Official poster of UFC 162

Increasingly confident of winning the fight against Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight belt to be held July 6 in Las Vegas, Chris Weidman doesn’t seem to see the MMA superhero in “Spider” as everyone else does.

In a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, he had to say this:

“You have to treat him as a regular opponent. I respect what he did in the sport, of course. But you can’t get stuck to it … Guess what, he is a normal person like me, he has two arms, two legs, two eyes, just like me. I’m not fighting a superhero, I’m fighting a person and my job is to win. Simple as that … I feel like I have the right skills, the desire, and the determination to make it happen. The UFC has the eyes on me for having given me this title fight. For those who think I don’t deserve it, stay tuned on July 6 and I’ll prove otherwise.”

Weidman had already stated a few days ago that he wouldn’t enter the psychological game that the champion uses with all his opponents. To avoid this, Weidman ensured that he will use his shelved psychology degree in his favor.

“I have a very strong mindset; I understand how the mind works because of my psychology degree. I understand the patterns of when things are going well, when they are going wrong and what to do in this case. There’s a myth about him because of his fighting style and prestige he got from everyone, but I’m a guy who went after guys who were favorites and couldn’t lose against me, with my wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. I’m used to being in that situation, so it’s just another work day for me,” said Weidman in an interview over the phone with SPORTV.com.

Check out the full UFC 162 card below.

UFC 162
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
July 6, 2013

Anderson Silva vs Chris Weidman
Frankie Edgar vs Charles Do Bronx
Roger Gracie vs Tim Kennedy
Ricardo Lamas vs Chan Sung Jung
Cub Swanson vs Dennis Siver

Preliminary Card

Mark Muñoz vs Tim Boetsch
Chris Leben vs Andrew Craig
Norman Parke vs Kazuki Tokudome
Edson Barboza vs John Makdessi
Dave Herman vs Shane Del Rosario
Seth Baczynski vs Brian Melancon
David Mitchel vs Mike Pearce

Synonymous with any martial art comes the notion of self-defense. Protection. Confidence.

First and foremost, Jiu-Jitsu has taught me that violence is unnecessary in the face of adversary and that confidence to deal with a situation by avoiding it altogether is a feat worth accomplishing, a trait worth having, a lesson worth learning. Thankfully, I have Jiu-Jitsu to teach me this essential lesson instead of learning the hard way.

But what happens when it isn’t a confrontation easily contained? Sometimes our physical defense mechanisms learned on the mat will surely come in handy, but for those involved with a massive shooting, a sudden attacker, an armed robber, it’s the preparedness and confidence that will ultimately bring you to safety. Without the mental preparation, the techniques and positions you learn may lose their opportunity to surface.

Jiu-Jitsu is a self-defense system. We see it highlighted in every school as their basic and/or women’s programs. We know that effective Jiu-Jitsu allows the smaller and weaker person to overcome a stronger, bigger opponent by using leverage. The most basic and foundational moves we all learn when we begin Jiu-Jitsu serve as a stepping stone to whichever route you choose whether it be recreational or sport, but it’s these monumental hours in the beginning of your journey that set you up for such valuable lessons that will carry over to your life. You may not even realize them until you’re faced with an opportunity.

In light of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Jiu-Jitsu practitioners are focusing on the aspect of self-defense more than ever. Whether or not jiu-jitsu is a reliable self-defense mechanism in these circumstances– weapons versus none — is a hot topic. Do the foundational techniques, positions and movements of our art qualify as a justified means to defend oneself in the event of a shooting? Yes– but not in the way you might initially think.

The psychological benefits of training Jiu-Jitsu offer much to any practitioner– young or old, male or female. The mats of a jiu-jitsu academy set the scene for triumphs, goals and confidence. We build ourselves up only to reap consequences found in higher grades in school, less anxiety and stress, lighter weight around our waist and an heir that no one can touch. Ultimately, it is the psychological self defense that gives Jiu-Jitsu practitioners a priceless sense of protection.

