Special Interest Story

Brenden McCoy

Taking Sandpoint High by storm, Brenden McCoy presents himself as a double threat with his passion for music and martial arts. McCoy, a sophomore, already has several local musical performances under his black belt. 

Having studied Tae Kwan Doe for over 8 years, McCoy also teaches at the school through his own practices. When asked what his purpose for studying the art was, he immediately responded with “personal growth” as the sole motive. 

Determined to take his passion further, McCoy has participated in several tournaments and competitions to test his skills. This last year, he was awarded the silver medal for Montana State, and the gold 2 years previous at the same tournament. He has also been a multiple time national qualifier.

“Anyone can break one board, but with the right mindset, you can break 3 or 4,” McCoy said. 

McCoy claims he can break bricks with his head, and stacked boards. He then continued to describe how one does not need strength to break a board, but more of a confident mindset. Analyzing human’s natural tendencies, McCoy explained how everyone is held back and doesn’t have an adequate belief in their abilities, which is what stops them from breaking it. 

“We make a good team,” Nate Owen said. 

McCoy’s partner in music, Nate Owen, tells us that him and McCoy work well together, and have already performed several shows around Sandpoint. Both boys meet before school, during lunch, and after school in order to practice. 

Being a fan of Jimmy Hendrix, McCoy tries to incorporate both his and similar artists repertoire into their own personal sets. Most of their performances are done acoustically, but are generally covers of edgy rock socks originally performed electrically, giving them their “unique sound,” McCoy said. 

“There is no formula to being a musician,” McCoy said. 

Interested in making music a potential career, McCoy finds the music industry to be a challenge, but also his calling. Him and Nate plan on following their dreams, and continue practicing daily with occasional shows, too. 

Eager to give advice to aspiring musicians or those interested in diving into karate, McCoy explained how rewarding both pursuits truly are. However, he left with a warning. 

“If you have to think what do other people think about it, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons,” McCoy said, “at some level, you have to know that you like what you do and love how you do it.”