I really feel for the monks who do not have the raid gear and try to tank in tso. This is not i'm better or whatever post so please dont take it that way. Since there is a stigma attached to brawlers that we can't tank and/or dont dps well that makes it very hard for us to grab raid spots or needed group runs into what the casual player would consider challenging. Let me just kinda spout for a minute about my exp and how i got into a raid spot with my guild and maybe that will help ya'll make your way up the foodchain.
Playing a monk well means doing all the really tedious things that other tank classes dont have to do. Yes we can dps decently like an afk brigand or maybe a half asleep swashy when our specials are up. So that means you have to really learn to time your attacks and never be asleep at the wheel in raids or groups. God forbid if you don't have a hate transfer and get to tank since our aoe agro is the weakest of the fighters. So get used to tab targetting thru mobs and looking to see if any of them peeled off to smack a squishy/healer etc etc. You need to get very used to proper group setups if you are tanking. You will need the advantage that two healers and a dirge give you in order to do the same task an equal geared non raiding plate tank gets. Learn the mechanics of tab and f8 key for targetting and make sure they become second nature. Basically you need to outhussle your way into groups. Learn the machanics of turning mobs for scouts and frontal aoe's. Once again outhussle means your name gets out there that yeah he's a monk but he doesn't suck.
Breaking into a raid guild is all about learning the simple stuff first. Yes you are a tank and should go after tank gear. Nothing makes me more upset then to be on an alt and see a monk in a group that will not tank because they either want to look good in a gi or think they are only a dps class. If you think this and play a monk save the rest of us the trouble and just delete your toon. You drag the rest us down and reinforce the brawler can't tank mindset. So once you have gotten your name out there that you are competant with your class start asking around on your server for a guild that does casual raiding. Maybe they already have a brawler...maybe they have no idea of what you can do or how you can benefit a raid when the tank goes down and you stand up rip the mob and give them time to get their mt back up. Once again outhussle the other guy or the guild offtank and you become needed. Do not be cocky or stupid about it. I prefer the reply ..."..hey great job gang glad i could help do my thing there". With the current monk skill set we fit the omg tank just died role. I prefer to use tsunami first then hit peel so we dont die while switching stances putting up self magic ward etc etc. Also gives you time to hit vent talk key and let the healers know its ok not freak out and send heals your way when tsunami goes down. Turn the mob away from the raid hit root stance drop rescue when peel runs out and you should be able to stand for 15ish more seconds while they bring up the mt again.
Gear will come in time. Be patient since brawler itemization blows and upgrades outside of vp are few and far between. I keep almost two full boxes of gear on me at all times. All manner of resist gear tank stuff and dps stuff. Best thing about a monk however is you can balance between dps and tank high miti stuff and have a basic go to gear setup. And going from dps to tank is as simple as switching stances which should be on your hotbar and dropping the self health eating haste buff. Remember learn the basics hussle your way into a raid spot dont be a drama queen and eventually even if soe nerfs the monk class into basic trash your guild will still want you just because you are the best [Removed for Content] monk they have ever seen.