In this post I got a chance to train with a real live MMA fighter, as she starts up her women only sport and fitness classes.
This is Marta Pankiv aka “Cold Mountain”, she is a professional strawweight MMA fighter based in Vancouver, BC. Having looked her in the eyes, I believe her fighter’s nick name comes from her cold and steady demeanour.
She currently holds a 2-0-0 record as of late 2025. Originally from Ukraine with roots in Italy, she now lives locally in Langley. She trains at Flash Academy under Bibiano Fernandesand and specializes in grappling, often fighting from the mount position.
Before meeting her in person today, I remember watching one of her fights in pay-per-view, where she recorded a 42-second victory at Unified 64. Today we would only get to see her use a fraction of her strength as she walked the class through warm ups and drills.
We were attending a boxing class, but she also plans to host kickboxing and self dense classes. All of which are only for women, built around a safe and comfortable environment. They are held within the basement gym of Century Plaza Hotel, in downtown Vancouver. And today this made for the perfect quiet space of our lesson, as we worked in a clearing, away from all the machines.
Our one hour session began with warm ups as a group. We ran, did high knees, criss crosses, and shuffled around in a circle. After we got our heart rates going we broke off into pairs to practice with some pad work. Marta gave us a crash course on the basics. Foot work, positioning, and how to throw and land a punch with the classic boxing 1 – 2.
When it came time to dawn gloves and hold the pads for one another, everything is supplied, including towels. So you only need to bring your workout gear and indoor gym shoes, plus water bottle to fill with their in-gym filtered fountain. I did wish we had the option to wrap our hands, as I do have boxing experience, and would have liked to punch harder without the fear of straining my wrist or hurting my figures.
However, this was intended as an introductory class, where the focus was on form and technique, and not yet on power. Marta would teach with tips and use herself as an example, then we would copy the best we could.
We completed two drills, a jab and cross with slip combo, and one where we side stepped instead of slip. Each for 5 minutes plus and the class was tired at the end of each round. During this time Marta personally came around to correct and direct, ensuring the best technique. During which a few of us got to see her true strength, myself included. I was holding the pads, and in order to demonstrate a punch for my partner, she did the drill with me. She wasn’t trying to punch hard, or even connect for that matter, but I was impressed-ly caught off guard by her raw power.
If you are looking for some practical and self defence skills in downtown Vancouver, this is definitely a class worth looking into. No where else would you get such credibly from an instructor.
Check her out on Instagram for more information, class schedules, one on one training, and how to book.
@martapankivtraining
