Martial Arts

1. Чи можна прийти на одне тренування?

   Chy mozhna pryyty na odne trenuvannya?

   Can I come for a single training session?

   Usage

   Ukrainian combat-sports clubs are organised as a "sektsiya" and normally sell a monthly "abonement", but most also allow a single visit ("razove zanyattya"), around 200-400 hryvnia in Kyiv or Lviv. Ask in advance how the club handles air-raid alerts, since sessions pause while everyone moves to the shelter

   Grammar Note

   The particle "chy" at the front marks the sentence as a question; it can be dropped and the intonation alone will carry it. "Mozhna + infinitive" is an impersonal way of asking permission, with no subject

2. Можна спочатку подивитися тренування?

   Mozhna spochatku podyvytysya trenuvannya?

   May I watch a training session first?

   Usage

   Use this when you want to check the atmosphere and the coach before paying. Ukrainian clubs are relaxed about spectators and usually let you watch free of charge. 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

   "Podyvytysya" is perfective and frames the watching as one completed act; the imperfective "dyvytysya" would suggest watching continuously instead

3. У вас можна взяти напрокат рукавички та бинти?

   U vas mozhna vzyaty naprokat rukavychky ta binty?

   Do you rent out gloves and hand wraps?

   Usage

   Many gyms keep loaner gloves ("rukavychky"), but wraps ("binty") and a mouthguard ("kapa") are normally bought yourself for hygiene reasons. A judo gi is "kimono" and wrestling shoes are "bortsivky", both sold at sports shops or the gym's own counter

   Grammar Note

   Ukrainian prefers "u + genitive" over the verb "maty" (to have) to express possession. "Ta" means the same as "i" (and) but is favoured in writing to avoid a clash of vowels

4. Я початківець, раніше не займався / не займалася.

   Ya pochatkivets, ranishe ne zaymavsya / ne zaymalasya.

   I am a beginner, I have not trained before.

   Usage

   Most clubs run a separate "hrupa pochatkivtsiv" (beginners' group) and will steer you there if you say so. Stay quiet and you may land in the experienced class and be grappling from day one. The verb agrees with your gender: men say "zaymavsya", women "zaymalasya"

   Grammar Note

   Past-tense verbs agree with the subject's gender and number, not person: "-vsya" for men, "-lasya" for women. The reflexive verb "zaymatysya" is the standard way to say you practise a sport or discipline

5. Давайте трохи легше, будь ласка.

   Davayte trokhy lehshe, bud laska.

   Please go a bit easier on me.

   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 "Mozhna zhorstkishe" (you can go harder)

   Grammar Note

   "Davayte" frames the request as a joint suggestion, softer than a direct command. "Lehshe" is the comparative of "lehkyy" (light), and "trokhy" softens the degree further

6. У мене травма коліна, можна без кидків?

   U mene travma kolina, mozhna bez kydkiv?

   I have a knee injury, could we skip the throws?

   Usage

   Wrestling ("borotba"), judo and sambo — all strong in Ukraine — revolve around throws ("kydky"), so flag any knee or shoulder problem before you start. Swap "kolina" for "plecha" (shoulder), "spyny" (back) or "homilkovostopa" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "bez" (without) governs the genitive, so "kydky" (throws) becomes "kydkiv". "Travma kolina" follows the same rule, with the second noun in the genitive

7. Скільки коштує абонемент на місяць?

   Skilky koshtuye abonement na misyats?

   How much is a monthly membership?

   Usage

   A monthly "abonement" runs about 1,500-3,000 hryvnia at a typical Kyiv club and less in regional cities; passes for a set number of sessions (8 or 12) are also common. Card payment and app transfers through Privat24 or monobank are widely accepted, so cash-only clubs are rare

   Grammar Note

   "Na + accusative" expresses the period something covers: "na misyats" (for a month), "na rik" (for a year). "Koshtuye" is the third-person singular of "koshtuvaty" (to cost)

8. Скільки коштує одне заняття?

   Skilky koshtuye odne zanyattya?

   How much is a single session?

   Usage

   For a short stay, paying per session is cheaper. A group class runs roughly 200-400 hryvnia, while one-on-one coaching ("indyvidualne trenuvannya") is billed separately at 700-1,500. If you plan several visits, ask about a multi-session pass

   Grammar Note

   "Zanyattya" is neuter, so the numeral takes the neuter form "odne" (masculine "odyn", feminine "odna"). "Trenuvannya" is neuter too, giving "odne trenuvannya"

9. У вас є група тільки для жінок?

   U vas ye hrupa tilky dlya zhinok?

   Do you have a women-only group?

   Usage

   Women-only groups are common at fitness-oriented clubs in the big cities, advertised as "zhinochyy boks" or "samooborona dlya zhinok" (self-defence for women). Traditional wrestling and sambo clubs usually train mixed

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "dlya" (for) governs the genitive, so "zhinky" becomes "zhinok". The same pattern gives "dlya ditey" (for children) and "dlya pochatkivtsiv" (for beginners)

10. Де подивитися розклад тренувань?

