Media Credit: Emily Kinsolving

Tom Gohring
Graduated: 1996
Major: Business


Martial arts weapons adorn the walls of kung fu and tai chi Master Tom Gohring's recently opened coffee shop, Kick Butt Coffee. Baristas wear black and red kung fu uniform tops while serving espresso drinks, chai and alcoholic coffee cocktails.

Gohring has been an entrepreneur for his entire career. He has practiced kung fu and tai chi for 22 years and opened his martial arts school shortly before graduating from UT in 1996 with a business degree. He opened Kick Butt Coffee on Airport Boulevard, half a mile from the martial arts school, on Feb. 11.

A Chuck Norris poster on the wall at Kick Butt Coffee perfectly embodies Gohring's coffeehouse concept: a fusion of martial arts and high-end coffee drinks. The poster reads, "Chuck Norris grinds his coffee with his teeth and boils the water with his own rage."

Daily Texan: Could you talk about some of the features in the coffee shop?

Tom Gohring: We have a stage for open mic comedy and musical performances. We have a $15,000 professional sound and light system. These martial arts weapons on the wall are my own personal weapons that I've used for years. We have [Nintendo] Wii, too. The question we ask ourselves every step of the way is, "Is it kick butt?"

DT: You came up with your business concept in April 2007 and opened the store in February. How did you work up the business plan so quickly?

TG: Here's what I've learned about business plans: If you can't write it on the back of an envelope, it's too complicated.

DT: Do lots of people call you master?

TG: Mostly my students, but they'll say the whole thing: "Master Gohring," not just "master."

DT: Are you a coffee drinker?

TG: Chai is my beverage of choice. The chai is fantastic here. We definitely hand-selected our chai. And it's a secret. We say it's "ninja chai."

DT: What did you do for fun while you were at UT?

TG: That business school works you hard. When I was there, it was the beginning of the dot-com boom, and I had group projects in every class. I also supported myself teaching martial arts at Lake Austin Spa Resort. For fun, here's the challenge: Enjoy what you do. I don't really have a separation between work and fun.

DT: How many hours a week do you work?

TG: The better question would be, how many hours a week do I not work? Just in my martial arts business that's 12 hours a day Monday through Thursday, so that's 48 hours just teaching.

DT: Let's say you have Master Gohring's tai chi and kung fu training and a cup of Kick Butt coffee in your hand and an attacker approaches. What do you do? Throw the coffee or kick butt?

TG: Both. The opening move is throw the coffee in his face, and then you go for the kick.

Kick Butt Coffee is located at 5775 Airport Blvd. and online at www.kickbuttcoffee.com.

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