House of Pain - Mio, MI

**Bustardo** · Posted On: 8/14/2011 10:25pm

I was up in northeast MI and I was looking for a place to train for a couple days and I stumbled across this ad:

House of Pain
I have six black belts in the three listed martial arts as well as traditional japanese jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do, and pankration. I also have several other black belts in the family and others who train in the House of Pain.
We teach martial arts as an effective form of attack and self-defense focusing on the application and effectiveness of techniques.
We have tons of talent and the school is growing. Be a part of the movement! Come check us at the McGregor Athletic Complex in Mio.

Address
310 West 5th Street
MIO, MI 48647
United States

Phone: 989-745-3652
Fax: Not Available

Recommended by 2 of 2 users
Instruction Quality: Excellent
Other Aspects: Excellent

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Martial Art Styles
The following Martial Arts Styles are offered at House of Pain:

•Brazilian Jujitsu
•Judo
•Kick Boxing
•Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
•Muay Thai
Programs & Class Schedule
Monday 5:15 - 6:00 Children's Kickboxing
6:15 - 7:15 Adult Kickboxing
7:30 - 8:30 Pankration
Tuesday 5:15 - 6:00 Children's Judo. Will train adults also.
6:15 - 7:30 Adult Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Wednesday 5:15 - 6:00 Children's Kickboxing
6:15 - 7:15 Adult Kickboxing
7:30 - 8:30 Pankration

Thursday 5:15 - 6:00 Children's Judo. Will train adults also.
6:15 - 7:30 Adult Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

If you come to a class you can expect 10 minutes of warm-up and stretching followed by teaching and practicing techniques and always at least 20-30 minutes of grappling or striking.

Available for Private Lessons most days. Contact for info.

So I called them up and the conversation went like this:

HOP: Hello?
Me: Is this the Dojo?
HOP: Yep.
Me: Do you offer classes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
HOP: Yeah, but that class is closed.
Me: It's closed?
HOP: Yep there are already a lot of people in it.
Me: (Thinking that's VERY strange) Oh ok... I was just thinking of stopping in and training if I could pay a mat fee, would that be ok?
HOP: The class is full.
Me: Oh, who's your instructor?
HOP: John (I can't remember his last name)
Me: What rank does he hold?
HOP: He's a 2nd degree black belt.
Me: Wow really? I didn't know there was any black belts north of Flint, MI, let alone a 2nd degree.
HOP: Yep. He's got 6 other black belts too.
Me: (Smelling bullshit) Wow! That's pretty impressive! Who'd he receive his black belt from? What organization are you a part of?
HOP: Valhalla
Me: Valhalla? I never have heard of them.
HOP: That's our organization.
Me: Oh so do you award instructors your own black belts and rank then?
HOP: No. He got his belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Me: Oh, do you know who he studied under? I'd really like to train with a 2nd degree black belt.
HOP: No I'm not sure, he got it in Florida.
Me: Ok, so he got a 2nd degree black belt in "gracie jiu-jitsu" and he teaches there but you don't know who awarded him his belt?
HOP: Nope.

Smells like horseshit to me so far. I'm planning on calling and trying to talk to him Tuesday, since the 2nd degree GJJ black belt only teaches classes 2 days a week in the middle of bumfuck Michigan teaching at a school no one has ever heard of.

**TheMightyMcClaw** · Posted On: 8/14/2011 10:29pm

I'm going to go ahead and guess he has a black belt in some other type of jiujitsu (or worse yet, karate), and maybe a blue in BJJ, and just doesn't bother to correct anyone.

**Bustardo** · Posted On: 8/14/2011 10:31pm

Well, like I said, I asked specifically his BJJ rank and the fool claimed 2nd degree in "Gracie Jiu Jitsu". I'll call again on tuesday :)

**datdamnmachine** · Posted On: 8/15/2011 2:10am

Keep us posted. I'm curious if the terms "Gracie Garage" and/or "Gracie University" come up...

**Bustardo** · Posted On: 8/15/2011 2:07pm

LOL. For shits and giggles I just called again. It went like this:

HOP: "ummm hello?"
Me: "Hi, I was calling to check on your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes"
HOP: *Click*

ROFL

Edit: He just called me back, said he had phone problems. He told me he would "text me" the instructors number (which i'm still waiting on). Told me his name was "Alrey" no last name given.

**Bustardo** · Posted On: 8/15/2011 5:40pm

Still waiting on the text...

**CarotidCrank** · Posted On: 8/15/2011 5:56pm

I can't even understand what sort of scam they're trying to run if they won't even let people into the classes.

**Bustardo** · Posted On: 8/15/2011 10:06pm

Still waiting on the text. Me either Carot, it's just very fucking odd on all levels.

**datdamnmachine** · Posted On: 8/15/2011 11:56pm

My guess...they found this thread!

**Screamer212** · Posted On: 10/22/2011 9:21pm

Actually his name is Alrey Handrich. Him and his son both are black belts. They earned them in Sarasota, fl. Seen pictures to prove it. They were working out of the local gym here, which is ran by idiots. Pretty sure it was the gym and NOT actual house of pain that you talked to (it was their number on the website). At that time they has a small room, so yeah maybe it was the owner of the gym who didn't want anymore students.
the gym screwed them over so they moved up town into an independent building. Its under construction and I don't think they have a phone yet. Bigger space so more people. Next time youre in town check it out Im sure they would love to roll with you. By the way they are making a name for themselves, most of VALHALLA'S warriors are undefeated in amiture cage fights ;)