The Little Dragon - Jessica Tolhurst

For the average fighter, competing in one style of martial arts is challenge enough, but for Jessica Tolhurst it's a different story. You name it, she's done it...and might I add, done it well! ‘The Little Dragon' trains and competes in Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kyokushin karate and MMA. Not only does she boast an impressive record but an equally impressive horde of titles, too many, in fact, to list. However, her most recent triumph was becoming the WKBF Light Atomweight World Champion in Muay Thai. Jessica Tolhurst is the quintessential well-rounded martial artist and IK Magazine wanted to find out how she got here.

With the end of school came the beginning of one hugely successful martial arts journey for well-known female fighter, Jessica Tolhurst. In 1999, with school commitments out of the way, Jessica finally had time to pursue her enduring interest in martial arts. "I liked the fact it was an individual sport but still had a team feel about it," she explains.

It wasn't until years later, in 2004, that Jessica began to take Muay Thai seriously and entered the ropes for the first time. "I wanted to have a fight, to be able to say ‘I've done that', to know how it feels to get in the ring. Also to know what Muay Thai is about," Jessica describes.

Over the ensuing years, determined to grow and improve, Jessica started competing in amateur boxing. It was an opportunity for her to gain ring experience and fight with girls in her weight class. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kyokushin karate and MMA soon followed and naturally, so to did the desire to test her skills in competition.

"I find with all my styles, I couldn't really call myself a fighter or even a competitor after just one fight or match. A fighter is someone who keeps coming back for more, no matter the outcome...win, lose or draw," Jessica explains.

As if training four times a day, six days a week, in so many different styles isn't enough, the Little Dragon has now started judo. Feeling somewhat unexceptional at my meagre attempt to do well in one style, I wanted to know how Jessica juggles training and competing in so many different styles.

"I train in different styles but they all help each other. I punch the same in Muay Thai, boxing, MMA and karate, I kick the same as well (except boxing), and I only need to make slight changes between gi and no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions," Jessica says.

Jessica continually trains in each style but focuses on what type of competition she has coming up. "As it gets closer to the competition I start to lay back on the other styles and only focus on what I have to do," Jessica shares. Mentally, her approach is to remain relaxed and positive and to ensure she still enjoys what she does.

Martial arts play a major role in Jessica's life. "I enjoy the challenge it gives me and I love the fact that every day I'm still learning new things in all the styles I practice. I don't have a favourite style. I enjoy training and competing in them all. They all challenge me in different ways and it keeps me active," Jessica reveals.

Jessica's passion for martial arts is self-evident from not only the commitment that she has made to excelling at it but the fact that she lives and breathes it every day. The fighter works as a freestyle karate and Muay Thai instructor at a full-time martial arts centre in Jimboomba.

A demanding schedule that involves juggling office work, training, and running afternoon and evening classes with her one day off per week spent at gradings, tournaments and fight shows. But you will hear no complaints from Jessica. "What can I say, I love my life. I have an awesome job, which allows me to maximise my training," she says.

One person that has played a significant role in Jessica's life and has motivated her greatly is Geordie Lavers-McBain. "Not only is he my fiancé but he is also my boss, my trainer, a small business owner and also a competitor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo. He has inspired me [in the sense] that if I really want to achieve something I can. Geordie has done that by proving many people wrong who told him he could never make a living out of teaching martial arts and he has," Jessica shares.

And achieve the Little Dragon has, with her greatest achievement undoubtedly been her recent victory over number-one ranked Japanese opponent on Ian Bronson's show, Rumble in the Ridge, in August this year. "I felt privileged to fight for a world title against a world ranked international opponent in my own home town," Jessica shares.

Weighing in at a tiny 48.9kg, these girls may have been small in size but were large in heart and the fight for the world title crown was an absolute war. "Showko was an awesome opponent who showed great strength and determination. I have to say thanks to Ian and Pep for putting me on their show, it always brings in a great crowd," Jessica shares.

Jessica attributes her success in the sport to great preparation and a great team of people behind her. "I would like to say thanks to my family who have supported me though thick and thin, to all the promoters who have shown me support by allowing me to fight on their shows. And thanks to everyone who has come and supported me during all my fights and competitions. But my biggest thanks and appreciation goes to Geordie Lavers-McBain, Chris Carden and Daniel Lima, my trainers. They have all supported me, given me opportunities to accomplish many things and they have all given me the mindset that I can achieve anything."

With retirement a long way off, Jessica hopes to continue fighting in all different styles and hopefully at a world class level both here in Oz and internationally. "I'll keep competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as I'm really starting to enjoy the ground game, and of course I'd like a few more MMA fights to test my skills at once."

Determined as ever to continually test herself, Jessica now has her sights set on trying-out for the Australian amateur boxing team with the hope of making her way to the 2012 Olympics. With determination, skill, experience and drive, IK Magazine suspects there is much more to come from the Little Dragon. IK