Martial Arts

1. Czy mogę przyjść na jeden trening?

   chih MO-geh pshiyshch nah YE-den TRE-ning

   Can I come for just one training session?

   Usage

   Polish combat-sports clubs mainly sell a monthly "karnet", but most also allow a single visit ("jednorazowe wejście"), roughly 40-60 złoty in Warsaw or Kraków. They usually operate under the name "klub sportów walki" (combat sports club)

   Grammar Note

   "Czy" introduces a yes/no question. It can be dropped and intonation alone will carry the question, but including it sounds more polite. "Na + accusative" expresses purpose

2. Czy mogę najpierw popatrzeć na trening?

   chih MO-geh NAY-pyerf po-PAT-shech nah TRE-ning

   May I watch a training session first?

   Usage

   Use this when you want to judge the atmosphere and the coach before paying. Polish clubs are relaxed about spectators and usually let you watch for free. Adult classes run on weekday evenings, 18:00-21:00. During children's sessions non-parents may be turned away, and you should always ask before filming

   Grammar Note

   The fixed pattern is "patrzeć na + accusative" for looking at something. The prefix "po-" makes it perfective, giving "popatrzeć" the sense of watching briefly, as a single act

3. Czy można wypożyczyć rękawice i bandaże?

   chih MOZH-nah vy-po-ZHI-chich ren-kah-VEE-tseh ee ban-DAH-zheh

   Is it possible to hire gloves and hand wraps?

   Usage

   Many gyms keep loaner gloves ("rękawice"), but wraps ("bandaże") and a mouthguard ("ochraniacz na zęby") are normally bought yourself for hygiene reasons. A judo gi is "kimono" and wrestling shoes are "zapaśnice", both available at Decathlon or local sports shops

   Grammar Note

   "Można + infinitive" is an impersonal construction with no subject, meaning "one can". It sounds more detached and less demanding than "czy mogę", which asks about you specifically

4. Jestem początkujący / początkująca, nigdy nie trenowałem / trenowałam.

   YES-tem po-chont-koo-YON-tsi / po-chont-koo-YON-tsah, NIG-di nyeh tre-no-VAH-wem / tre-no-VAH-wam

   I am a beginner, I have never trained before.

   Usage

   Most clubs run a separate "grupa początkująca" (beginners' group) and will move you there if you say so; stay quiet and you may end up in the experienced class. Both the adjective and the verb change with your gender: men say "początkujący / trenowałem", women "początkująca / trenowałam"

   Grammar Note

   Polish past-tense verbs carry the person ending directly and also change with the subject's gender ("-łem" male, "-łam" female). When using "nigdy" you must also keep "nie" — the double negative is required

5. Proszę trochę lżej.

   PRO-sheh TRO-heh LZHEY

   A bit lighter, please.

   Usage

   The standard way to ask for lower intensity in pad work or sparring; partners take it as normal, so do not hesitate. To ask for the opposite, say "Możesz mocniej" (you can go harder)

   Grammar Note

   The comparative of the adverb "lekko" (lightly) is the irregular form "lżej". "Proszę + adverb" is a complete request on its own; no verb is needed

6. Mam kontuzję kolana, czy mogę pominąć rzuty?

   mam kon-TOO-zyeh ko-LAH-nah, chih MO-geh po-MEE-nonch ZHOO-ti

   I have a knee injury, may I skip the throws?

   Usage

   Poland is strong in Greco-Roman wrestling ("zapasy") and judo, where throws ("rzuty") dominate the session, so flag any knee or shoulder problem before you start. Swap "kolana" for "barku" (shoulder), "pleców" (back) or "kostki" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   When one noun modifies another, the second takes the genitive: "kontuzja kolana" (an injury of the knee). As the object of the verb, "kontuzja" itself shifts to the accusative "kontuzję"

7. Ile kosztuje karnet miesięczny?

   EE-leh kosh-TOO-yeh KAR-net mye-SYENCH-ni

   How much is the monthly pass?

   Usage

   A monthly "karnet" costs roughly 200-350 złoty at a typical Warsaw club and less in regional cities, usually split into plans by frequency, with eight-session passes also common. Poland uses the złoty (zł), not the euro

   Grammar Note

   Polish often places the adjective after the noun, especially when it classifies rather than describes: "karnet miesięczny" is the natural order for a type of pass

8. Ile kosztuje jedno wejście?

   EE-leh kosh-TOO-yeh YED-no VEYSH-cheh

   How much is a single entry?

   Usage

   For a short stay, paying per session is cheaper, and "wejście" (an entry) is the usual word on gym price lists. A group class runs roughly 40-60 złoty, while one-on-one coaching ("trening personalny") is billed separately at 150-250

   Grammar Note

   The numeral "jeden" agrees in gender: "jeden" (masc.), "jedna" (fem.), "jedno" (neut.). "Wejście" is neuter, hence "jedno"; with the masculine "trening" it would be "jeden trening"

9. Czy macie grupę tylko dla kobiet?

   chih MAH-cheh GROO-peh TIL-ko dlah KO-byet

   Do you have a women-only group?

   Usage

   Women-only groups are common at city clubs in Warsaw and Kraków, usually advertised as "samoobrona dla kobiet" (self-defence for women). Traditional judo and wrestling clubs generally train mixed

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "dla" (for) governs the genitive, so "kobiety" becomes "kobiet". Note that "macie" is fairly casual; the formal alternative when addressing staff is "Czy państwo mają ..."

