Since 1991 he has made 20 albums and toured the American continent, Europe and Asia with Hagfish and Only Crime. For the past 13 years he has been the bassist for Texas favorite the Toadies. He began writing his first book “Even If It Kills Me” (YMAA Publications) while on the road in 2015 about his black belt journey in Taekwondo. Upon release it was a Silver Winner for the Benjamin Franklin Award.
When he’s not writing he can be found drinking coffee, trying to learn Rush songs, training in martial arts and drinking coffee .
He lives in Amarillo, TX with his wife Shelley and, since his bass guitars are his children, their 13 kids.
- The Partial Artist - October 13, 2021
- The Harder We Fall - September 8, 2021
- Am I My Brother’s Keeper? - September 6, 2021
Ever met the guy who decides, often unsolicited, to describe the many martial arts he has trained in? The person before you could be a human cornucopia of combat systems, information you would never have had if you hadn’t asked. But wait… you didn’t. You can’t stop and you won’t stop the dude who sounds like he’s been prepared by Julia Child- ‘For a good base let’s start with some Shotokan Karate and swirl it up until the stock is good and creamy. Next, add a dash of Kung fu for zest and we can’t forget our ground game…let’s do a few shakes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Now put that in the oven at 425 degrees for two to three hours. Before serving to your guests makes sure you add a nice sprinkle of paprika salt.”
Bruce Lee was groundbreaking in so many ways. His main influence, I believe, is the idea that it’s okay to serve several masters in martial arts and train in a variety of styles. Depending on how you look at it this could be a positive or a negative. The positive is for those folks who have the discipline to train with dedication in multiple styles. The adverse to this are the ones who get to a certain belt level and decide they’ve had enough and move on to something different. The complete and total comprehension of a style escapes them because they only gave it a year or so and understand it only partially. The person in question has done this routine over several years with several styles and has become the Partial Artist.
Just to be clear, I’m describing myself here and, yes I’m being judgmental, to myself. I’ve had ADD since I was a kid, never clinically diagnosed but it’s one of those things you just know you have. I don’t need a doctor to tell me I have blue eyes, ‘yeah, no shit”. Same here. I have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time and get distracted easily. I got my black belt in TKD and felt great…for about a week. Then, the ‘itch’ started. Those who have ADD know what I’m talking about. It’s nothing you can physically scratch, just an irritation in your brain that screams ‘DO SOMETHING ELSE……NOW’. We can’t concentrate on anything for too long, it’s easier to move on to something different. That way there is no attachment.
I tried BJJ and did ok for a few years but lacked, at the time, the ability to relax and my ego got in the way. I wanted, needed, to be better and I wasn’t. There were so many of my friends advancing in belt levels before me, because they worked harder and deserved it, but I couldn’t come to grips with that and left once my knee was injured. Perfect excuse!!
After this I went back and trained in Tibetan White Crane Kung Fu with my friend Brandon Landelius. Once again the style was not the issue, I was. It’s like I am constantly getting in to serious relationships with martial systems and, when it eventually doesn’t work out, I have to have a conversation with each one- BJJ, TKD , Kung Fu and Karate over a nice cup of breakup coffee and say ‘I’m sorry but this isn’t working out. It’s not you, it’s me”.
Recently I had put in a year, A YEAR, of training at an amazing Okinawan Karate dojo. The instructors and students were fantastic. The training and style was, quite honestly, one of the more intense styles I’ve ever come across. The students were devoted Christians and started their dojo in a church in Canyon, TX. But god help the person who messed with any of these people. They are deadly. I got to the rank of brown belt in this killer of a style but it wasn’t enough. I’ve spent the better part of 20 years learning martial arts but only partially. I’ve made this joke before but I I’M the one trying to collect all of the Infinity stones for my Belt.
There is nothing wrong at all with trying, and training in multiple systems. I’m among your number and understand the zing of being involved in a different style- new training, new partners, new uniforms! Just don’t do what I do and give up before you really learn something.
While writing this I’ve come to the realization that the best option, for me, is the hardest. Go back and give BJJ another shot. I have yet to meet better folks- that is when they’re not trying to choke the living hell out of me.
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