Karate Classes for Kids, Teens & Adults in Bearsden & Kirkintilloch
Build unshakeable confidence, and become unstoppable in life!
Build Focus, Confidence & Discipline
Get Fitter, Stronger & More Resilient
Learn From Expert Black Belts
Supportive Family-Friendly Environment
No Experience Necessary - Beginners & Returners Welcome!
Shobu Kai Karate Academy offers welcoming, structured karate classes for kids, teens & adults across East Dunbartonshire — with dojos in both Bearsden and Kirkintilloch. Whether you live closer to Bearsden or Kirkintilloch, our expert-led programs help you build confidence, focus and resilience.
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.
Our karate school is a proudly affiliated to JKS Scotland, so 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 and watching as our students transform their lives.
Our purpose-built, full-time dojo in Bearsden runs 6 days a week, 46 weeks a year. Our community club in Kirkintilloch offers classes 2 days per week.
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 help you become unstoppable in life!
We are so confident that you’ll love our karate school, and incredible karate community, 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.
Our Karate Programs
Teens’ Karate (age 13-17)
They’ve already transformed their lives through us…
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"My son and I both attend this club. As an adult it can be scary starting a new club, but I was welcomed with open arms and have surprised myself by how far I have come. My son loves it too and I love to see how well he is doing. He can be a bit 'hyper' so I was worried about how he would get on... I can honestly say that I think no one would have handled it better that Kathryn and Adam."
Jade (33) & Cole (4), Bearsden
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"Adam and Kathryn very accomplished at their art, and also brilliant with the kids. They make the classes fun, are greatly encouraging and clearly know how to handle and coach a class of young children which cannot be easy. It's great to see many students regularly winning competition medals."
-Duncan (parent), Bearsden
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"Having returned to karate at the age of 19 I can truly say I’ve had the best time since starting back. Adam and Kathryn constantly support you and push you to be the best person you can be in karate and in life . Not only have I made friends for life but also now have a dojo family for life".
- Caitlin (19)
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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
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"Absolutely amazing karate school. The teachers Adam and Kathryn are kind and gentle but very disciplined with the children. Best class I’ve had my child in so far! My child is coming along very well and learning skills apart from just the karate."
-Claire (parent), Bearsden
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 you to unlock your potential and become unstoppable, inside and outside the dojo.
After four 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!
The Blog
7 Reasons Why The Gym Doesn’t Work…
Every January, thousands of adults join gyms with renewed motivation to get fit, lose weight, and feel better.
And every year, most of them quit.
If you’ve ever wondered “Why can’t I stick to the gym?”—this article is for you.
The issue isn’t willpower.
It’s the gym model itself.
Here are 7 reasons gyms fail most adults, and why karate is rapidly becoming one of the most effective alternatives to traditional fitness training.
Karate; where neurodiversity is a SUPERPOWER!
As more and more parents in Bearsden, Milngavie and Kirkintilloch 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.
Is One Karate Class a Week Enough?
This is one of the most common questions we hear from parents:
“Is one karate class per week enough?”
The short answer is: one class a week is a great starting point — but it’s rarely the best option for long-term development.
To understand why, it helps to look at karate not as an activity, but as a skill.
