Local fighters prepare for Olympic size battle

SARASOTA — Isaac Weintraub and Travis Brazil are constantly beating each other up — but in a good way. 

With every fight, the two Red Tiger Martial Arts sparring partners create the perfect balance between strategic placement and unconventional movement. 

It’s an opportunity for Weintraub, 17, and Brazil, 19, to showcase their talents while preparing their bodies for national and international competition. 

That’s not to say Weintraub and Brazil haven’t suffered their fair share of bumps and bruises, ranging from hyperextended knees and hip problems to broken shins and toes, along the way. 

But with each ailment, the two are advancing closer to reaching their goal of being among the nation’s elite fighters. 

“Why do you do anything?” says Weintraub, a senior at Sarasota Military Academy. “We do it because it’s fun. Some days, I can’t tell if I’m 17 or 77, but it’s all worth it.” 

Weintraub and Brazil have been training together at Red Tiger Martial Arts, in Sarasota, for the past seven years. Each followed their own path in learning the sport, but since then Weintraub and Brazil have both garnered national attention after winning multiple elite level competitions. 

“When you’re young, there’s not a lot of pressure to do well,” Brazil says. “It was easier then, even though I'm better now, because now I’m expected to win every fight.” 

On Sept. 26, Weintraub and Brazil both won their respective weight classes while competing in the senior division of the Taekwondo Grand Prix VIII. 

Most recently, on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, Weintraub traveled to Trinidad and Tobago for the Trinidad Open. Weintraub qualified for the international tournament after winning his division at the 2015 American Taekwondo Union National Championship this past June. 

Weintraub, who fought for the ATU National Team in the under 58 kg weight class, lost his opening round match in overtime to a member of the U.S. National Team, which he had fought once two years ago. 

“It was another experience to learn and grow,” Weintraub says. “It wasn’t so much about medaling. The experience of being there and competing was a lot better than a medal in my opinion.” 

Weintraub will return to the ring Oct. 17, in the New York Open Taekwondo Championships before returning home to Sarasota to continue training with Brazil who is preparing for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Feb. 2, in Reno, Nevada. 

Brazil became the first Red Tiger Martial Arts fighter to advance to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the senior division after winning the under 63 kilogram weight class at the 2015 USAT National Championships this past July. 

“It’s kind of like a dream come true,” Brazil says. “Hopefully this is the start of something great and leads to bigger and better things.” 

If Brazil wins his weight class at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, he’ll then move on to the Pan American Games with the hopes of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics — a goal four years in the making. 

“You want to be there,” Brazil says. “Seeing all the hype surrounding it, I want to be there.” 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].