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May 8th, 2008
May 1st, 2008
Kicking butt, socially, at Kick Butt Coffee
Review of Kick Butt Coffee by Michael Barnes - Austin American Statemen
By Michael Barnes | Thursday, May 1, 2008, 07:15 PM
Social scenes evolve organically. Yet it helps when one particularly dynamic organism activates others in the gaping interstices of a city’s larger social environment.
That’s what Thomas Gohring has accomplished on an otherwise arid stretch of upper Airport Boulevard. The ginger-topped, hazel-eyed martial-arts instructor at Master Gohring’s Tai Chi & Kung Fu noticed there wasn’t a convenient place to grab some caffeine around his lifelong North Austin haunts. From the dense retail district surrounding Highland Mall, one could bop up to Anderson Lane to the indie fave Genuine Joe, or hang down to Greater Hyde Park for Flightpath and Epoch, or settle for the fine product, but rather antiseptic scene at a Starbuck’s.
So Gohring, who graduated from Anderson High School and the University of Texas, researched real estate and coffee beans, took out a home equity loan, secured an all-important URL, commissioned a logo, and, in February, opened the Asian-themed, blood-red-and-black Kick Butt Coffee in a revived strip shopping center around the corner from Spec’s Liquor Warehouse.
Not everything rolled out as planned. One early customer said of the shop’s brewed coffee: “It’s not that kick butt.” So Gohring changed to a darker roast from local bean-sorter Republica.
What does Gohring mean by the term “kick butt”? It depends on the emphasis, voice and tone, but it can translate into 1) general excellence, 2) kinetic motivation, or 3) the physical results of over-indulgence. Even confined to decaf, slim, espresso-based lattes on multiple visits, I can personally subscribe to all three definitions from Kick Butt Coffee.
During the day, a softened southwestern light filters through the sleek shop, glancing off the blood-red walls and black, lacquered trim, without casting a glare on the flat-panel television, which on my visits screened martial arts movies. Laptoppers station themselves in booths — one April day real estate specialist Joe Beatrice lingered at one from 1 p.m. to past 10 p.m. that night — snacking on pastries from Russell’s Bakery or choosing from mostly healthy alternatives to coffee.
At the night, the scene turns lively, as a tiny stage hosts — what else? — musicians and comedians, but not to the detriment of sippers to the rear of the shop. During a Wednesday open mike event, Bob Khosravi burbled on comfortably about this ex-girlfriend, his car, his Iranian heritage: “It makes a difference when you read Dr. Seuss to learn English rather than for fun. Everything begins to rhyme…”
Some customers, lounging outside in the welcome wind or clustered inside around cafe tables, said they drop by Kick Butt at least once a week, others more often. Living or working in the area, they clearly longed for a community with some character, and Kick Butt provides that, without the overstated funkiness of some Austin coffeehouses. It helps that — rare among coffee shops — Kick Butt secured a full liquor license. Gohring has created a clean, open, yet inviting space that could be duplicated in other slivers of lifelessness on Austin’s margins.
Original Link: http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/outandabout/entries/2008/05/01/social_scenes_e.html#comments
April 24th , 2008
Austin Kids Guide Interview
Parent Resources Interviews Master Gohring
March 13th , 2008
Message from Master Teacher Christophe Clarke
ZHANG SAN FENG's Festival and Classical Taiji, Kung Fu and Skills Challenge
Part Two - The Second Step
Metropolitan State College of Denver, Department of Human Performance and Sports- Auroria Campus and Cultural Center for Asian Performing Arts (CCFAPA) Presents:
ZHANG SAN FENG's Festival and Classical Taiji, Kung Fu and Skills Challenge
Part Two - The Second Step
Greetings Master's, Sifu's and Martial Art Enthusiast's:
I am happy to announce the continuation of this event: The Second Step. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I wanted to take on the challenge. It's a lot of work, time and commitment that would have to be put into such an event. I'm sorry if this is a last minute notice to some of you. I apologize. But I looked deep into myself and know that this is my life work. What can I do to help, to promote the true quality of this beautiful treasure in art form? I believe its our duty and responsibility to restore what has been lost for the future of generations to follow. Over time the standards and the quality of this mysterious and mystical art of China has been diluted. Kung Fu means great skill and perseverance. To reach great skill, one mustn't give up and that's where the word persevere comes in. We only can achieve our dreams by not loosing sight of them. I have a dream, as many of us do, to raise the quality of our Taiji and Kung Fu here in the West and around the world. It is said, where there's unity there is strength. With your support I truly believe this can happen. I know that many of you share these feelings and disappointments about the quality and standards. Now that we have our Chinese Martial Arts tournaments established nationwide, it is time for us to go back to the roots and the principles of classical CMA.
