Build UNSHAKEABLE confidence!
Master Shotokan Karate as part of our inclusive and welcoming team, for ages 4 - 104.
If you are someone looking for a welcoming martial arts school in East Dunbartonshire for you or your children, to make new friends and feel rewarded every time you train, then Shobu Kai Karate Academy is for you!
Specialising in Traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate, and competition-style sport karate, we’ve found a unique way to merge the beauty and essence of traditional karate with the modern evolution that karate has taken.
As proud members of JKS Scotland, our karate teaching comes straight from Japan. No watered down karate and no weird adaptations. You can expect quality lessons, from coaches who simply love sharing the gift of karate, not to mention, regular visits from the very best Japanese Senseis JKS Japan has to offer!
Our purpose-built, full-time dojo in Bearsden runs 6 days a week, 48 weeks a year. We also offer weekly classes in Kirkintilloch. Choose your perfect classes from our extensive timetable.
So, whether you’re a complete beginner, returning to karate after a break, or someone keen to develop in competition, we’re ready to welcome you to our bright and bustling karate academy.
We are so confident that you’ll love our karate school we’re giving you a FREE 2 week trial, with no obligations and no pressure to enrol after - just come and see how we fit.
Meet the Senseis
Welcome to Shobu Kai Karate Academy!
We’re Adam and Kathryn, proud owners and Senseis of the karate school.
We opened Shobu Kai with one vision; to guide students to unlock their potential and achieve personal greatness, inside and outside the dojo.
After three years of developing the school, we can honestly say we are doing just that!
Karate is our lives, and we love every bit of it. With years of passion, dedication and experience under our belts, we enjoy nothing more than sharing that with our students; it’s like passing on the best gift life has to offer.
When we aren’t teaching, we both train on JKS Scotland’s National Kata and Kumite teams. We enjoy competing all over the world and have won a number of titles, including British and JKS World Champion medals!
Our students give 5 stars!!
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Nervous as hell before class, but Adam and the students made me feel really welcome and comfortable. Great teacher, great experience and can't wait to start my journey with Shobu Kai!
- Stuart (38), Bishopbriggs
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Karate was not something we had considered for our daughter but having been impressed with a sample class at the Milngavie Week festival we signed up for the trial. There are a number of martial arts classes available but Shobu Kai delivers an excellent standard.
-Ross (parent), Bearsden
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My son has been attending Shobu Kai since last summer and he absolutely loves it. Senseis Kathryn & Adam, along with supporting instructors (Linda) have been amazing with his development and I’m delighted to have found their academy. If you are looking for karate lessons for yourself or your children, you won’t be disappointed joining Shobu Kai.
-Barry (parent), Bearsden
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These guys genuinely want you to succeed, and support you every step of the way, whatever your starting point. Passion and skill, great coaching style, sense of community, kind hearts, they've got it all. Highly recommended 👌
Anita (47), Bearsden
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We can not recommend this Karate club enough! Since the day our daughter got a taster session at school, she immediately wanted to sign up. We took advantage of the 2 week free trial offered and she hasn't looked back. Sensei Kathryn and Sensei Adam are great with the kids and are very approachable - which helps when you've got a really shy child and want an update on how their doing. 10/10!
Kerry (parent), Kirkintilloch
The Blog
Only fools PAY for karate!
One of my friends asked, “Why do you pay so much money and spend so much time running around for your son to do karate?”
Well, I have a confession to make; I don’t pay for karate!
I don’t pay for my son’s karate lessons. I don’t pay for his mitts, or suits, or his competitions.
So if I am not paying for karate, what am I paying for?
Karate; where neurodiversity is a SUPERPOWER!
As more and more parents contact us regarding karate classes for their child with autism or ADHD, it makes me wonder - what does karate provide to a neurodiverse child that school or other activities can’t?
We look at 3 case studies of students within our academy who have excelled BECAUSE of their neurodiversity, and what it is about martial arts that connects more than any other activity.
It’s all down to our secret formula…
We’re always being asked; “How do you manage to train these wee tots?!”
With dojos bustling full of pre and early schoolers; little balls of bouncing energy, we can understand how parents are amazed at what we are able to achieve with their little ones. Afterall, traditional dojos say they’re too young for karate.
Well, it’s all down to our secret formula. Our C.U.B.S. System.
