BROTHOCK SHOTOKAN KARATE CLUB

Building Confidence & Discipline. Traditional karate training for all ages and abilities.

Welcome to Brothock Shotokan Karate

Founded in 1985, Brothock Shotokan Karate Club is a long-established community karate club serving Arbroath, Forfar, and the wider Angus area.

For over four decades, we have supported children, young people, adults, and families through structured, traditional karate training grounded in respect, steady progress, and personal development.

"I’m Billy Wales, founder and senior instructor, and it’s a pleasure to welcome you.

At Brothock, we combine traditional karate with personal development and a strong sense of community. Our aim is simple — to make a positive impact through structured, meaningful practice.

Whether you’re new to karate or continuing your journey, you’ll find a supportive environment here. Thank you for visiting."

Karate & Its Benefits

For many people, karate begins as an activity. Those who stay often discover it becomes a framework for movement, mindset, and lifelong learning.

Physical Development

Karate builds strength, coordination, balance, flexibility, and posture through purposeful movement. Training develops physical literacy — the ability to move efficiently, confidently, and safely — supporting both sporting activity and everyday life.

Mental Focus & Emotional Control

Through repetition, attention to detail and controlled pressure, karate teaches concentration, calmness, and self-regulation. Students learn to manage nerves, frustration, and fatigue, developing resilience and emotional maturity alongside physical skill.

Confidence Without Aggression

Karate does not encourage confrontation. Instead, it builds quiet confidence, awareness, and composure. Over time, students carry themselves differently — standing taller, moving with intent, and making clearer decisions under stress.

Belonging & Connection

Training takes place in a shared space where effort matters more than background. On the dojo floor, age, profession, and status fall away. What remains is mutual respect, shared challenge, and connection across generations.

Sensei Masao Kawasoe

Sensei Masao Kawasoe has played an important part in the history and development of Brothock Shotokan Karate Club and continues to provide a direct link to the traditional JKA Shotokan lineage. His teaching, standards and influence remain central to the way we practise karate today.

That lineage runs from Gichin Funakoshi, through Masatoshi Nakayama, to Masao Kawasoe and on to Brothock — a tradition we are proud to preserve and pass on to future generations.

I am lucky to have good karate, but even more I am lucky to have good students to carry it forward. My wish is to leave something worthwhile behind for everyone. My life is then complete.

— Sensei Kawasoe

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Our Approach to Karate

Karate means different things to different people — fitness, discipline, confidence, personal development, self-protection, competition, or simply belonging.

Our training is structured around three complementary aspects:

KIHON - FUNDAMENTALS

KATA - PRINCIPLES

KUMITE – EXPRESSION

Through the study of Kihon, Kata and Kumite, students develop both mind and body. Training improves fitness, balance, coordination, awareness, confidence, discipline, and resilience while encouraging lifelong learning and personal growth.

These foundations can be explored in many ways, including health and wellbeing, self-protection, practical application, competition, or simply the enjoyment of learning karate.

Your karate journey is your own. Our role is to provide the strong foundations from which you can grow.

Children & Families

Karate offers children structure, confidence, discipline, and a positive outlet for energy.

At Brothock Shotokan Karate Club, our approach to children's training is age-appropriate, supportive, and rooted in long-term development rather than short-term results.

We aim to support — not replace — good parenting and the excellent work carried out by schools. Karate works best when it complements family life and education, reinforcing positive behaviours, resilience, and self-belief.

Children join the club through different routes. Some begin their journey through our Tiger Cubs programme, while others join directly into our Karate Kids Beginners classes. There is no single pathway, and each child’s progression is guided by age, maturity, confidence, and readiness.

Tiger Cubs

Ages 5, 6, 7 years old

Our Tiger Cubs programme is designed for children under the age of 8, providing a fun, structured introduction to karate in an environment suited to younger children.

Fundamental movement skills

Balance and coordination

Listening and cooperation

Confidence and focus

Classes blend traditional karate techniques with games and activities appropriate to this age group. The goal is not technical perfection, but helping children become comfortable in the dojo, learn to work with others, and develop early confidence and self-control.

Women & Girls

Creating an environment where women and girls can train with confidence, dignity, and enjoyment at every stage of life.

Brothock Shotokan Karate Club has always been for everyone — but the experience of women and girls in sport is not always the same.

A significant and growing proportion of our membership is female, spanning juniors, teenagers, adults, and parents. Some train independently in our mixed classes, others alongside their children, and some in our Saturday morning Ladies Only class.

What unites them is a shared desire for fitness, confidence, capability and belonging — without pressure or comparison.

Why Karate Works for Women & Girls

Improved strength, posture & functional fitness

Build a strong, capable body for everyday life.

Confidence grounded in ability, rather than appearance

Develop real self-belief that goes beyond appearance.

Moving meditation, mindfulness & focus

Calm the mind, sharpen focus, and supports daily mental wellness.

Body awareness, balance & coordination

Develop spatial awareness and overall body awareness.

Personal safety, space & presence

Learn de‑escalation, boundary setting, and the ability to protect yourself.

Supportive community & lasting friendships

Train in a space where respect, encouragement and friendships grow.

Training develops capability rather than aggression. The emphasis is on control, awareness, and good judgement — qualities that transfer directly into everyday life.

Inclusive, Informed & Progressive Practice

We recognise that woman's participation in sport can be affected by health, confidence, and life-stage factors. Our approach is informed by research, open dialogue, and practical action.