Martial Arts

1. Můžu přijít jen na jeden trénink?

   MOO-zhu PRZHI-yeet yen na YE-den TRE-nink

   Can I come for just one training session?

   Usage

   Czech combat-sports clubs mainly sell a monthly "permanentka", but most also allow a single visit, roughly 200-350 koruna in Prague. Czechia has almost no surviving traditional martial art, so the scene is built around modern disciplines: judo, kickboxing and MMA

   Grammar Note

   "Můžu" is the everyday spoken form of the more literary "mohu". "Na + accusative" expresses purpose, and "jeden trénink" keeps its shape because it is an inanimate masculine noun

2. Můžu se nejdřív podívat na trénink?

   MOO-zhu se NEY-drzheev PO-dyee-vat na TRE-nink

   May I watch a training session first?

   Usage

   Use this when you want to judge the atmosphere and the coach before paying. Czech 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

   "Podívat se" always carries the reflexive "se", which takes the second position in the clause. The fixed pattern is "dívat se na + accusative" for looking at something

3. Půjčujete rukavice a bandáže?

   POOY-chu-ye-te RU-ka-vi-tse a BAN-dah-zhe

   Do you lend out gloves and hand wraps?

   Usage

   Many gyms keep loaner gloves ("rukavice"), but wraps ("bandáže") and a mouthguard ("chránič zubů") are normally bought yourself for hygiene reasons. A judo gi is "kimono" and wrestling shoes are "zápasnické boty", both available at Decathlon or local sports shops

   Grammar Note

   "Půjčovat" means to lend, while the reflexive "půjčovat si" means to borrow; since you are asking about the gym's action, use the non-reflexive form. The second-person plural doubles as the polite form

4. Jsem začátečník / začátečnice, nikdy jsem netrénoval / netrénovala.

   ysem ZA-chah-tech-nyeek / ZA-chah-tech-nyi-tse, NYIK-di ysem NE-tre-no-val / NE-tre-no-va-la

   I am a beginner, I have never trained before.

   Usage

   Most clubs run a separate "skupina pro začátečníky" (beginners' group) and will move you there if you say so. Both the noun and the verb change with your gender: men say "začátečník / netrénoval", women "začátečnice / netrénovala"

   Grammar Note

   The past tense pairs a past participle with the auxiliary "jsem", the participle agreeing in gender and number. Negation attaches the prefix "ne-" to the verb, and the double negative with "nikdy" is the correct form

5. Prosím, trochu mírněji.

   PRO-seem, TRO-khu MEER-nye-yi

   A bit gentler, 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 "Můžeš přidat" (you can step it up)

   Grammar Note

   Adverbial comparatives are formed with the ending "-eji"/"-ěji": "mírně" (gently) → "mírněji" (more gently). Adding "trochu" softens the request

6. Mám zraněné koleno, můžu vynechat hody?

   mahm ZRA-nye-ne KO-le-no, MOO-zhu VI-ne-khat HO-di

   My knee is injured, may I skip the throws?

   Usage

   Judo has a strong following in Czechia, and throws ("hody") and groundwork ("práce na zemi") dominate the session, so flag any knee or shoulder problem before you start. Swap "koleno" for "rameno" (shoulder), "záda" (back) or "kotník" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   "Koleno" is neuter, so the modifying adjective takes the neuter form "zraněné". Neuter nouns share the same form in nominative and accusative, so it does not change as an object

7. Kolik stojí měsíční permanentka?

   KO-lik STO-yee MNYE-seech-nyee PER-ma-nent-ka

   How much is the monthly pass?

   Usage

   A monthly "permanentka" costs roughly 1,000-1,800 koruna at a typical Prague club and less in regional cities, usually split into plans by frequency, with ten-session passes also common. Czechia uses the koruna (Kč), not the euro

   Grammar Note

   "Měsíční" belongs to the soft adjective class, whose ending barely changes across genders and numbers. "Stojí" is the third-person form of "stát" (to cost) and serves both singular and plural

8. Kolik stojí jedna lekce?

   KO-lik STO-yee YED-na LEK-tse

   How much is a single lesson?

