In Irkutsk, on September 4, the Oktyabrsky Martial Arts Center will open, where enrollment is already underway for martial arts and sports sections. After reconstruction, the former SDC building now has conditions for sambo, karate, Thai boxing, grappling, MMA, aerobics, gymnastics, and dance. Children from 4 and adults can train there under professional coaches.

Irkutsk residents will now be able to train in martial arts at the “Oktyabrsky” Martial Arts Center (13-a Stanislavskogo St.). The grand opening of the sports complex will take place on September 4 at 7:00 p.m. The event will be attended by Mayor Dmitry Berdnikov.
The Martial Arts Center is located in the building of the former Oktyabrsky Cultural and Sports Center. In February 2015, a decision was made to reconstruct the building into a modern leisure center with sports sections and clubs. Through cooperation between the Irkutsk city administration and the Irkutsk Regional Association of Public Organizations of Sports Martial Arts and Combat Sports, the project was implemented.
The renovation lasted about six months. The total amount spent exceeded 1 million rubles. The funds were raised by public organizations that are part of the martial arts association.
As reported by the association’s president and director of the Martial Arts Center, Andrey Yaroslavtsev, the building is fully ready to receive athletes, and registration for the sections is already open. Irkutsk residents will be able to train in such martial arts as sambo, wrestling, traditional karate, shotokan, kyokushinkai, pankration, Thai boxing, grappling, and mixed martial arts. In addition, groups for aerobics, gymnastics, and sports dancing have been organized at the sports complex. Classes are held both in groups and individually.
Visitors’ age does not matter, so anyone can sign up for the section they like. For example, the center will enroll children from the age of 4. Special classes are held for such children: general physical training and play-based workouts.

According to monitoring by the martial arts association, as of today about 25,000 people in Irkutsk are engaged in various types of martial arts. The opening of the Martial Arts Center will allow Irkutsk residents to practice their favorite sport in a specially equipped venue with professional coaches.