One of the problems that we have sometimes in relationship to tournaments is the politics. The best competitor doesn't always win. The rules and regulations of federations, associations, organizations, etc., can interfere. Please don't misunderstand, there is no disrespect intended against those types of governing bodies. Some people don't like tournaments or go to them because of this and we need to get them involved. A tournament should be an educational arena. No one should feel like they lost but should walk away with valuable information on how to increase their level and reach a higher plane of achievement. I am determined to see this vision manifest. The principles of traditional CMA gives us the guidelines to do so.
This engagement will be one that is non-denominational. It will be put on by Taiji and Kung Fu friends from all over, those who believe and know that we must work together as a team, which is why I need your support. The main purpose for this event is not to out do another individual but to elevate the current standard and that way we all benefit. So the winner will be the contestant that demonstrates the principles and fundamentals of classical CMA. As I said earlier, we have the guidelines, we just need to follow and trust in them.
Every child looks forward to going to the playground to have fun and meet new friends. Even though they may get a few scrapes and bruises, they always come back. Why? Because they had a damn good time! I would like to see this event have the same essence as a playground, serious but lighthearted. CMA can keep you forever young. I don't want to lose the true spirit of what its all about: Fun, a good time, brotherhood, community and traditions. In this way, who wouldn't come back to such a fiesta!
I don't have all the answers. This only the second step. But the steps must be taken like the monks who walked on rice paper; with caution and stability. So like the principles that CMA teaches us and in the words of a scholar; patience is a virtue.
So let's join forces! I invite you to attend and be a part of this funfilled, educational and fundamental CMA event. Even if you can't make it this year but see merit in this idea, please contact me so that you may be apart of the third step or pass this information onto others who may be interested.
Master Christophe Clarke
720-365-4941
platoon13@msn.com
March 10th , 2008
Kick Butt Coffee has the ticket for music during South by Southwest
AUSTIN, Texas (March 10, 2008) – Think all of this week’s music action during South by Southwest is happening in downtown Austin? Think again.
During SXSW, Kick Butt Coffee in North Austin is hosting more than a dozen musical acts. Admission is free. Kick Butt Coffee is not an official SXSW venue, but hopes to become one in 2009. Kick Butt Coffee is at 5775 Airport Blvd. in the Highland Commons shopping center.
“For coffee drinkers and music fans not wanting to brave the SXSW crowds in downtown Austin, Kick Butt Coffee is offering a stage for a variety of acts to perform this week,” says Thomas Gohring, founder and owner of Kick Butt Coffee.
“Even when SXSW is not going on, Kick Butt Coffee is a premier place in Austin for musicians to perform and fans to listen music. Music fans and coffee lovers alike can grab a Kick Butt beverage, grab a chair and enjoy the tunes.”
Acts interested in performing at Kick Butt Coffee should contact mastergohring@kickbuttcoffee.com. For more information, visit http://kickbuttcoffee.com/swsw-south-by-southwest.htm.
Kick Butt Coffee is the first and only first martial arts-themed coffee shop in Austin. Aside from coffee, the shop serves beer, wine and liquor. Gohring, founder of Kick Butt Coffee (http://www.kickbuttcoffee.com), also owns Master Gohring’s Tai Chi & Kung Fu (http://www.mastergohring.com), a Chinese Martial Arts academy in Austin.
