Athlete Success Stories
My son, Connor, first approached his mother & I about utilizing Dan Baker (Bakers Performance) over a year ago at the end of his Junior year in High School. As with most parents we considered the amount of money spent vs the gains in performance for our son. And as is the case with many decisions, we couldn't predict the future and answer this without actually spending the money and having our son participate until we found out the answer. We couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome and yes, the money was well spent! Our son is a man of few words but after spending a couple weeks with Dan he couldn't shut up about all they were doing, how they were doing it and how he felt stronger and better. I also realized that my son wanted to be there so I knew Dan was doing something right. Then I started to notice the increased strength, both his physical appearance and when he decided to show 'dad' a new wrestling move! As his strength and agility improved so did his confidence level and ability to believe in himself that he could achieve more. Bottom Line: It was money well spent to watch our son gain strength and grow both physically and emotionally. And he also developed into a better athlete. I only wish he would have started with Dan earlier! - John & Kathy Baker
"I trained with Dan at the Bakers performance gym this summer and in about 2 and a half months he increased my explosiveness and athleticism as well as my quickness on the court all while adding strength and endurance and he really prepared me for my professional basketball career overseas in Germany. If you want to be the best you can be in your sport, he will go above and beyond for you to make sure that you are successful. If you want a really knowledgeable trainer that cares about you as an athlete and as a person then I highly recommend that you start training with Dan." - Dalton Patton
"Bakers Performance Systems is a great place to train. I added 80+ pounds to my deadlift in just two months of training. I have also gained a lot of speed and shaved .2 seconds off of my 40 yd dash time. Overall great place to gain strength, speed, and endurance. My only regret is that I didn't go to Dan earlier." - Boo Anderson
"Baker's Performance System is truly something special. It's a cliche to say such a thing, but he goes way beyond the call of duty for what one might look for in a strength and conditioning coach or personal trainer. His methods will produce results that will make you a better, more capable athlete.
My first run in with Baker came about one year ago. Some of my teammates on the Colorado School of Mines Wrestling team had been going to him, and I was very impressed with the progress and gains that they were seeing. The three athletes in question, Robert Gambrel, Keenan Willits, and Jacob Feldman, all had stellar seasons displaying immense gas tanks, but, more noticeably to me, they were getting stronger.
At the time of my noticing my teammates' success, I was not doing particularly well. I had recently come off a torn pec tear that I had to get surgically repaired that I was still rehabbing. And the year before that I had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis that caused the end to my wrestling career. Before I injured my pec, I had been doing CrossFit and some strength training on my own.
I thought I knew what I was doing, but I was wrong.
It was at this time that I started to notice the aforementioned progress my friends had made. It was then that I felt I needed to go see Baker. I needed to know why they, who were not dedicated to pure strength training as I was, were seeing progress at a vastly accelerated rate. So I went.
At the time of my first session, I thought I was strong. Although my bench was putrid as a result of the injury, my best squat had been 405 for a double, and my best deadlift was 485 for a single. Again, I thought was strong, but as I would soon come to realize, this wasn't the case at all.
Baker immediately noticed where I was weak. We were doing box squats and deadlifts in the workout for my first session. He noticed the flaws and prescribed movements to fix them. Within 2 months of going, I had hit a 505-pound deadlift, and my squat had climbed up to 435. I was hooked.
Just as I had seen with my friends, my strength began to explode. My body composition improved, and my numbers started to climb higher. After three months of Baker's system, I had hit a 525-pound deadlift, and a month later, I hit 440 on the squat for a triple. A month after that, I hit a 550 deadlift, and then one more month saw a squat of 465. Baker recognized my goal was to get stronger and he delivered in spades. He took care to ease me back into benching as well allowing me to literally add 100 pounds to it in a few short months with no tightness or pain.
Baker is a master at spotting one's weaknesses and training them to maximize their ability. I have seen it over and over. No one should train anything but optimally, and Baker has the best system out there. My goal was to get strong, and I got strong. My friends' goals were to become better wrestler's, and they became better wrestlers. I wish I had known Baker during my wrestling career because only now do I see the advantages that I had left on the table.
