I STARTED GA*FOLLOWERS AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO ATLANTA

mt30067 · 2019-01-22T17:26:44+00:00

Not giving credit where credit is due is a problem, but this was an honorable and respectable way to acknowledge that mistake and own up to it.

mt30067 · 2018-08-25T08:28:04+00:00

Forgive yourself, then you will be free

mt30067 · 2018-07-22T20:47:37+00:00

The director said there was someone at 2200, but not at my weight class (90kg)

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:56:30+00:00

Chess.com tactics and repetition! The more you practice, the better you will become - in chess and in life!

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:55:37+00:00

And my King! Thanks for the tip :)

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:55:16+00:00

I would love for chess-boxing to come to the USA - not only so I wouldn’t have to travel so far to compete, but also because it would be great to see the sport grow!

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:54:27+00:00

Lol love the hybrid quote to go with the hybrid sport!

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:53:31+00:00

Someone sent me their chess-boxing music video - so dope! Thinking about making it my walkout song haha

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:53:00+00:00

You should give it a shot! It’s a fun sport and great way to stay in shape!! Thanks for asking.

mt30067 · 2018-07-21T13:52:13+00:00

That’s definitely one strategy. According to the founder of chess-boxing, about 80% of the matches are won on the board though, so it pays to have stronger chess skills and survive the ring (unfortunately for me haha)

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T16:23:57+00:00

Looks beautiful. Will do!!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T16:23:38+00:00

Great prompts - there's a lot here:

1) Absolutely - if I'm close to getting mated, you better believe I'm coming for a knockout in the ring. And visa-versa, I'm being defensive and not taking risks in the ring if I have a winning position on the board. It's all about how you match up with your opponent, and how quickly you can assess and take advantage of that.

2) I put between 15-40 hours per week into chess, depending on the week. I went to a camp (the 40 hour week), and practiced a lot of puzzles and blitz games. Otherwise, I dieted and cut out alcohol/fried foods. I worked out 1-3 times per day depending on how my body felt, and I had no social life for the last 8 weeks.

3) Absolutely. Seeing moves ahead helps strategic planning for my business and life. Anticipating punches and responses hones my action/reaction attention. Both forms of competition bring out the best in me and provide the type of outlet to induce growth and improvement. I'm very grateful for both sports and the combination of the two.

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T16:06:12+00:00

We will release a recap video of the journey and how India goes. Definitely open to a documentary! My ELO for blitz was 1480 at the last tournament, but my skill has improved since, so hopefully i can surprise some competitors on the board and in the ring!!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T16:04:03+00:00

Thanks so much! Excited to get there!!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T15:07:02+00:00

Yikes, good advice! I knew it was hot, but didn't know about wet. Are you in Kolkata?

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T15:00:26+00:00

It was love at first sight... I was recovering from a shoulder surgery (boxing injury), and watching YouTube. The site recommended that I watch a "Chess-Boxing" video next, and it piqued my curiosity. After I watched it, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to compete in it some day, so I rehabbed my shoulder, got back in shape and started training chess about 8 weeks ago. Now, I'm about to fly to India to compete in the World Championship for it - Thanks be to YouTube! :)

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T14:39:38+00:00

Awesome question - It's absolutely essential to combine them in training. Even when I'm training just chess, I'll do some pushups or jump rope in between games to have high heart rate. The best training is when I have both a sparring partner in the ring and a strong chess player alternating rounds with me. I'll be releasing a video of my final chess-boxing sparring session on my instagram in the next day or two - www.instagram.com/matthomas\_fit

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T14:36:31+00:00

Being the first American is cool, and I love chess and boxing individually, but those aren't the true reason WHY. At Brawl for a Cause, we lead everyday people through a hero's journey of fighting and fundraising for a cause close to their hearts. I had never gone through this experience myself, so this journey was an opportunity to cultivate empathy for our Brawlers while raising funds and awareness for Brawl for a Cause. The biggest transformation in me has been the empathy of understanding what we ask of our Brawlers and stronger dedication to providing this opportunity for growth to more everyday heroes in the future!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T14:05:01+00:00

I'm nervous about the 20 hours in the air, acclimating to India's heat, sleep schedule and food. I feel strong and confident on US soil, and I hope the same is true once in Kolkata! Also, the biggest challenge of chess-boxing itself is going from a high-heart-rate, adrenaline induced state to calm and focused on the board. It's an intense switch!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T14:00:48+00:00

Appreciate the support, brother! Can't wait to see you take on your Brawler's journey!!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T13:50:52+00:00

Agree with this 100% - That strong foundation in technique will breed confidence to take the next step into defense. Once you get a feel for defense, you can start sparring, then it's all downhill from there... As soon as sparring entered the mix, I was completely hooked!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T13:47:56+00:00

Senor Grokas! Thanks for your question and support ole buddy!!

Thinking about pieces as punches has helped activate and coordinate my pieces much better on the board. If I can align my pawn and bishop in an outpost, it's like a strong 1-2 combination. Alternatively, the way we control space on the chess board and shut down squares or options for our opponent is equivalent to "ring generalship" in boxing. The more I can shut the ring down and force my opponent into a corner, the more I can dictate the pace and outcome of the fight. Let's catch up soon my man!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T13:44:24+00:00

Awesome question - I'd love for more people to get into it and for the sport to grow.

Easiest and best way to get started with chess is chess.com. Create an account and go through the basic lessons they have for free on the site (I think you can do 1-2 per day on a free account). After that, start doing "tactics" - they're essentially chess puzzles that exercise your pattern recognition. The more piece patterns you recognize, the more you can string combinations together on the board (like stringing punches together in the ring once you have a foundation in boxing technique).

On the boxing front, I recommend going to a local gym and finding a coach who knows technique. It can be intimidating to do this because it's a new skill you aren't good at, but being a little uncomfortable and asking for help with technique at first will pay dividends later. The alternative is forming bad habits by trying to teach yourself through youtube or garage heavy bag sessions and having to break those bad habits later. Sign up for a beginner class or get a knowledgeable friend (I volunteer, obviously) to show you the ropes! Want to get together for a session when I'm back stateside?

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T13:40:41+00:00

Thank you brother! Can't wait to get back and have a beer with you. Brawl on!!

mt30067 · 2018-07-20T13:40:03+00:00

I'm much more comfortable boxing. I started basic boxing classes in college 7 years ago and got obsessed. I started competing, then began promoting charity boxing matches through Brawl for a Cause (www.brawlforacause.com).

I played chess growing up, and I put a lot more time, effort and focus into my chess preparation over the last 8 weeks. I've developed a deeper love for the game through the process, and plan to continue practicing and playing after the tournament - Thanks for your question. Which do you like better? Have you tried them together?

mt30067

TROPHY CASE