I had only played a couple 9x9 and some 20k bots on 19x19, BKL gave me confidence to play people :) I learn so much every single game. 

Jem.157: BKL Member
     

 "This is turning into, like, THE league" 

RoguePotato: BKL Member
     

 To me, a teacher is someone who takes your hand to show you the way. They accompany you on your journey and equip you with tips and new ideas. They are your map and compass, steering you back on course when you lose your way. They have the patience to answer even the dumbest questions in a calm and constructive manner and don't mind repeating themselves. A good teacher always considers the pupil's current level and praises or criticizes them accordingly. A teacher should have empathy and the ability to put themselves in their pupil's shoes. In my eyes Ben demonstrates all of the qualities that constitute my definition of a real 'teacher.' He's really patient, flexible and adaptable. 

Erik: English Instructor, 3 Kyu
     

 When the Toronto Go Club decided to start hosting beginner Go classes alongside its usual weekly meetings, Ben Mantle was instrumental in its success. He was responsible for running the Go classes and he prepared learning materials, taught the classes and also promoted the club’s activities. Without him the Go classes would not have been as popular. He can also be counted on by the Toronto Go Club for its various outreach activities such as staffing the Go demo tables at Anime North every year. 

Johnny: President of the Toronto Go Club
     

 I had the pleasure of knowing Ben when he was working as a Go / Weiqi teacher for Golden Key Cultural Center. Ben is an excellent Go / Weiqi teacher; he is very patient with kids and his teaching is easy to understand. He is also very dedicated to the game of Go. When he was teaching our summer camp, he always made sure all the students understood the lesson's material before moving on. We had many students and parents who were very satisfied with Ben's teaching. 

Joanna: Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Children's Go Class Instructor
  

CONTACT


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