Here is this week’s Kick Butt Coffee music lineup:
Wednesday - March 12th, 2008:
Birds and Batteries - 3pm - 3:45pm
National Seashore - 4pm - 4:45pm
John Biz - 5pm - 5:45pm
Low Red Land - 6pm - 6:45pm
Aim Low Kid - 7pm - 7:45pm
Teneia Sanders - 8pm - 8:45 pm
Aloke - 9pm - 9:45pm
Thursday - March 13th, 2008:
Stace England - 3pm-3:45pm
Patt Todd & The Rank Outsiders - 4pm -4:45pm
Aloke - 5pm - 5:45pm
Christopher Denny - 6pm - 6:45pm
Tom Ovans - 7pm - 7:45pm
CB Brand- 8pm - 8:45 pm
Highway Bob - 9pm - 9:45pm
Friday - March 14th, 2008
Low Red Land - 3pm - 3:45pm
D. W. Holiday - 4pm - 4:45pm
Teneia Sanders - 5pm - 5:45pm
CB Brand - 6pm - 6:45pm
Liz Henry Richardson - 7pm - 7:45pm
Aim Low Kid - 8pm - 8:45 pm
Brian Wright & Sally Jaye - 9pm - 9:45pm
Birds and Batteries - 10pm - 10:45pm
Saturday - March 15th, 2008
Liz Henry Richardson - 3pm - 3:45pm
Ben Sollee - 5pm - 5:45pm
February 29th , 2008
Taiji Legacy in Dallas NOT happening this Summer - Maybe Fall
Letter from Jimmy Wong:
Dear Sifu's and Friends, Hope everyone had a Happy Chinese New Year! I know that many have asked about the upcoming Taiji Legacy for 2008 and I'm sorry for the delayed response. I understand that everyone needs to know for planning purposes. We wanted to change the location this year so while waiting to hear from the new venue, we had not secured the old one at the Plano Convention Centre. Now it is getting too close to July to hold the tournament at that time. So, the unfortunate conclusion is that we will NOT be hosting the tournament this summer.
HOWEVER, if we are able to secure a location in the Fall, we will host the tournament in the Fall. In either case, we will host the tournament next summer in 2009. We will keep you informed as soon as we have information. Thank you for your patience! I wish everyone a Happy & Prosperous Year of the Rat!
Respectfully,
Jimmy Wong
USA Chin Woo Federation
http://www.chinwoo.com
http://www.tournamentseen.com
February 29th , 2008
Master Gohring and Master Clarke Appear on KLBJ's Dudley and Bob Morning Show to promote the FREE Demo that night. Special thanks to 2nd Degree Black Sash Jimmy Earl, Associate Director of the Frank Erwin Center arranging through Bob Fonseca to appear on the show. Looking forward to seeing Dale Dudley do Kung Fu.
February 26th , 2008
Austin Family Magazine Editors Review of Kick Butt Coffee
We're sure you've heard of the martial arts school. Master Gohring's Tai Chi & Kung Fu. Austin Family readers voted it the Best Martial Arts Center in Austin last year. Master Gohring's team is now bringing a new coffee concept to the Airport Boulevard corridor. It's called Kick Butt Coffee. Their mission: to "kick butt" in the coffee business by selling Kick Butt coffee and offering Kick Butt service. 
Kick Butt Coffee offers all the classic coffee drinks and smoothies as well as beer and wine. The shop's cinnamon rolls and delicious coffeeand liquor combinastion drinks are wonderful, too. Kick Butt Coffee has a flat screen and a Wii, and the space is unique and inviting. The most important thing, though, is the coffee. The baristas know how to pull a great espresso shot, so the coffee is premium. Kick Butt Coffee also has a stage and the shop plans to have music, comedy, dance and film events soon. Visit the store at 5775 Airport Blvd. (at 290 next to Spec's and across the street from Wendy's) or check out the website at kickbuttcoffee.com. Looks like Austin has another great coffee shop!
February 25th , 2008
The Dance of the Sword Under the Moon of Wu Dung - Friday, February 29th, 6:30pm
FREE Demonstration and Brick Breaking with Guest Master Christphe Clarke at
Master Gohring's Tai Chi & Kung Fu at 6611 Airport Blvd.
The idea for the production of the performance for the Friday night is entitled 'The Dance of the Sword Under the Moon of Wu Dung'. It's a beautiful story about the founder of Tai Chi Chuan, the famous Master Zhang San Feng.
It is about the night he met the sword on Mount Wu Dung. Master Clarke will reenact the graceful and balletic ancient classical Tai Chi sword from the Wu Dung lineage and two Empty Hands sets. One is called DaMo Chuan, named after the divine Buddhist Master of Shaolin and the other is the divine Tai Chi form that will be taught during the seminar week-end.
The narrator, Michele Richards, will execute the story and the words will be reenacted as the story is told under the sounds of traditional Chinese music from the Mainland. In the midst of burning candlelights and the fragrance of spiritual incense in the air, the poetic movements of Tai Chi Chuan will mesmerize and intrigue family, friends and students.
Also, in this performance the mystical powers of Tai Chi will be demonstrated through the execution of the Internal Tai Chi palm strike going through a stack of bricks as if it was butter. This will be well received by martial arts enthusiasts and onlookers that ever had any doubt about the spiritual and mystical powers in the world of Tai Chi. Friday, February 29th, 6:30pm - Master Gohring's Tai Chi & Kung Fu - www.mastergohring.com. Bring a chair to guarantee a seat.
