Extremely negative experience with Extreme Fitness in Toronto
Like a lot of people in Toronto I get bombarded by flyers from Extreme Fitness that usually say: $8 per month, no contract, no execuses etc… I think I receive at least 2 flyers per month from them. My buddy and I decided to finally check it out, plus we heard they have an MMA program as well. The assumption was to check out the gym see the real costs and what kind of teachers they have for MMA. The conclusion was that it costs way more, they push the sale worse than a used car salesman and their MMA intstructors have more attitude than young Mike Tyson.
The experience started from us filling out some crazy amount of paperwork. After around 10 min a nice guy ( he was actually nice) said that he will show us the gym. He asked us both another 20 or 30 questions about our fitness goals etc… I tried to tell him that we are pretty experienced people and just want to see the gym, get the costs and the schedule for classes. It didn’t matter as he continued the same line of questioning, later I understood that was in order to sell their private lessons. I asked couple of times how much MMA classes costs and he said he doesn’t know “they need to asses my fitness level.” I asked a pretty reasonable question how is the price related to my fitness level? He said don’t worry lets just talk to one of our 2 MMA trainers they both fought in Pride.
So we went to check out the gym which was not bad at all in itself. Then we finally reached George K (couldn’t find his last name anywhere) who is supposed to be the ex Pride fighter. He was leaning back on his chair when he saw us, didn’t even stand-up to shake our hand. Once I explained that I take Muya Thai and Aikido and was just wondering how much MMA would cost here he said “We did you ever see free MMA in this city?.” I said no and I don’t expect it to be free, but I want to know how much does it cost – he still didn’t respond and just wanted to sign us up for a free demo. I can’t explain his attitude in writting, but he acted like he is some undefeated champion of the world and I am kid who wants to get an interview. If I might say quite an asshole attitude.
I finally asked the guy about the prices for the gym itself they are : $66 if you want to use one gym and $74 if you want to use multiple gyms. This price is valid only with long term contract, go figure after all their flyers saying that their is no contract. He still didn’t tell me the price for MMA. Once we were about to leave the manager came and tried to push their sale on us again. He even tried to close the doors till we buy the membership. After we finally left the place I decided to never go back to Extreme Fitness again! Last thing I need in my life are pushy sales and crappy attitude.
When I went home I checked out a bio of the second MMA trainer George Kiriakou their had over there and turns out he is not that nice of a guy either. Check out the video and comments bellow. BTW I didn’t find any single mention of him or his buddy being in Pride. Also as somewhat experience martial artist I can tell you that there is no way two teachers can give you an adequate training in Muya Thai, BJJ, Wrestling, Boxing and Conditioning.
So overall I figured out that Extreme Fitness spends a lot of money on marketing to you, pushing their sales onto to you and then sign you in a long contract. I doubt really that after that they have a good customer service. This is a no for me.
Finally, Russian wrestler tenders apology
Ya this guy George is FULL of himself…Guy was bragging his ass off about how he’s so fast, strong and can 3 times more than the average weight trainer(No joke..that’s what he exactely said). And how he grew up in Scarborough and how he’s got 2 bullets in his legs….Man I never heard someone brag so much about himself…it was hilarous I was trying to keep from laughing my head off from his massive conceit. Granted he may be a ‘tough guy’ amongst the average guy, but how would he stack up with other ‘tough guys’. And if he was so great at 38 years old, what hasn’t anybody heard of him? About him being in Pride is complete BS. I met his buddy who is also named George Kiriakou and he told me they we’re ‘encouraging’ the other George to fight professionally in MMA…. Yet he hasn’t stepped in the octagon yet…too funny….BTW, the cost for MMA is $150 per month…way overpriced for the value your getting…and that’s Extreme Fitness being generous. They used to charge $75 PER CLASS!!!
listen i take those classes and i’ll tell you what, i have never worked harder in any class in my life. not to say that i think these guys are god, but…i do think your a little soft…just a little. C’mon you’re training for MMA, if you wanted something that was for getting in shape then maybe just maybe the P90-x is more up your…Well i’ll leave you to finish that statement, just remember you said it not me.
The Hummmed, I think you didn’t read my post right. The point is not the hardness of training, but the attitude and shady sales tactics.
BTW I do train in traditional Muya Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, so I am not that soft. And judging by the aggression in your response and obviously lack of true understanding of martial arts I would say you might train hard, but do you train smart? and how good is your technique? I would say that is a big question mark!
