Speed cubing is a global phenomenon with world championships that bring hundreds of competitors together every year. The sport demands a lot of practice and attention to detail.
This doc zooms in on two long-time rivals with a collection of world records between them, Feliks Zemdegs and Max Park. But it’s the relationship that they share that’s so heartwarming to watch.
Reflexes
The speed cubing world is a fast-paced environment where it’s crucial to have reflexes that can keep up. This is especially true when competing in WCA-recognised events that require different techniques like blindfolded speedsolving or the use of Brooks’ Last Edge algorithms to orient the corners of the final layer.
Reflexes are involuntary responses that happen without conscious thought. They are triggered by sensory stimuli such as visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory which activate specialized receptors that relay signals to the brain along sensorimotor nerve pathways. The resulting impulses are then converted into a response, and can be modulated by the brain to prevent the reflex from impeding movements.
For Max Park, who has autism and is a top cuber in the WCA, cubing has become much more than just a hobby. His parents introduced him to the puzzle as a way to develop his fine motor skills and socialization. But when he started winning competitions, it became a way for him to grow his self-esteem and learn how to interact with other people.
For Max, the most important part of his experience is the friendship he has built with Feliks Zemdegs. Their rivalry is evident in the Netflix film The Speed Cubers, but the two men are incredibly supportive of one another at competitions and outside of them.
Dexterity
Indulging your child into a hobby that involves the mind and finger dexterity would surely help develop his or her social skills and discipline. This will eventually improve their fine motor skills, which is the key to preventing age-related cognitive deterioration. Cubing can be a great choice as it does not only help children to stay focused and disciplined but also improves their memory and finger dexterity.
Speed cubing is the exhilarating pursuit of solving classic Rubik’s Cube and other similar combination puzzles in record-breaking time. The documentary follows the awe-inspiring world of top-level competitors, including Max Park who recently broke the record with a staggering solve of 3.13 seconds.
During competitions, participants are given a set of standardized cubes that are scrambled by the computer ahead of their run. They are allowed a maximum of 15 seconds to examine each cube and begin their attempt. During their solve, the competitors must keep all of the pieces lined up and in place so that they do not fall off the cube.
To achieve this, top-scoring speedcubers use a method known as Fredrick. It enables them to solve the cube layer by layer, allowing them to cross more moves in less time. They also excel at something called look-ahead, a type of short-throw clairvoyance that allows them to see the algorithms that will snap into place a fraction of a second before they finish their current move.
Agility
Agility is the ability to move quickly from one place to another. You can see agility on the basketball court or in a boxing ring, but it’s also important in business and other careers.
Speedcubers have a high level of agility because they must be able to solve the cube as quickly as possible. They use a series of algorithms to alter the scrambled puzzle into a solved state. Top-scoring cubers can do this in seconds.
Acuity, or the ability to perceive and process information quickly, is also essential to speed cubing. The best cubers can quickly identify their mistakes and correct them before it’s too late. This enables them to complete the puzzle faster.
The rubiks cube keeps your brain cells active and increases your attentiveness. This makes it a great hobby for kids and helps them stay focused and disciplined. The Speed Cubers is a fun film that celebrates the friendship between two speedcubers and highlights their dedication to the sport. This is a must-see for anyone who loves the Rubik’s cube or wants to learn how to solve it faster. It’s available to watch on Netflix(opens in new tab). Brooke Bajgrowicz is an Entertainment Fellow at Mashable. She used to write about music for Billboard and now tackles movies and TV for us.