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Instructors Profile: Sensei Stephen Fraser, 2nd Dan JKA

Sensei Fraser provides instruction at both our North Berwick and Musselburgh dojos. With a preference for kumite, Sensei Fraser stresses the connection between good basic form and the basis for good, fast, accurate fighting techniques.

Sensei Fraser has trained for over three decades in shotokan karate, firstly in Aberdeen, then in Edinburgh before retraining in JKA Shotokan karate starting under Sensei Bert Stewart in Musselburgh starting in 2004, gaining shodan in 2006, and nidan in 2009. He has competed regularly at Scottish level, winning runners up medals in kata and kumite.

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JKA Musselburgh enters new chapter with relocation to Queen Margaret University gym

Our long-established dojo in Musselburgh is on the move. We're leaving Stoneyhill Community Centre to head up the hill to the Queen Margaret University campus, with the first classes due to take place at our new location in late July.

Stoneyhill has been our home in Musselburgh for 22 years, and will have seen thousands of karateka train in the first floor gym over that time. Our departure is precipitated by the centre's closure and it will be with sadness that we leave it behind, and excitement as we consider the advantages of relocating to a busy university campus close to Musselburgh railway station.

We're having a special last training session at Stoneyhill on Thursday 20 June 2019 at 7pm for karateka past and present. The session will be to mark the end of an era, and the start of another! There will be a four week period between the closure on 20 June and the opening of the new dojo at QMU on Thursday 18th July, 7pm to 8pm. During this time our dojo in North Berwick will be remaining open throughout the holidays, so people will be more than welcome at the sports centre in North Berwick if you like to keep sharp over the summer. The North Berwick nights are Monday and Wednesday at 7pm at the town's sports centre, with training led by Sensei Paola Burrows, 4th Dan JKA.