Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast EP 184 | Chessboxing and the Dreams of James Canty
Mar 16, 2026
FM James Canty III, chessboxing world champion, coach, and content creator pursuing IM/GM norms. He recounts winning in Serbia and the clash of boxing and chess. Training routines, breathwork, and nootropics come up. He also discusses balancing streaming, coaching, family, and future plans in chessboxing.
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How James Got Hooked On Boxing
- James Canty III discovered boxing after an exhibition with Mattomas at DreamHack led him to try local boxing classes.
- He was shocked by cardio demands, got hooked on training, and kept returning to improve conditioning and technique.
Serbia Team USA And The Russian Crowd
- James traveled with Team USA to Serbia and helped the team earn second place while winning his individual fights.
- He describes the intimidating Russian crowd and the significance of an American beating a Russian as a Bobby Fischer vs Spassky moment.
Train By Simulating Chessboxing Rounds
- Train chessboxing specifically by simulating alternating work/rest: do rounds with shorter rests to mimic changing from board to ring.
- James uses two-minute rests in training then follows boxing rounds with dynamic lifting and HIIT to build recovery.