YOSEIKAN-RYU KARATE AUSTRALIA

28-01-2002

Jessica Bratich was born to compete. One of her earliest memories was seeing her father Branco Bratich win the 1985 National Heavyweight title. She said to her father, “Daddy win for me” These few words were all the motivation he needed.

Jessica is a well adjusted young lady who has been exposed to the positive environment that karate can offer. There was never any pressure put on Jessica to do karate or compete. Jessica's decision to compete was a personal decision.

In 1994 Jessica made her first attempt to gain National Team selection to compete in the Junior World Cup, Perth. She fought to get into the girls 12 years kumite division. She lost on contact and ended up with a bronze medal. Her father, Branco Bratich was disappointed, but what could he do. In all his years as National Coach he never ever selected an athlete whose selection could not be justified. In his 12 years as National Coach he only experienced one appeal. The appeals board supported the coach’s selection decision. Jessica’s selection could not be substantiated.

At 8 years of age her commitment to karate was for fun. Jessica competed in many local tournaments developing her experience. Her first goal was to win more medals than her father.

In 1994 she won her first National Gold medal when she won the girls 13 years kumite. This was an enjoyable time for Jessica. Even though she had missed out on competing in the Junior World Cup. She proved that she was the number one girl in her division.

In 1995 Jessica was selected for the junior National Team for the first time to compete in Hungary where she was placed 3rd out of 96 competitors. This first experience was very different for her as some of the rules and conditions were not what she was used to.

Luck has not always gone her way. In 1996 at the Junior World Karate Championships, South Africa, Jessica was fighting in her individual division. She was leading 5-3 when suddenly the scorer's table reversed the scores. Branco could not complain because no coaches were allowed on the floor. Even under these conditions Jessica fought back equallising the score. Both girls hit each other simultaneously. Jessica’s opponent hit the deck while Jessica stood her ground even though she was bleeding. Jessica was disqualified. The Australian Team Doctor, David Young attended the two girls. He said, “ Jessica’s injury was more serious than the other girls”. Jessica had always been taught to stand her ground and was not going to fall now no matter what the cost.

Branco decided to give Jessica a berth in the girl’s team event. He realised at the time that this would cause some dissatisfaction with the other girls. His decision was vindicated when Jessica was the only girl in the team who did not lose a fight winning the first fight 7-0 against the bronze medallist in her individual event. The team went on to win gold. Since that time Jessica has always fought first. Her dominant attitude makes her the ideal first fighter. She can take a hit but she can also give a hit.

Jessica is not only an outstanding fighter she is a born teacher. She has this magic touch with children. She loves them and they love her. She always manages to get the best out of them. Whether she is coaching at tournaments or teaching in class, she has this natural ability to know what to say at the right time.

In 1997 she attended the Hayashi-Ha World Championships in Florida USA. Although winning a silver medal in the individual division, Jessica was dissatisfied and rather confused when the referee of the final fight apologised to her when presenting her medal. She once again was in the team event which again won gold. She was also awarded the most outstanding competitor of the year which lifted up her spirits a little after her disappointment in the finals.

Jessica went to Greece in 1998 and was placed third in her division losing to the winner of her division.

In July this year Jessica attended her first senior international competition, the Ladies International Cup in Japan. Jessica was very busy at this tournament entering in her weight division, the women’s open and the team event. She won her first fight in her weight division and lost her second to Japan. In the Open Division Jessica won a bronze medal. She won all her fights in this event up to the semi finals where she lost to Slovakia. She then had the chance for 3rd place fighting the repechage and won. This experience was a positive one as it convinced Jessica that she was up there in terms of world level competitors.

All up Jessica has 22 National/Australian Open Championship Gold medals, 3 silver and 4 bronze. 5 medals were won at Junior World competitions and 1 at her first international senior competion. This year she was also awarded Senior Female Kumite Sportstar of the year by the Australian Karate Federation.

Jessica's achievements have not been easy as her father has been the national coach until this year. In this role as national coach and team selector, he has not been able to coach Jessica for any national level competitions as this would be seen as giving her an unfair advantage. Because of this obvious conflict of interest, Branco has always trained her to be able to win by herself and not rely on having him sitting there in the coach's chair. “What I have achieved is a credit to my dad not only was he a great fighter in his day he still fights the people he is training. He is out in our garage everyday training myself and other athletes to help us achieve our goals to take it to the next level in becoming world champions. I think this is what makes real champions not all these people who talk about it rather than doing it.

• Style: Yoseikan-Ryu Karate
• Instructor: Branco Bratich 7th Dan Kyoshi