In an unfortunate event on that devastating day there were moments that seemed to bring a light through what feels like unrelenting darkness. Many teachers and staff members sacrificed themselves for others. It was the quick wit of Victoria Soto who hid her students in cabinets and cupboards just minutes before the shooter entered the room and took her life. It was the devotion of Anne Marie Murphy who, as a last ditch effort, attempted to shield her students with her own body. Without the confidence, courage, commitment and conviction of those present at the scene, we may have seen worse.

What Jiu-Jitsu can offer may not be tangible at first. You won’t realize what drilling, live rolling and specific training are doing to your nervous system, your emotional being and your mental capacity. They’re not just moves, they’re not just techniques. Jiu-Jitsu begins a never-ending evolution of your senses to react quickly, recognize danger, have confidence in your actions and automatically choose fight over flight, despite what any other mental flags your brain may wave.

It is up to oneself to take responsibility for themselves and others in the event of any dangerous situation no matter the perpetrator. As we have seen the Jiu-Jitsu community come together before, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting brings more opportunities onto the map.

In Long Beach, CA, Jiu-Jitsu black belt and author of best-selling Jiu-Jitsu books, Kevin Howell is offering free self-defense classes for teachers. If you are within the LA area and you or someone you know is a teacher, consider attending the classes at Kevin’s academy. The information is priceless and will be a gateway to a new kind of learning.

An MMA seminar held not far from the shooting will be held on Sunday, December 23 at 10am in Danbury, CT at American Top Team. UFC fighter Glover Texeira will be teaching techniques for $20 that will provide donations to the victim’s families.

No matter what happens, Jiu-Jitsu will always serve as an outlet and endless education for anyone. Keep training, keep looking out for one another and focus on what is good in life despite what setbacks you may encounter.

For more information about self-defense and Jiu-Jitsu academies in your area, check the GMA directory here: https://www.graciemag.com/gma-list/

Bernardo Rezende, 51, coaching for the last 20 years, holds more than 30 major volleyball titles and earns up to 35,000 reais per lecture, where the theme is almost always the same: strategies and tactics for becoming a superchampion.

In a recent interview with reporter Milly Lacombe in “Gol” magazine, the Brazilian national volleyball team coach taught what he did to make a living through his passion, volleyball, and laid out some important topics for finding success in training and competition. GRACIEMAG.com compiled the highlights. Read, reflect, and dedicate yourself.

Bernardo, in CBV publicity photo

Mistakes:

“Making mistakes is key. But when you make that big mistake all you think is, ‘Shoot, this is really bad.’ You can’t see the bright side of it, and it tortures you so much until you go off in pursuit of another route. When you make a mistake, you question yourself, and the questioning breeds change, change breeds growth, and growth breeds satisfaction. The only ones who don’t make mistakes are the ones who don’t try. There’s a ton of people out there who don’t make mistakes because they don’t do. All they do is talk about what the other people do. At first, when we make a mistake, we end up in a miserable funk, overwhelmed with frustration. Only afterward do we manage to get out of it.

Getting over the hump:

To get out of it you have to assume responsibility. In Brazil, culturally, people aren’t big on assuming responsibility. “It was the government that didn’t do it,” “The opponent was better.” It’s always someone else’s fault. If you don’t assume responsibility, you’ll never understand why you messed up or how to fix it.

Comfort zone:

Discomfort is a perpetual part of life. If I feel comfortable, that in itself is a discomfort to me. But it’s discomfort that makes me forge ahead. I can’t sit back and relax. I try keeping the players on a tight leash. Anyone who can’t handle pressure can’t be on the team. I’m almost never in an absolute comfort zone. When things are going too well I get worried; something’s wrong. I’m not that good, it can’t be that easy. Feeling relaxed is unwelcome.

Fame:

Public recognition and the fans’ affection instill two feelings in me. The first is almost pride. I see it and I think, ‘Cool, we did something great.’ But then I get home and think, ‘I can’t allow myself to disappoint these people.’