Lions Kickboxing

I never write a review at Unilocal before — this is my first time — I had to sign up and write this review in the car outside of Lions Kickboxing right after having a terrible conversation with the so-​called experienced instructor.
Bought a livingsocial voucher — was looking forward to try this out. I called a week ago and confirmed whether there will be class at 7am. The instructor seemed kind on the phone — I asked if I need to make reservation and will I still be able to join if I’m late. He smiled and said, «haha, sure just come. There’s not much people coming to the 7am class anyway.»
So today, I followed my gps but it brought me to a wrong location. So I tried to search it with the phone — not too far, just few blocks away (couldn’t find lions kicking). By the way I got there, it is 7:15am. I parked, opened the door, I saw that there’s only 1 female student and the instructor.
The instructor came to me and said, «am I expecting you?» I was like .“sorry I’m late. I couldn’t find the place.” Then he said «sorry you’re here when the class is almost over and expect to be respected? Come next time.» And then he just pushed me out and closed the door.
To be RESPECTFUL, I got back to the car and waited for another 45 mins until I saw the only female student left. I knocked on the door and he opened. I tried to clarify what he said on the phone. He said, «I don’t recall saying that. One minute late is okay. You expect me to be respected and let you come in when you’re 15 mins late? You’re not a little kid. You should understand.» I said, «I went to the wrong place» He pointed at me and said, «it’s just an excuse. Go away.» Then he just closed the door at me.
Wow. When he talked to me, it actually seemed like he had some kind of issue. I don’t know if he is not a bad instructor which I haven’t tried however will not try. Very bad in business perspective.
I didn’t feel good at all how he talked and being pushed away as a first comer. However, I feel even worse for him because I can see that his business may not go well with that attitude even though if he’s not a bad instructor.
Got home and called livingsocial to request for the full refund. I told the lady what exactly happened. She felt so sorry to hear that and gave me the full refund.

A WARNING from my experience with the owner:
A few weeks ago, I stumbled across Lions Kickboxing Fitness on a Google search. From my search arose deals from Living Social (
) and Groupon
). I did not buy either, for I was unready to commit, due to the long commute. However, I was willing to try a class (
) and if it was awesome, I would have bought one of the deals!
A few weeks ago, I e-​mailed the owner requesting my free, trial class. He said yes, but insisted I phone him to talk. I was unsure why, as we were already communicating via e-​mail, and he was unspecific as to what he wanted to discuss. Life got busy with my little one, work, and family events, so I did not have time to try the class right away, so I left it pending until approximately one week ago.
Last week, I checked the class schedule online to pick a class that worked best for me. I emailed the owner again to ask if my free class still applied. I copied and pasted the free class offer link (
) and asked if he still wanted me to phone him. He said there was no need to phone him, as I had already contacted him via e-​mail.
Approximately 4.5 hours before the class, I e-​mailed him to confirm that there would be a class that night and I would be attending. He insisted I phone him. I asked for his phone number, which he did not respond to. I assumed he was busy, so I seeked it on his website. I phoned him twice from my work number (blocked for privacy reasons). He did not answer either time. I left him a voice message the first time I phoned. Two hours before the class, I phoned him from my cell phone at home (not blocked) to ask if class was on, and he said yes.
I drove thirty minutes to this business (which is in a very quiet, industrial part of southeast Vancouver). I noticed very few cars in the parking lot. When I entered the facility, there appeared to be no one onsite. I was about to depart when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
The owner was pleasant enough to begin, but it soon became clear that he had no intention of providing the trial class we had spoken about only two hours before.
He began by saying he always follows his «gut feeling» about people, and he did not have a good gut feeling about me because we had only communicated via e-​mail (nine times, he pointed out) since I was «so reluctant» to phone him. He reasoned something along the lines of, «If you can’t even follow my simple instructions to phone me, how can I expect you to follow my directions in class?»
He stated my calling from a blocked number raised a «red flag» about not being able to trust me; therefore, I am never allowed to join his exclusive dojo. I explained my work number is blocked for privacy reasons, but he did not listen to me.
He basically wanted to teach me a lesson by wasting my precious time to drive all the way down to his facility to «see me in person; to «look [me] in the eyes,» all because I did not feel the need to phone him since we were already communicating via e-​mail, and he was unclear on why I should phone him. He was also displeased about my work number being blocked.
He then proceeded to «show me the door» and stood up to open it for me. Completely flustered, I exclaimed that I had just driven half an hour to get there (and not in the best traffic conditions either). He said he did not care; that was not his problem.
I was, and still am, shocked and disgusted by his way of doing business. According to his website and testimonials, he is an excellent trainer and athlete, which I do not doubt. However; as a businessman, the way he treated me was completely and utterly disgusting, conniving, and dishonest. I felt intimidated, being led to this empty dojo under false pretenses, and then lectured about this man’s ridiculous expectations about phone calls.
I do not wish anyone to face his dishonesty and intimidation like I did. He lost a potential client and I would not even recommend his business to my worst enemy.