The people you speak of have extensive experince in fitness and martial arts. MMA classes are the bomb, so expect prices to be very high most places. On the contrary, Judo classes can be taken for relitively cheap, as that art has decreased in popularity.
i am the best fighter in the world and i can beat anybody-nikki halifax
Roman-I can’t help but question what the underlying reasoning is for your attack on people you “don’t know”. So you checked out a gym and didn’t like it. So what? While I agree Extreme Fitness does employ aggressive sales tactics, why attack the integrity of people you don’t know, and haven’t met (you mentioned meeting the one George, but not the other – who’s gig at a PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER you added as a reason he’s not a nice guy. You DO realize the basis of professional wrestling, don’t you? It’s completely different from MMA) Apples and oranges, much like your arguments…
In any case, though you seem content at bashing the credibility of these guys, perhaps you should contact the Japanese distributor of Pride and take a look at these fights yourself…(the ones who’s existence you question).
As a “somewhat experienced martial artist”, as you have referred to yourself as, perhaps it might be beneficial to your development to exercise your body, opposed to your mouth. And IF, through no trainig of the professionals you bashed, IF you get there, you might even come to understand that mutual respect amongst fighters (at least real ones)occurs both in and out if the octagon.
Jjackman,
First of all this my personal blog and I express here my own opinion there is no place where I claim it to be objective, it is actually very subjective to what I see and fell.
I agree that fighters, trainers and coaches should give each other mutual respect in and out of octagon and most of the coaches and sparring partners I meet along the road are this way.
However, George was not giving any respect he just gave an attitude and from my experience of training, you don’t learn a lot from coaches or sparring with people who have huge egos.
My post was about sales practices that make used car salesman look good and the attitude of MMA trainer. I am not questioning his fighting abilities, he could the champion of the world my post would still be the same as it reflects what I saw and feel.
Though I can’t argue with the way you felt in terms of your personal experience with the one George you did meet, it is the other, who’s YOU TUBE video you have posted, that was the very reason I referred to respect. You are bashing someone whom you haven’t even met. You wrote “When I went home I checked out a bio of the second MMA trainer George Kiriakou their had over there and turns out he is not that nice of a guy either. Check out the video and comments bellow.” Why do you say he’s not a nice guy? Because his bout as a professional wrestler required him to act as such? This is why your opinion lacks credibility, when a “somewhat experienced martial artist” bad mouths a fighter for no reason whatsoever, except that he can.
Actually George from the video is an asshole at least with me anyway.
Those Guys in extreme fitness are ugliest people I ever seen. They say MMA is $150 per months but it’s really is 6 months group class training and they will charge $150 for 12 months. In the other word you will end up paying $1800 for six months MMA membership.
Before signing any contract with them check the detail. What they say and content of contract is 2 different story.
Knowing both of these gentlemen, George K much better, I can see where Roman is coming from. They both have very strong personalities that can definately come off as coarse. If your on their good sides then you are in a good place. If not then you will probably experience what Roman has said until the respect is gained. See with most fighters respect must be earned not just handed out like a lollipop. However business is business and should be treated as such, with some level of respect. Agreed!!
Roman, perhaps you came off to strong with all your accomplishments as far as what you know. Perhaps interpreted as cocky to him. George is known, very well known as a fighter. Are you? Is all Im saying. Not trying to beat on you but being subjective.
Don’t deny George K’s ability though. He is more than an average tough guy with more street fights and fights then you can imagine(seen for myself). See some guys talk shit, others can back it. Still doesn’t mean that they should act the way they do with strangers. Were they in Pride, nah. I don’t need to contact anyone for it cause there are no fights. Lets face it even if there were these so called fights they would have them plastered everywhere in the gym and on the website. George the wrestler did compete in an organization years ago in Japan but that was a wrestling match(when he was much bigger than he is now)
People have good days and bad. George K is a good decent guy once you get to know him. Trust me. I used to train with him at extreme years ago, and party with him. George K is a deadly guy and a great teacher/friend if you can break his hard crust. He bends backwards for people.
This is in no way a plug for either of these guys as I have not seen or spoke to them for years. Maybe time and situations have changed them now. I don’t know. Take it how you like but I call a spade a spade.
George the wrestler I am not too familiar with so I wont speak about him.
At the end of the day you have choice. You made yours and thats cool.