Think Like The Spider: Anderson Silva

Following the Brazilian UFC former middleweight champion Anderson Silva, we can conceive his strong indefinite mind-set transcends from the boundaries in this world of the “average person”. Tragically pursued destiny against his opponent Weidman, The Spider broke his leg when he shot a low-kick trying to attain his belt back. 

Discovering his interviews and history, this legend has worth-discovering and wide story to teach us all something crucial. First is his “action rather that reaction story”. His father was a cop and as the story goes (you will be cop like your father) he acted different rather than becoming like his father. Since the beginning of his career he had vast dream and vision of becoming one of the best fighters in the world. How did he attained that? Simple. He was in love with martial arts,literally, and he discovered that right on time.

The Spider was following his own path in life and discovered his true powers, simply the one thing he was born for. He differed from all the rest. UFC is rage contact sport that includes lot of self-control, anger, concentration and mind set. Not to mention, lot of UFC fighters lack these mental capabilities and instead of overcoming the opponent with skill they enter the octagon like hungry werewolf’s fighting to get their food.

On the other side Anderson Silva has very calm attitude and self-control before the fight. He never overreact, he never exaggerate his expectations, and best of all he respects all of his opponents, which is his most used word during interviews “I respect this, I respect that, I respect him, and so on and so on”. I believe if you train 100% your results will be 100% – these are the champ words, although not some Stephen Hawking quantum physics, these words teach us that it is that simple. What you do is what you get.

Comparing his mind-set sphere to every-human-being-sphere, we can conclude three things:

Follow your own path

“The Spider” parents forced him to go to school and have his focus on becoming cop like his brother and father. Putting all this aside, Anderson Silva told him that this was his dream, he loves martial arts and this is what he is going to do. It didn’t came out bad at the end! He was the most accurate UFC champion and the one with most wit sharpness.

Most of our stories can be compared: “Be like your father, he knows the connections and it will be easier for you.”

It is not about easy or hard. It’s about your happiness and life. The parents do this because they love us so much and they don’t want us to go through stressful times, but they don’t know that overcoming the stress is what makes us champions and heroes. Catch your own dreams, unless you really want to become (cop) like your father.

Calm attitude and self-control

Maybe the most win situation in Anderson’s life is his calm attitude and self-control. He knows what he is capable of and he never overreact. He said this very simple and real : “He trains I train, he goes what I go for and the only result we will see are in the octagon”.

Life is full of opportunities and choices. By overreacting and not being calm the only thing we can achieve is screw up. Interact with surrounding calmly with self-control and be real according to the circumstances.

Respect

Even thou he enters in the cage with the opportunity of losing his life, he respects his opponents. He learned to walk in their shoes and view with their perspective. They are here for the same and only one gets it all. At the end of the fight, he hugs his opponents telling them “you fought really good.”

Not everyone can do such a thing. It’s all about respect. If we learn to see from another peoples perspective, we can even see our competitors plan and tactic, we simply know how they think and how they will respond.

“I believe if you train 100% your results will be 100%” – Anderson Silva