Penza, 1 October 2015. PenzaNews. Anna Malyukova, long-time MMA champion of Russia, and Yuri Razorenov, head coach of sports club “Sever,” held a self-defense class in the Penza culture and leisure center in the evening of Wednesday, September 30.

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Citizens of various age groups gathered to learn the basics of mixed martial arts and pankration.

As the participants tried to follow their trainers, the latter explained the correct techniques for defending and evading attacks.

Anna Malyukova said her career in sports did not begin as a sudden choice.

“When I was studying at the university, my friend invited me for a hand-to-hand combat training session. I barely crawled out of the training hall that time, I thought I’d never come back. Later on, I decided to try again. When I came there for a second time, I understood that it was my groove,” she pointed out.