On Wednesday 26th of April brothers Paul James and Simon James organized a seminar with the current Cage Rage Middle Weight Champion and PRIDE FC veteran Anderson "The Spider" Silva at the Loddon Sports Centre, Lower Earls, Reading.

The seminar started a little later than planed due to problems with getting to the venue, but shortly after 7pm Anderson Silva arrived with Alex de Souza. All twenty two students made there way towards the training section in the sports centre.

The training room was shared with a fitness class. Loud pumping techno music blasted throughout the whole seminar.

Using Alex de Souza to translate, Anderson Silva thanked everyone for turning up to the seminar. Shortly after thanking every body he started with some warm up drills:  

1.  Kneeing the pad
2.  Running back and fourth
3. Front Kicking
4. Cycle kicks on the ground  

As the students warmed up Anderson Silva observed each student and helped correct their posture and showed them the correct way of striking.

After a quarter of an hour of warm up drills Anderson then called the students to gather around him as he was to start to show Anti Takedown techniques with Alex de Souza and Anderson Silva Demonstrating  the movement step by step. As the class began to drill this technique Anderson was monitoring each person giving them a few pointers how to do the Anti Takedown move correctly also explaining the motion of the body and showing variations to the technique. Anderson Silva was getting stuck in with each student going into detail with each person. Anderson then showed an extended part to the technique before how to get into the Thai Clinch after evading the Takedown by demonstrating on Alex de Souza.

Unlike many of the seminars that I have been to in the U.K, Anderson showed how the students should perform the techniques right down to the minutest detail.

He spent the time showing each person the move up close and personal with a lot of detail and correcting them when necessary. From the looks of it many people benefited a lot due to Silva one on one approach because Silva kept approaching students and giving them the ‘THUMBS UP’.

Anderson then added a transition from the Thai Clinch to taking the opponent to the ground and finishing off with a submission. Alex de Souza was in his element showing each group how to apply the Arm Triangle hold correctly.

Then he showed a back control technique that flowed into his famous “Spider Guard” position, then into a rear naked chock.

At the end of the seminar, Anderson Silva got everybody sat around him and he then gave some of meaningful advice.

Anderson stated what he taught today is what he does every day. He said he gets inspired when he sees people training…

“You all understand. If you are a fighter you have to study the right way to train against your opponent …even if your opponent is inferior or superior, you should still apply your technique in the fight.”

Alex de Souza also stated that Anderson Silva always says “WE” never “ME” when he refers to training with each other because we all need each other to get better.

“Some people say a fighter is bad or rubbish because he lost. But the best way to learn is from others mistakes and not letting it happen to you… What makes a great fighter is good technique. Without it you will lose.”

He also stated that it would be his professional dream to train and fight in Thailand. He also showed some Traditional Mauy Thai moves because every one wanted to know how he KO’d Tony Fryklund at Cage Rage 16: Critical Condition. Anderson explained how his elbow move was a traditional Muay Thai move.

Someone asked Anderson who in the fight game he aspired to be like. Anderson said “Jackie Chan” the class broke in to laughter.

Alex de Souza said to the class“I wish you guys could have spent a whole week with Anderson because he is such a nice genuine guy.”

Alex de Souza also said Anderson didn’t want to cancel the seminar even though he had a very badly swolen boil on his elbow.

Anderson was asked by a student “What’s next for Anderson Silva?”

Silva replied “I have another offer from Cage Rage, K-1 has also offered me a contract for a Kick Boxing fight and the UFC has also offered him a contract.” He said he will take the contracts back to Brazil and consult with his wife and see where he will go.

Someone wanted to know how much he gets paid to fight?

“Well many of you know I used to be a part of CHUTE BOXE but due to finance reasons I had to leave… I could have made a lot of money with CHUTE BOXE.”

Anderson then thanked the class and said he will return to the UK and do a four hour seminar to show some more advanced techniques.

Paul and Simon James (the co-promoters of FX3) arranged the seminar and thanked everyone who made the effort to attend. They also thanked Anderson Silva and Alex de Souza for the opportunity.

Paul James went on to say:

“FX3 has been very busy recently with setting up our own class and now have a number of fighters under Team FX3 Including myself, Nigel Whitear, Dave Swann and a few up and comers, who will all be fighting.”

We are also in the midst of setting up a brand new MMA gym in Reading. We have a 3500 Sq Ft unit which is being converted into a custom made MMA Gym with a Cage, Ring, and Gym etc….. This should hopefully be ready within the coming months so we will keep you posted.

Unfortunately, FX3 has suffered of late with venues pulling out on us etc. However we are just about ready to confirm with a new venue in Reading and are hoping to bring the third Instalment of FX3 at the end of June.

We would like to apologise for the fact that we haven’t been able to run an event in the last six months but we assure people once the venue is confirmed the next FX3 will be bigger than before. Paul Daley will be set to defend his Welterweight Title as will Oliver Ellis with his Light Weight Title. We have some big names planned for the card and will let everyone know ASAP.”

By Rohit Verma for MMA Universe