BROTHOCK SHOTOKAN KARATE CLUB

Family Fun Day at the Dojo 🥋

Before our BBQ on Saturday, we had a brilliant Family Fun Day at the dojo.

We were really pleased to welcome members from Guildtown Karate Club, run by Monaca and Nicky. Both are excellent karateka, and Monaca has strong links with Arbroath, with family living locally, so it was especially nice to welcome her along.

Karate is a sport that can be shared by everyone, and that was very much the theme of the morning — kids, parents and families all getting involved, having a laugh and enjoying training together.

There were plenty of fun and games, including kids versus parents — which, of course, the kids won! 😄

Then it was off to the BBQ for an afternoon of more fun, food and good company.

A great day all round, and a lovely reminder of the friendships and community that karate can bring. 🥋

🌟 Brothock Shotokan Karate Club – Tiger Cub Star Student 🌟

🏅 Congratulations to Napier! 🏅

Well done, Napier, on being named our Tiger Cub Star Student! Your enthusiasm, positive attitude and effort in class have really stood out.

Keep up the fantastic work and keep enjoying your karate — you’re doing brilliantly! 🥋⭐

We are currently enrolling new Tiger Cubs.
For more information, message us on Facebook or WhatsApp 07713 161103.

🎯🥋 JKA DAN GRADE CERTIFICATES PRESENTED AT ROSELEY

Another special presentation took place at our Club BBQ at Roseley on Sunday 22nd, when four Brothock members received their Japan Karate Association Dan Grade certificates.

We were delighted to have the certificates presented by Arbroath’s own Alan “Soots” Soutar, professional PDC darts player and a great supporter of sport within the local community.

👏 Paul Brown – 3rd Dan JKA
👏 Chris Grewar – 3rd Dan JKA
👏 Hamish Grewar – 3rd Dan JKA
👏 Lucy Petrie – 2nd Dan JKA

All four had successfully passed their examinations previously, with their official JKA certificates collected on behalf of the club at this year’s Summer Camp.

A JKA Dan grade represents an internationally recognised and accredited standard, earned through a rigorous examination and many years of committed training.

There is a particularly nice story behind Chris and Hamish Grewar, father and son, who have trained together for many years and now both hold the rank of JKA 3rd Dan. Both are also Scottish Karate Governing Body qualified coaches and are heavily involved in training and teaching our members, predominantly at our Forfar classes.

Their development has also benefited enormously over the years from the input, coaching and encouragement of Ross Watson, something we are very pleased to acknowledge.

Paul Brown, another long-standing member of Brothock, was also presented with his 3rd Dan certificate – another excellent achievement reflecting many years of training, teaching and commitment to the club.

And a very special congratulations to Lucy Petrie, receiving her JKA 2nd Dan certificate and marking another important milestone in her karate journey.

Lucy is not only a dedicated and accomplished karateka, but also one of our valued young leaders, setting an excellent example to younger members through her commitment, attitude and willingness to support others in the club. Her progress and contribution make this achievement especially pleasing to celebrate.

There was also an extra family connection to Lucy’s success. Her sister Poppy recently emulated Lucy’s original black belt achievement by successfully gaining her own black belt at this year’s Summer Camp – a fantastic achievement for both sisters and a wonderful reflection of their shared dedication to karate.

A big thank you to Alan Soutar for taking the time to make the presentations.

Known throughout the darts world as “Soots”, Alan is an Arbroath-based professional who has represented Scotland 50 times, captained his country and was part of Scotland’s 2013 WDF World Cup winning team. Since joining the PDC professional circuit he has reached the last 16 of the World Championship twice, the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts and, in 2024, won his first PDC ranking title. Away from the oche he is also a firefighter and founded the Angus Darts Academy, helping young people across the area get involved in the sport. (Mission Darts⁠)

It was fitting to have one of Angus’ best-known sporting figures presenting certificates recognising the achievements of four of our own.

Congratulations Paul, Chris, Hamish and Lucy – thoroughly deserved. 👏🥋🎯

🥋 JKA DAN GRADE CERTIFICATES PRESENTED 🇯🇵

A proud moment at Monday evening’s Brown & Black Belt Class at our Arbroath Dojo, when three of our Young Leaders were formally presented with their Japan Karate Association Dan Grade certificates.

👏 Eadie Hunter – 2nd Dan JKA
👏 Archie Cargill – 1st Dan JKA
👏 Skye McPherson – 1st Dan JKA

All three successfully passed their examinations during 2025, with their certificates collected for us at this year’s JKA Summer Camp.

The Summer Camp itself was another reminder of the calibre and heritage of the organisation they have graded within, with instruction from three exceptional JKA instructors:

🥋 Takeshi Oishi Shihan, 9th Dan – Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association.
🥋 Masao Kawasoe Sensei, 8th Dan – our Chief Instructor and one of the JKA’s most respected and internationally renowned instructors.
🥋 Kunio Kobayashi Sensei, 7th Dan – JKA Headquarters Instructor and multiple JKA All-Japan Champion in both kata and kumite.

A JKA Dan grade is an internationally recognised and accredited standard, earned through a rigorous examination and years of dedicated training.

There are also three very different journeys behind these achievements.

Eadie and Skye joined Brothock having already begun their karate journey at Arbroath Shotokan Karate Club – Eadie as a 1st Dan and Skye as a brown belt – and both fitted seamlessly into the club. It is also important to acknowledge their former instructor, Jim Stewart, who laid strong foundations, encouraged their development and helped ignite the passion for karate which they continue to demonstrate today.

Archie’s journey is a wonderful example of our own club pathway. He first came into the dojo as a young Tiger Cub, progressed through Karate Kids and the beginner grades, and steadily worked his way through the kyu grades before joining our Brown & Black Belt Class.

Today, all three are part of Brothock’s Young Leaders group, giving something back to the club, helping and encouraging younger members, and setting an excellent example both in their training and in the dojo.

Three certificates, three different journeys, three Young Leaders – and three excellent achievements.

Congratulations Eadie, Archie and Skye – very well deserved. 👏🥋🇯🇵