Baker belts his way to glory - gainesvilletimes.com -
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Published on: 12/24/2005
Last Visited: 12/24/2005
Baker belts his way to glory
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Baker, a member of the Gainesville Police Department, is also a two-time U.S. Shidokan heavyweight champion.
Brad Baker
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Although it's advisable to obey the law just about anywhere you live, residents of Gainesville might want to take special consideration of keeping on the straight and narrow when police officer Brad Baker is on duty.
The 35-year-old Gainesville resident recently won the 2005 Japanese-sanctioned Shidokan world heavyweight championship.Shidokan is sort of a triathlon of martial arts, combining karate, kickboxing and no-holds-barred competition.
"I knew it would be a tough road, because there are great young athletes at the world level," said Baker about winning the prestigious championship on Dec. 3 in Chicago."Not doubting competitors in our area or our region, but when you go from fighting guys in our area to fighting guys in the world region, it's a totally different ballgame.
"They are young and determined and a lot stronger than I am," said Baker about his competitors, who must weigh 200-pounds or more to compete in the heavyweight division."I was the smallest and the shortest."
Being the smallest and shortest with Baker's intimidating 5-foot, 11, 224-pound frame conveys the magnitude of competitors he conquered at the world championships.
In a typical Shidokan competition, fighters must survive two rounds of karate.Winners from the first two rounds advance to two rounds of kickboxing, with winners moving on to the final two rounds of no-holds-barred competition, where fighters wear small, four-ounce gloves.
Baker knocked out his semifinal opponent from Canada, breaking his nose and sending him to the hospital as well.In the final round of no-holds-barred fighting, Baker defeated a 6-foot, 6 fighter from Germany, winning by unanimous decision.
Baker firmly believes his experience and heart are what pushed him past larger and often, younger opponents.
"I love it," said Baker of being the underdog.
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Baker won his second U.S. title in Atlanta in November to qualify for the world championships in Chicago.Baker won his first U.S. title back in 2002 in Iowa.Baker said he put in a lot more hours in the gym to prepare for this year's world championships, which is what he believes is the key to his success.
"I went from training two to three days a week, to five or six days a week, and sometimes seven days," said Baker about his training schedule, which has evolved over his nine years of competing in Shidokan."The more fights I compete in, the more experienced fighters I face as well.I had learned so much from each competition that I think I was just ready to take it to the next level.
"I trained hard and spilled my guts out," said Baker, who sometimes trains twice a day from one to five hours at Jim Haymore's United Karate in Gainesville."I sacrificed and my kids sacrificed.I just went for it and it turned out well."
Obviously, being a heavyweight champion in such a violent, contact sport requires above average physical gifts.But Baker said he's learned to use his most reliable gift; his brain.
"I always say 75 percent of it is the mind and the rest of it is conditioning," said Baker."You can train and train, but if you don't have the mind-set, it doesn't do any good.It takes heart and determination."
Baker said he feels lucky to excel in this sport, one which he's seen a fair share of blood and career-ending injuries.
"People get hurt.It's a very tough sport.Guys get hurt really bad.I've seen guys injured to where they can't walk anymore," said Baker.
Baker's efforts in Chicago earned him a 5-foot tall trophy and several thousand dollars.But don't expect any lavish spending sprees from Baker this holiday season.He plans to put the money to good use.
"The money was really good, but I'm paying college tuition, so it helps a lot," said Baker, who is currently attending Gainesville State College.
Baker's introduction to the sport ironically came as a result of his thorough work ethic as a police officer here in Gainesville.
"There's a local parole officer here in Gainesville, John Gratham, who is a great fighter and an excellent trainer," said Baker."He walked into the police department one day when I was doing a report and he wanted to find out who was Brad Baker.
"So I turned around and saw this guy who is about 6-foot, 6, 280 pounds, and he said he wanted to talk to me," added Baker."He said, 'every time my parolees come to see me, they have black eyes, busted lips or a tooth knocked out.' He said they told him, 'Brad Baker jumped me.' He just wanted to know who Brad Baker was."
Gratham ultimately took Baker under his wing and got him interested in training for Shidokan here in Gainesville.
"It's funny how it all started," said Baker."Prior to meeting John, I'd never fought, other than growing up in the streets."
Looking ahead to the future, Baker said he would love to get involved in K1 fighting, which attracts a much larger audience and often is televised, as was his Shidokan championship match, which aired on ESPN2 on Dec. 3.
"I think I'm pretty much on that trail," said Baker.
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