Billy Wales
Senior Instructor
JKA 6th Dan | 47 Years' Experience | Brothock Founder
Introduction
Billy Wales began his karate journey in 1979, training at Arbroath Karate Club and Dempsey's Karate School. In that same year, he was awarded 9th Kyu under Sensei Taiji Kase, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey in karate.
He is a long-standing senior student of Sensei Kawasoe, having trained with him hundreds of times over the years. This enduring relationship has been central to his technical development, teaching philosophy, and continued commitment to traditional Japan Karate Association (JKA) Shotokan karate.
In 1985, he founded Brothock Shotokan Karate Club. For over four decades, the club has served Arbroath, Forfar, and the wider Angus area.
He currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (JKA) and maintains formal registration with JKA Headquarters, allowing continued training and development at the highest level.
Dan Grades
1st Dan (1982)
Sensei Enoeda
2nd Dan (1985)
Sensei Enoeda
3rd Dan (1989)
Sensei Enoeda
4th Dan (1998)
Sensei Shirai & Sensei Kawasoe
5th Dan (2011)
Sensei Kawasoe
6th Dan (2025)
Sensei Kawasoe
Ongoing Training & Development
He continues to train consistently, maintaining a strong commitment to continual development.
His training includes regular sessions with Sensei Kawasoe, international courses, and annual trips to Japan—where he has accumulated close to 100 training sessions at JKA Headquarters in Tokyo.
He has a particular interest in applied karate through effective kata bunkai, with a focus on structure, timing, balance, and realistic application. This ensures that traditional forms are understood not only technically, but also functionally.
He also regularly visits and trains in other dojos while travelling, valuing the opportunity to step outside his comfort zone. Training in unfamiliar environments exposes him to different dojo cultures, expectations, and levels of intensity, creating a natural pressure to perform, adapt, and remain sharp.
Competition & Representation
He has represented both Scotland and the United Kingdom at European and World level across multiple organisations.
More recently, at age 63, he returned to competition—placing 3rd in Men's Individual Kumite at the JKA/WF Scottish Championships and leading his team to 1st place in Team Kumite. His return to competition was driven by a desire to lead by example and encourage continued adult participation.
Coaching & Qualifications
He is a Scottish Karate Governing Body Level 3 Qualified Coach, and an experienced judge and referee.
His professional background in safety-critical environments informs a calm, structured, and preventative approach to coaching, training, and risk awareness. This includes experience in assessing and managing personal safety risks within front-line operations.
These principles extend into the wider safety framework required to operate a Karate Scotland accredited club—ensuring appropriate governance, safeguarding, and structured delivery across all age groups and abilities.
Family & Community
One of the most rewarding parts of Billy's karate journey was the ten years spent training alongside his daughter Beth, from ages six to sixteen. Sharing his journey with Beth during her formative years reinforced that karate is not simply an individual pursuit, but something that can positively support family life.
Beth's mum Shona was also an accomplished karateka, among her many titles she was Scottish ShotoCup Ladies Individual Kata Champion and played an important role in helping to build and grow the club.
Many former students now return with their own children—and in some cases grandchildren—reflecting the long-term impact and strength of the club community.
Karate Philosophy
"Karate removes the labels of everyday life—what matters is attitude, effort, and respect."
His approach balances tradition with progress: preserving the integrity of Shotokan karate while ensuring it remains relevant, accessible, and meaningful for modern practitioners. Over time, his teaching has evolved from a focus on the physical aspects of karate to a broader role centred on personal development—guiding students with patience, structure, and a long-term view of growth.
Like a gardener nurturing development over time, the emphasis is not simply on immediate results, but on creating the right conditions for individuals to grow, mature, and realise their potential through consistent practice.