Grind House Brooklyn — Local services in New York

2 stars because I genuinely like this gym when I've come here for classes for the equipment they have- but it can get insanely busy- but this review is for my experience with one coach that really destroyed my view of grind house and really really upset me. I posted this on ClassPass but posting here too. This is for the boxing class with Brandon:

I've never felt uncomfortable or unwelcomed in any class I've ever taken before (which is probably 1000 in the last 4 years) and yet this instructor made me feel bullied and I left within the first 2 minutes- something I've never done before- and spent 20 minutes crying in the locker room from this experience.

The instructor wouldn't stop calling on me and when he asked the whole class whose first time it was and I didn't raise my hand he still then called on me againnn from across the room, making everyone stare at me, saying "oh it's not your first class?" Where I said "no it's not, just work uoj as the coach" and he said "oh really?" And I said "yep, but hey I'm not in a good headspace tonight can you stop" and he went: "Show me your fighting stance then. " I said "I don't want to do that, I don't want to put on the spot in front of everyone" and he laughed hysterically going "well you're going to hate this class then" which made the entire class laugh and made me feel SO singled out.

IF he genuinely wanted to know if it was my first boxing class, he would have asked me alone when he gave each person a fist bump in the beginning of class, he wouldn't have put the only overweight person on the spot in front of everyone or would have come up to me privately after to check in. Or he would have apologized for making the entire class laugh AT me. Also for what it's worth- I took the same class here with another instructor about 2 weeks ago and was SO excited to jump into the workout (and I knew that it was buddying up and whatnot) and planned my entire day around it, and have taken a boxing class once a month at another studio for the past year.

I still don't know why he kept singling me out other than to be mean because I was just silently standing in the corner minding my own business and was just ready to start the class. Honestly, this was the worse experience I've ever had in a gym of any setting and being laughed at has absolutely wrecked my week by making me feel insanely insecure and judged for just existing and wanting to...

In response to a recent post from Gabriela B. regarding “Brandon’s boxing class:” A bunch of us members have had Brandon as a group fitness instructor (boxing, team training, HIIT, etc.), from approx 2017 to present day (dating as far back as when the facility had been a Retro Fitness). You are sorely mistaken (and most likely suffer from poor push-up skills and thin skin). Brandom is spunky, comical, and personable. His own personal “push-up game” is also quite excellent (in the case you had any concern over his technique). But yes, you are correct- if someone is seeking out 45-60 mins of positive affirmations, celebration of their fitness accolades, and trophy/cookie/gold star awarding in a group setting, his is not the class to attend. He is quite FAR from lazy. On the contrary, Brandon has (on MANY occasions over the years) even stayed with students after a class (on his own time/free of charge), to assist with skills that would benefit from improvement, or even spend more time with folks if they felt they needed to get more work in and for whatever reason had not fatigued to the extent they had desired on that particular day. He is also exceedingly attentive and concerned should a student express uncertainty or concern about something. In addition, he is refreshingly receptive to student suggestions/feedback.

But… better...

Shady business practices. I signed up for a fixed 6 month membership online and signed my membership agreement then as well which contains all the financial details. When I went in for my first workout they had me sign a “waiver”, which I figured was just the usual liability form and since I wanted to start my workout and was reading it on my phone I just signed it without reading the whole thing. Turns out this “waiver” was much more than that and actually changed the membership terms to now include a $50 “annual fee”. At no point when singing up online do they mention this anywhere nor when you go in person do they mention they are changing the terms and increasing the price. I pointed this out to them and based on the response it does seem fully intentional. It’s a bit silly because if they just listed the price online as the real price ($50 higher) I would have been fine, but the fact that they lie about all the membership prices online to then try to sneak in this hidden fee is wild. In what world does it make sense to charge a hidden “annual fee” on a fixed term membership where you are supposed to be paying the full...