Fifteen years of martial arts experience were not nearly enough to prepare Christopher Frazier for the tragedy in his family nine years ago.

The murder of his mother by his own nephew made headlines across Seattle and forced him to isolate himself from the world while he grieved.

His mother was the caretaker for her then 13-year-old special needs grandson. After an argument between Frazier’s mother and nephew in March 2006, the teen stabbed her to death.

Police would later find drawings and notes that alluded to the teen’s plan to kill her before the incident took place. While the teen was initially charged with the murder, he was eventually found to be mentally incompetent and did not stand trial.

“I spent a lot of time with him until he was about 10 or 11 years old,” Frazier said. “He went everywhere with me. Even though he was my nephew, he was more like my little brother.”

The situation now motivates Frazier.

He was not around his nephew as much while he attended college and believes that things may have turned out differently if he was there.

He spent time coaching at his former high school, Rainier Beach, to take his mind off the tragedy. He began to notice that he could have an impact on kids through that time coaching. Reaching youth has now become his main priority.

“I don’t like to say that I’m making up for it in that way, but it comes up,” Frazier said.

Just a month ago, Frazier opened the Keishindo Martial Science Academy in Federal Way. He has over 20 years of experience in various martial art forms and is looking for that to be a gateway to interaction between everyone in the community.

Frazier began martial arts at the age of nine. He was taught goju-ryu by the uncle of one of his friends in a basement while living near Beacon Hill.

“My mom got me into [martial arts] when I was little,” he said. “I used to come home and show her moves I had learned from class that day. That was kind of like our little bond.”

Frazier continued his training throughout his childhood. He moved to Georgia as a child and began to learn Korean martial art styles like hapkido and taekwondo.

When he moved back to Washington, he trained under Master Derek Carlton for the next five to six years. He earned a black belt in dragonfist martial science at the age of 17.

He then trained in styles from various locations.

While in college he took a jujitsu class and began to expand to numerous martial arts styles instead of focusing on one.

Now at age 33, Frazier is ready to teach what he learned.

“From a young age I was taught to take whatever you can,” Frazier said. “I always remember my mom telling me that whatever you put your hands on, always do your personal best.”

Martial science is not exactly the same as martial arts. While martial arts focuses on the artistic outcomes of actions, martial science is focused on the practical movements of martial arts.

“It’s really studying the physiology of the body and adapting that to martial arts,” Frazier said. “The moves of martial arts do apply, but if you’re not doing it in a practical sense, then the movements are kind of wasted. So we break it down to a science rather than an art.”

Keishindo Martial Science Academy offers classes for three different age groups: 5-9-year-olds in the kids group, 10-14-year-olds in the youth group and ages 15-plus for teens and adults. Jukido jujitsu, a style focused on grappling and close-range self-defense, is taught to anyone ages 9 and above on Saturdays.

Anyone who is willing to learn is able to go to the academy for training. Currently, the youngest student is 4 and the oldest is 55.

There is no specific type of person that Frazier is looking for at the academy. He says he will teach anyone, even if they have one leg missing or are blind. He says that martial science is about using what you have to your best ability, which can allow for this, unlike some martial arts.

“We train hard, but we are a very family-oriented school,” he said. “We are a mixed martial arts school, but not a cage fighting school. We still do character development and we make sure we’re always taking care of each other.”

Frazier believes that people, particularly the youth, spend too much time at home and in front of their phones and not enough time interacting with each other. He believes that his academy can provide a place for them to go.

He is also open to do more than just martial arts-related activities to get kids involved. Using the academy for dance classes is high on his list.

“I’m even having ideas of a video game tournament here with something like ‘Street Fighter,’” Frazier said. “Anything to get the kids involved and out of the house and doing stuff with other kids. They’re kids; they should be kids and have fun.”

Keishindo Martial Science Academy is located at 29500 Pacific Highway S., Suite D, Federal Way. For more information, visit kmsacademy.com.