A Disappointing Experience at Legacy Chatswood
A Disappointing Experience at Legacy Chatswood
I attended Legacy Chatswood for an open mat session with genuine interest in joining the gym. Unfortunately, my experience was marked by a lack of basic courtesy and professionalism. Despite arriving on time for a scheduled session (6:00–7:00pm), I was neither greeted by the coaches nor acknowledged by the students. The class never formally began, and after waiting for twenty minutes without any direction or engagement, I left.
Against my better judgment, I returned two weeks later—this time with my training gear, hoping for a better experience. I made eye contact with the coach (a different individual from my first visit), nodded, and smiled. He ignored me. Once again, the session failed to start, and once again, I left.
The following day, I contacted Legacy to express my concerns. I received a generic apology and a vague explanation that “all Legacy members are treated fairly.” My details were passed on to the owner and founder, Thiago Braga, who reached out shortly after. Rather than offering a sincere apology or taking responsibility, Thiago attempted to justify the coach’s behavior by stating he was new and unfamiliar with the members. He also claimed I had left before the class ended—an irrelevant point that failed to address the core issue: the complete lack of acknowledgment or welcome from both coaches and students.
When I pointed out that this explanation did not account for the poor conduct of the first coach, Thiago dismissed my concerns by stating that I was “only a visitor” and training elsewhere. That response said everything.
To the coaches and students at Legacy Chatswood: good manners cost nothing. There is no excuse for treating potential members with indifference. To Thiago Braga: leadership is about accountability. A sincere leader takes responsibility, apologizes, and works to improve. An insincere one deflects and justifies poor behavior. Unfortunately, your response reflected the latter.
For those considering Legacy Chatswood as a training environment, I strongly encourage you to look elsewhere. A martial arts gym should be welcoming, respectful, and inclusive—qualities that were entirely absent in my experience.