10. Gdzie mogę zobaczyć grafik treningów?

    gdjeh MO-geh zo-BAH-chich GRAH-feek tre-NIN-goof

    Where can I see the training schedule?

    Usage

    The "grafik" is posted on the board by the entrance and on the club's Facebook page or Instagram. Many clubs pause over July and August and start a new season in September, so check whether classes are running if you visit in summer

    Grammar Note

    When one noun modifies another, the second stands in the genitive: "grafik treningów". Masculine nouns commonly take the ending "-ów" in the genitive plural

11. Czy może pan / pani pokazać tę technikę jeszcze raz?

    chih MO-zheh pan / PAH-nee po-KAH-zach teh tekh-NEE-keh YESH-cheh ras

    Could you show me that technique once more?

    Usage

    "Technika" covers techniques of every kind, striking and grappling alike. Polish coaches tend to demonstrate rather than explain, and this line will get it repeated as often as you need. Using "pan"/"pani" with an older coach is the safe choice, though with younger coaches you often switch to "ty" quickly

    Grammar Note

    Polish politeness uses the third person "pan" (to a man) or "pani" (to a woman) rather than a second-person pronoun, with the verb in the third-person singular. The demonstrative takes the feminine accusative "tę" to match "technika"

12. Kiedy będę mógł / mogła wejść do sparingu?

    KYE-di BEN-deh moog / MOG-wah veyshch do spa-RIN-goo

    When will I be able to get into sparring?

    Usage

    In striking gyms (boxing, kickboxing, MMA) sparring is gated by the coach and often starts only after two or three months, once your stance and defence hold up. A mouthguard and shin guards are almost always your own. In judo and wrestling you get into live work much sooner

    Grammar Note

    One form of the Polish future is "będę + past participle", and that participle changes with the subject's gender ("mógł" male, "mogła" female). The preposition "do" governs the genitive, turning "sparing" into "sparingu"

13. Czy jest prysznic i szatnia?

    chih yest PRISH-neets ee SHAT-nyah

    Is there a shower and a changing room?

    Usage

    Many clubs rent a school "sala gimnastyczna", where showers may not be available at all. Bring your own towel. Nearly all venues expect you to change into indoor training shoes, and in judo you go barefoot on the mat

    Grammar Note

    "Czy jest ..." asks about existence in the positive, but the negative switches entirely to "nie ma + genitive": "Nie ma prysznica" (there is no shower)

14. Gdzie można obejrzeć galę MMA?

    gdjeh MOZH-nah o-BEY-zhech GAH-leh em-EM-ah

    Where can one watch an MMA event?

    Usage

    MMA is hugely popular in Poland, with KSW (Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki) the largest promotion and its cards staged in major arenas; watching in a sports bar is common too. On the traditional side, historical fencing clubs work on reconstructing the Polish sabre tradition ("szermierka szablą")

    Grammar Note

    "Sztuki walki" is the general term for martial arts, from "sztuka" (art) and "walka" (fight). "Gala" is the established word for a fight card and becomes "galę" in the accusative

15. Ręce wyżej, patrz przeciwnikowi w oczy!

    REN-tseh VI-zhey, pahtsh pshe-cheev-nee-KO-vee v O-chi

    Hands higher, look your opponent in the eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach — one of the most frequent calls during pad work and sparring, often shortened to just "Ręce wyżej!". Coaches use short commands and the familiar "ty"; this is not rudeness but the normal register of instruction

    Grammar Note

    "Patrzeć komuś w oczy" is the fixed pattern for looking someone in the eye: the person takes the dative and the eyes go into "w + accusative". "Ręce wyżej" drops the verb entirely, as spoken commands usually do

16. Kopnij z całej siły, nie oszczędzaj się!

    KOP-nee s TSAH-wey SHEE-wi, nyeh osh-CHEN-dzay sheh

    Kick with everything you have, do not spare yourself!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The set call when the pad holder wants a genuine strike — holding back can actually hurt your own leg. It also signals permission to go at full force. For punches you will hear "Uderz" (hit)

    Grammar Note

    Negative commands normally take the imperfective, so "nie oszczędzaj" comes from imperfective "oszczędzać". The preposition "z" governs the genitive when expressing means, turning "siła" into "siły"

17. Pięć minut przerwy, napijcie się wody.

    pyench MEE-noot PSHER-vi, na-PEEY-cheh sheh VO-di

    Five minutes' break, have some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach between rounds, addressed to the whole class in the plural imperative. Many halls have no water fountain, so bring your own bottle

    Grammar Note

    After numerals of five and above the noun takes the genitive plural, hence "minut"; two to four use "dwie minuty" instead. The verb "napić się" always takes a genitive object, giving "wody"

18. Na dziś koniec. Dobra robota!

    nah djeesh KO-nyets. DOB-rah ro-BO-tah

    That is it for today. Good work!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. Polish clubs typically finish by lining up, greeting the coach and shaking hands. In judo you also bow on and off the mat. "Dziękuję" (thank you) is all you need in reply

    Grammar Note

    "Na dziś koniec" is a verbless set phrase meaning "that wraps up today". "Dobra robota" is likewise a fixed piece of praise that never changes form

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