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Extra kilos and more strength are major goals for Campbells Forest judo ace Bryan Jolly in his build-up to this year’s Australian championships.
The 17-year-old will aim to continue his reign as the under-21 under-55kg champion at Wollongong.
Jolly and several Judo Bendigo clubmates will step on to the mat when the nationals are contested on the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend in June.
The Australian titles campaign for Jolly will include senior men under-60kg.
“Fighting in seniors is a great challenge,” Jolly said before another weights workout at Judo Bendigo’s dojo in Breen Street.
A lot of his focus is on building strength to take on heavier opponents.
“A goal is to win a medal in the seniors.”
Since early November he has lifted weights three times a week in a program mapped out by Jono Wallace-Smith.
“It’s his first time working with a judo player, so it’s been a challenge for him, too,” said Jolly.
A lot of the workouts have focused on knee and hip stability, and upper body strength.
He tips the scales at 53kg, but Jolly’s power-to-weight ratio has stunned many rivals, especially in the past year.
“I have put on a couple of kilos and feedback from clubmates at training is that I am stronger.”
Jolly’s latest tournament success was at the Oceania titles in New Caledonia.
Victory in the under-21 under-55kg class was his fifth gold medal at Oceania level.
“It’s always a great feeling when you win a match, whether it be for gold or the first round,” Jolly said.
In New Caledonia he faced an opponent he fought to win gold at the ACT Open and Queensland Open.
“We have fought one another a few times and it’s always been a great match.
“At the Oceanias I tried a few new moves.”
Judo Bendigo clubmates Sancia Donegan and Louis Mott contested their first Oceania titles.
Both were in the cadet, under-18 division.
Donegan, 15, was in the under-70kg class, and 14-year-old Mott fought in the under-50kg division.
Jolly said a lot of his success in judo was through controlling the grip.
He said more strength, especially upper body and in his legs, would be a huge plus in every contest.
In the past few months he has focused a lot more on groundwork.
In 2014, Jolly fought at the Youth Olympics in China.
“It was a great experience,” he said of the tournament and the training.
Qualification for this year’s junior world titles is a feat he would like to pursue.
“A lot depends on study and finance,” said the year 12 student at East Loddon P12 College.
Jolly’s greatest supporters are parents Terry and Josie and older brothers Allen and Kim.
Sensei Ben Donegan and long-time judo player and coach Neville Sharp have played key roles.
Sharp was by the mat in New Caledonia as chief referee at the Oceania titles.
The list of monthly winners in the 50-year history of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Advertiser-Prime 7 Sports Star of the Year includes Donegan and Sharp.
Also on the list are Bryan Jolly and Ben Donegan’s younger sister, Alexandra, recipients of the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund and Maxine Crouch Trust Fund respectively.