Anderson Silva: We used to fight for honor not money

 Anderson Silva is currently on a promotional tour for the documentary film ‘Like Water’ which had its premier this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival.

I love Bruce Lee, I am a fan… it was him who revolutionized all of this. This is a phrase that fits well because the water, if you see, is weak at the same time it becomes strong. If I throw a bucket of water you won’t catch it but it adapts to everything, takes many forms and at the same time it turns out strong and brings energy.

When I began there was that hierarchy in martial arts, money was secondary. Nowadays the youngsters want to be fighters only for money. They forget the martial art tradition. I’m an old-school guy, we only just began to earn money now. I’m from the era when we fought for honour, because we liked to do i.”

Many youngsters today end up frustrated because of this. They get in the sport thinking they will make money because it is evolving but they forget not all the fighters are highly successful. Many talented fighters in Brazil can’t make a living from the sport and need another job. They work as bodyguards, security… to sum it up, one out of twenty fighters is financially successful.

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