    De podyvytysya rozklad trenuvan?

    Where can I see the training schedule?

    Usage

    The "rozklad" is posted on the board by the entrance and on the club's Instagram or Telegram channel. Telegram is the dominant messaging platform in Ukraine and same-day changes are announced in the club's group chat, so ask to be added once you sign up

    Grammar Note

    A question word plus a bare infinitive is a colloquial shortcut for "where can one ...", equivalent to "De mozhna podyvytysya". When one noun modifies another, the second takes the genitive: "rozklad trenuvan"

11. Покажіть, будь ласка, ще раз цей прийом.

    Pokazhit, bud laska, shche raz tsey pryyom.

    Please show me that technique once more.

    Usage

    "Pryyom" covers techniques of any kind and works in wrestling, judo, sambo and MMA alike. Ukrainian coaches tend to demonstrate rather than explain, and this line will get it repeated as often as you need. To volunteer as the demonstration partner, add "Mozhna na meni?"

    Grammar Note

    The imperative ending "-it" addresses someone as "vy" (polite); the "ty" form is "pokazhy". "Pryyom" is an inanimate masculine noun, so its accusative is identical to the nominative

12. Коли мені можна буде стати в спаринг?

    Koly meni mozhna bude staty v sparynh?

    When will I be allowed to start 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 ("kapa") and shin guards are almost always your own. In grappling disciplines you get into live rounds ("sutychka") much sooner

    Grammar Note

    Impersonal "mozhna" marks the person involved with the dative: "meni mozhna" = I am allowed. To move it into the future you simply add "bude"

13. Тут є душ і роздягальня?

    Tut ye dush i rozdyahalnya?

    Is there a shower and a changing room here?

    Usage

    A "rozdyahalnya" and showers are almost always available, though during scheduled power cuts ("vidklyuchennya svitla") there may be no hot water, so check the timing if the shower matters to you. Most facilities also require "zminne vzuttya", a separate pair of indoor shoes

    Grammar Note

    The existential "ye" does not change for number. "Rozdyahalnya" is built from "rozdyahatysya" (to undress) and denotes the place where you do it

14. Де можна подивитися турнір з боротьби?

    De mozhna podyvytysya turnir z borotby?

    Where can I watch a wrestling tournament?

    Usage

    Ukraine is a powerhouse in wrestling ("borotba") and boxing, and tournaments are held at the regional "Palats sportu" (palace of sport). Traditional arts include "Boyovyy hopak", a martial art developed in Lviv, and belt wrestling ("borotba na poyasakh"), both often demonstrated at folk and Cossack-themed festivals. Swap "borotby" for "boksu" or "dzyudo"

    Grammar Note

    Ukrainian attaches a discipline with "z + genitive": "turnir z borotby", "chempionat z boksu". Note that Russian uses a different preposition and case for the same idea

15. Руки вище, дивись суперникові в очі!

    Ruky vyshche, dyvys supernykovi v ochi!

    Hands up, 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 "Ruky vyshche!". Coaches use short commands and the familiar "ty"; this is not rudeness but the normal register of instruction

    Grammar Note

    "Ruky vyshche" drops the verb entirely, which is standard for spoken commands. "Dyvytysya komus v ochi" is the fixed pattern for looking someone in the eye: the person takes the dative and the eyes go into "v + accusative"

16. Бий на повну силу, не шкодуй!

    Byy na povnu sylu, ne shkoduy!

    Hit at full power, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The set call when the pad holder wants a genuine strike — pulling the punch actually risks hurting your own wrist. It also signals permission to go at full force. For kicks you will hear "Pratsyuy nohamy" (work the legs)

    Grammar Note

    Negative commands normally take the imperfective, so "ne shkoduy" comes from imperfective "shkoduvaty" (to spare). "Na povnu sylu" is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning "at full strength"

17. П'ять хвилин відпочинку, попийте води.

    P'yat khvylyn vidpochynku, popyyte vody.

    Five minutes' rest, drink some water.

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    "Vody" is the partitive genitive, conveying "some water" rather than the accusative "vodu". The prefix "po-" adds the sense of doing something briefly. The apostrophe in "p'yat" is obligatory between a consonant and ya/yu/ye/yi

18. На сьогодні все. Молодці!

    Na siohodni vse. Molodtsi!

    That is it for today. Well done!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. Many clubs finish by lining up, saying "Dyakuyu za trenuvannya" (thanks for the session) together and shaking hands. In judo and sambo you also bow on and off the mat

    Grammar Note

    "Na siohodni vse" is a verbless set phrase. "Molodets" praises one person; addressing the whole class it becomes the plural "molodtsi"

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