My only advice to anyone thinking about going to Baker is to get there as soon as you can. What you are doing now is not good enough. He will make you better at your sport. Take it from me. I was there. I put my pride and ego on the shelf, and I went looking to learn. It has proven to be one of the better choices I've made in the past couple of years. You will be pleased with the results; Baker's System is the best." - Karl Breidenbach
Roberts’s passion for Wrestling developed in the 8th grade. For this sport this is a late time to start, but this was what Robert decided he wanted to give it his best. After making the varsity Team his freshman year Robert was prepared to wrestle off season to be the best he could be. In May of his freshman year, Robert suffered a severe broken ankle (due to an opponent using an incorrect move). After surgery, Robert was told he could not go back to normal wresting activity until the next fall. Robert could not afford a summer off. He had to work as best he could with a broken ankle in a cast. At this time coincidentally, a highly respected wrestling coach sent out a blanket email to all wrestlers in the club, referring Dan Baker and his sport training program. After evaluating many options- high school football lifting program, personal trainer, cross fit, I determined Dan’s specific training program was the way to go. No other programs I evaluated would offer specific speed, strength, and conditioning for a specific individual for their specific sport and personal goals.That Summer Robert lifted and trained with Dan several days a week, as best he could with a broken ankle. Robert continued to wrestle hard on and off season and complimented this with Dan Bakers specific strength, speed programs. Robert had continued success in wrestling. By His Junior year Robert was Colorado 5A Region 2 Champion and number 4 seed in the 5A State championships tournament. Senior Year, Robert continued training with Dan on and off season. Robert took a PE class at high school in which the Instructor allowed Robert to follow Dan’s prescribed specific weight routines each day of class. While not in class Robert continued to work out at Dan Bakers facility year round. Robert finished his senior year as runner-up in the Colorado 5A state championships. Also due to Roberts’s dedication and training with Dan Baker, Robert was recruited to several colleges for wrestling. Robert decided to join The Colorado School of Mines wrestling team, where Robert will compete at the NCAA Division II level. Dan Baker's training system helped Robert reach his goals. I believe proper weight training is the 2nd most important thing an athlete can do to be their best. I’ve found most weight programs do not provide specific training to yield substantial results for your athlete. Dan can best explain the benefits of his system, so I’ll leave that to Dan.I’ve known Dan for over four years now, and watched him take a kid with a broken ankle to a state championship athlete. Dan has high character and work ethic and that influences his students. Whatever your sport, Dan will help your athlete reach their goals. He did for Robert, a late start wrestler.
“Before Baker's Performance Systems, my biggest struggle was getting stronger in general. The weight training at my high school just didn't cut it. When wrestling, I felt much weaker than all my opponents. I wanted to improve my strength, but I had no idea how. Then I found Baker's Performance Systems. Dan Baker has helped me tremendously. Not only have I gotten stronger, but my quickness and explosiveness improved in addition to my strength. I feel much stronger than most of my opponents and I often get complimented on how strong I am by people that I wrestle. Bakers Performance Systems helped me become a more competitive and successful athlete as well as achieve my dream of wrestling at the college level.” - Donnie Negus
“Come on, Baby, come on! Don’t slow down! Let’s go! Ten seconds, let’s go!”
Dan is a gift. He is tough, demanding, and brutal, but he’s also encouraging and just plain nice. Oh, and he’s smart – he really knows his stuff.
Early summer of 2017 my neighbor sent me a screen shot of a flyer advertising a speed camp Dan was offering. I sent my jr high son, but after meeting Dan I knew he was just what my HS son needed. Having missed a qualifying state time (spring of 2017) by just 0.02 seconds, he was close, but needed an extra push. After working with Dan fall of 2017, he looked strong going into his 2018 season, and by the end of the season qualified for four 5A state track events: 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x200 relay, and 4x400 relay, and ended up placing in the 300 hurdles.
Dan cares about you. He tailors his workouts to your sport and your weaknesses, and he’s by your side to push and encourage you every step of the way. Thanks, Dan – you’re the best! - Bethany Anderson Callister
"Love this place, and Dan. Dan is a great guy that looks at you individually and examines your strengths, weaknesses and goals to develop a system that allows you to succeed in sports or whatever your goal is. Great group of hard working individuals that promotes strengthening your body and mind. In 6 months I have seen incredible improvements in strength, speed and conditioning. As a college hockey player working out with Dan has greatly improved my on ice performance and will allow me to reach the next level on the ice..... be ready to work your tail off but it’s worth it in the end. Thanks Dan!" - Max McCutcheon