C-Squared Podcast Matt Thomas & James Canty | Exposure Therapy, Breathwork & Turning Chess Brains Into Boxing Weapons
Nov 28, 2025
Matt Thomas, founder of chess boxing in the U.S., and James Canty III, the heavyweight chess boxing champion, share their unique journeys. They delve into the parallels between chess and boxing, revealing how breathing techniques enhance performance in both sports. James breaks down his championship fight, while Matt discusses the importance of mental toughness and exposure therapy for athletes. They also highlight upcoming plans for hybrid combat sports, merging chess with other martial arts to create innovative training programs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How Matt Found Chessboxing
- Matt Thomas discovered chessboxing after seeing a YouTube autoplay while recovering from surgery and thought it was a joke.
- He reached out to founder Ipe Rubin and within two years flew to Calcutta to start competing internationally.
Canty's Start At DreamHack
- James Canty III met Matt at DreamHack and started boxing seriously after being encouraged to try chessboxing.
- He transitioned from hobby boxing to intense training and quickly pursued the sport competitively.
Chess And Boxing Share Tactical DNA
- Matt Thomas draws deep parallels between chess and boxing: space control, piece-punch analogies, and combination play.
- He maps rooks to straights, knights to hooks, and bishops to uppercuts to illustrate tactical similarities.