Trained 4–5 times per week
Miles trains fencing 4–5 times per week, alternating between full sparring days and one-on-one tactical lessons with his coach.
Snapshot · On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Miles Chamley-Watson: #1 Mindset Shift That Changes Everything (Try THIS to Stay Sharp, Focused, and In Control)
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Jun 3, 2026
Where this was said
The Tragic Incident That Changed Fencing Forever
At 26:50 · chapter starts 23:06
Jay draws a parallel with Drive to Survive — the Netflix series that made F1 accessible — and asks Miles to do the same for fencing. Miles obliges with rare specificity. Fencing is, he argues, physical chess: as mentally taxing as it is physical. The three pillars are explosive power, reaction time, and timing. He describes himself as a 'feeling fencer' who reads opponents' feet and mannerisms, contrasting with more defensive, analytical styles. The sport is like 'boxing, taekwondo, and a 100-meter sprint had a baby,' with bouts running anywhere from 5 to 40 minutes and requiring the ability to cycle heart rate from 170 bpm down to the low 70s in seconds. Preseason training mirrors boxing conditioning: 10 rounds on the Assault Bike at 20 seconds on, 40 off; ski erg; sprinting. He trains 4–5 days per week, alternating full sparring sessions with one-on-one tactical coaching. [1] — Miles Chamley-Watson "Fencing is boxing, taekwondo, and a 100-meter sprint had a baby. It demands explosive power, lightning reaction time, and real-time tactica…" 24:25
Fencing Is Physical Chess: Breaking Down the Sport
Fencing is boxing, taekwondo, and a 100-meter sprint had a baby. It demands explosive power, lightning reaction time, and real-time tactical thinking — all simultaneously. Miles compares it to physical chess where you must anticipate your opponent while reacting to what they actually do, all while managing a heart rate that swings from 170 to the low 70s in seconds.
Fencing is like physical chess
Miles describes fencing as 'physical chess' where it is equally taxing mentally and physically, requiring explosive speed, reaction time, and in-the-moment tactical adaptation.
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