February 13th , 2008
Black Sash Graduation 2007 Pics are up: Click Here
You can also see and comment on them on
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mastergohring Click on Pics
February 11th , 2008
MASTERS OF THEIR DOMAINS
Kung fu goes YouTube on martial arts instructor's Web site
By Omar L. Gallaga AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, February 11, 2008 - Thomas R. Gohring is not just a master of his Web domains: He's a tai chi and kung fu instructor known by his students as Master Gohring.
In addition to running Master Gohring's Tai Chi & Kung Fu on Airport Boulevard, he has built a new coffee house next door called Kick Butt Coffee, which opens for business today, and also owns a real-estate business.
In creating a Web site for his students at mastergohring.com, the martial artist has incorporated more than 600 video clips of extensive instructional materials to supplement his classes. The clips are available through YouTube and provide a place where students (and anyone on the Web) can ask questions about specific techniques from his curriculum. We asked Master Gohring to take time out from kung fu and coffee to tell us about his Web site.
American-Statesman: When did you decide to create a Web site and what work went into getting it started?
Thomas R. Gohring: I first created it a few months before I opened my school, in 1996. I used a template offered by the Internet service provider.
Your Web site offers supplemental videos of your curriculums on YouTube. How are your students using these videos and why did you decide to start posting them online?
Students use them to review and preview what we are covering in class. I decided to offer them to leverage my time spent in class. If the student has been reviewing, then I can focus more on their improvement and less on learning the move in the first place. This extends the efficiency I already provide in class.
How much time and work does it take to create these video clips? How do you balance that with your instructing, running several businesses and managing the Web site?
Oh boy, good question. The key here is that I enjoy what I am doing.
My time with students (30-plus classes a week) is balanced with my time alone uploading the video and creating Web pages. I like to stay on the cutting edge in my school and on the Web. The payoff is seeing students improve in less time.
Do you worry that people will watch the videos online for free instead of paying to take instruction with you in person?
Good luck. It is really challenging to learn (online). In the beginning, you must start with a competent instructor. There are those that can do it just from videos, but it is really challenging.
Also, I should add, we are not selling tai chi or kung fu lessons. We are selling the whole experience of studying Chinese martial arts: the ceremony, the culture and the community. Students come to us to transform their lives, not just to learn some moves. When you join our school, it becomes real.
Did you look to other Web sites or YouTube videos for inspiration?
Yes, constantly. I love surfing the Web and seeing what everyone is doing. For example, last year I updated all my Web sites to "Web 2.0" using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), which helps them have a more modern, clean look.
What are some of your favorite Web sites? Do you spend a lot of time online?
I'll confess, I think I am addicted to Digg.com and Ron Paul video clips. I also spend time on taijilegacy.com, a blog site for a yearly tournament we attend in Dallas, taijiclassic.com, a blog for our in-house tournament and thejoyshow.com, my sister's comedy Web site.
Are there any skills that are shared between learning martial arts and learning to build a Web site?
I've earned my sixth-degree black sash in tai chi and kung fu. I still feel like a white sash in the Web editing. The Internet is moving much faster and changing much more quickly than the martial arts world. Skills in common include the discipline to stick with it when it is not as "fun" and figure it out for one's self and make it my own.
ogallaga@statesman.com; 512-445-3672,
Article on American Statesman Website: Kung fu goes YouTube on martial arts instructor's Web site
Video from Austin American Statesman Website: http://www.statesman.com/news/mplayer/m/63068
February 4th , 2008
What? Kick Butt Coffee friends and family day.
When? Friday, Feb. 8th from 9am - 1pm
and Friday,
Feb. 8th from 5pm - 9pm.
(yes, two different times - same day)
Where? 5775 Airport Blvd., Suite 725, Next to Specs: http://kickbuttcoffee.com/index2.htm (Map)
Why? Because we need your help. You're
patient and
understanding and realize we are still training.
We get your valuable feedback, get a chance to check out Austin's newest coffee concept, FREE!
Note: This is not the grand opening or the soft opening. It is a practice day for the baristas. (Oh, if you didn't know, barista is the title for people who make coffee beverages.)
David Adamoski, Director of Operations, Kick Butt Coffee, LLC
D.Adamoski@KickButtCoffee.com •
http://www.KickButtCoffee.com
512.454.KICK • 512.633.8306
January 30 , 2008
Next Rotation is up for the February 11th through April 10th, 2008 class period.
