Model Karateka

Jessica Bratich might be best known to the general public as the WAG of Aussie international cricketer Mitchell Johnson, but the Australian Karate Federation National Champion has long been a successful athlete in her own right. With 15 national titles, 18 Australian Open titles and 17 international medals to her name, the 2nd Dan will surely give opponents some trouble at the World Karate Federation World Championships this month. Here, the model and daughter of Perth karate master Branco Bratich talks about her preparation and her career.

How has your preparation gone for the upcoming World Karate Championships and what has your daily training regimen been like?
My preparation for Worlds has been a challenging road over the last year. My current training regimen involves five karate sessions per week along with going to the gym, running and also Bikram yoga.

How do you break down your five karate sessions — are they focused purely on competition at this stage, or just general classes doing whatever drills your sensei prescribes?
The karate sessions I do are specific to kumite. They include technical, tactical and speed drills. My dad and myself create these drills specific to what I need to work on at that point in time. I do also like to include one basic session every week or two, just to help maintain my technique. I think basics are very important for good kumite.

Does being engaged to an Aussie cricketer present any challenges in your own quest to be a champion?
The challenge is trying to balance my life. It can be difficult when our schedules cross over. This year, quite often when he has been home I am away for karate, and when I do choose to go away with him it can be difficult to get the karate training I need.

You gave up karate for a while after your move to be with Mitchell in Queensland — how long did that last, and what drew you back to it?
I spent two years in Queensland and as soon as I moved back to Perth I began teaching and training again. I only stopped because I was unable to train with my father. My love of karate and the love of my club, Yoseikan-Ryu, go hand-in-hand and I didn’t want to do karate if it wasn’t at my club of 21 years. So it was really inevitable for me to get straight back into it once I moved home.

Is there much pressure to stay involved and to compete, given that your dad is also your sensei?
There is zero pressure from my dad, karate has always been and will always be my choice. He has been completely supportive in whatever I have done in life, and karate has been no different.

What do you see as your biggest challenge at the upcoming WKF World Championships, and for the Aussie team in general? Who will be the ones to beat?
While there are plenty of talented athletes across the globe, particularly from Europe, I have never really focused on who someone is or what they have done, because I think the biggest challenge you can ever have when competing is yourself. Believing in yourself is what can make or break you.

Why would you recommend karate to people, and women especially? What has it done for you?
Karate is great for people of all ages. It helps develop balance, co-ordination, discipline and, most importantly, confidence. It has been very satisfying to be able to see this, especially among the students I get to teach.

What levels do you teach, and how often?
I teach six classes a week, varying from beginners’ to advanced, and also kumite-specific.

What’s been your toughest challenge and biggest achievement in karate so far?
My biggest achievement was winning bronze at the 2006 World Championships in Finland. My toughest challenge has been getting back into karate after having two years off after moving to Brisbane. After making a comeback I tore the muscle in my hip and had surgery. After the surgery I had about four months off doing recovery before getting back into karate. It has been quite a challenge trying to get myself where I would like to be physically.