   Usage

   For a short stay, paying per session is cheaper. A group class runs roughly 200-350 koruna, while one-on-one coaching ("individuální trénink") is billed separately at 700-1,500. If you plan several visits, ask about a multi-session pass

   Grammar Note

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

9. Máte skupinu jen pro ženy?

   MAH-te SKU-pi-nu yen pro ZHE-ni

   Do you have a women-only group?

   Usage

   Women-only groups are common at city clubs in Prague and Brno, usually advertised as "sebeobrana pro ženy" (self-defence for women). Traditional judo clubs generally train mixed

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "pro" (for) governs the accusative, so "ženy" is accusative plural — identical in form to the nominative plural for feminine nouns

10. Kde najdu rozvrh tréninků?

    kde NAY-du ROZ-vrkh TRE-nin-koo

    Where can I find the training schedule?

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    "Najdu" is a perfective present form, which in Czech carries future meaning — perfective verbs have no true present tense. When one noun modifies another, the second stands in the genitive

11. Můžete mi tu techniku ukázat ještě jednou?

    MOO-zhe-te mi tu TEKH-ni-ku U-kah-zat YESH-tye YED-nou

    Could you show me that technique once more?

    Usage

    "Technika" covers techniques of every kind, striking and grappling alike. Czech coaches tend to demonstrate rather than explain, and this line will get it repeated as often as you need. To volunteer as the partner, add "Můžete to zkusit na mně"

    Grammar Note

    The clitic pronoun "mi" occupies the second position in the clause. The demonstrative "ten/ta/to" takes the feminine accusative "tu" to agree with "technika"

12. Kdy budu moct začít sparovat?

    kdi BU-du motst ZA-cheet SPA-ro-vat

    When will I be able 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 and shin guards are almost always your own. In judo you get into randori much sooner

    Grammar Note

    The imperfective future is built from the future of "být" plus an infinitive: "budu moct". "Moct" is the colloquial variant of "moci" and is what people actually say

13. Je tady sprcha a šatna?

    ye TA-di SPR-kha a SHAT-na

    Is there a shower and a changing room here?

    Usage

    Many clubs rent a school "tělocvična", 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

    Existence is expressed with "je", which colloquially stays singular even when several things are listed. "Šatna" is built from "šaty" (clothes) and also means a theatre cloakroom

14. Kde se dá vidět zápas MMA?

    kde se dah VI-dyet ZAH-pas EM-em-ah

    Where can one watch an MMA fight?

    Usage

    MMA has grown fast in Czechia, especially after Jiří Procházka won the UFC light heavyweight title. Domestic cards are staged in the big arenas in Prague and Brno, and watching in a sports bar is common. Swap "MMA" for "box" or "judo"

    Grammar Note

    "Dá se + infinitive" is an impersonal construction meaning "it is possible to", with no stated agent. Note that "zápas" means both a match and the sport of wrestling

15. Ruce nahoru, dívej se soupeři do očí!

    RU-tse NA-ho-ru, DYEE-vey se SOU-pe-rzhi do O-chee

    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 "Ruce nahoru!". Coaches use short commands and the familiar "ty"; this is not rudeness but the normal register of instruction

    Grammar Note

    "Dívat se někomu do očí" is the fixed pattern for looking someone in the eye: the person takes the dative ("soupeři") and the eyes go into "do + genitive". "Ruce nahoru" drops the verb entirely, as spoken commands usually do

16. Kopej naplno, nešetři se!

    KO-pey NA-pl-no, NE-shet-rzhi se

    Kick at full power, 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 "Udeř" (hit)

    Grammar Note

    Negative commands attach the prefix "ne-" to the verb: "šetři se" → "nešetři se". Such commands normally take the imperfective, and the reflexive "se" follows the verb

17. Pět minut pauza, napijte se.

    pyet MI-nut PAU-za, NA-piy-te se

    Five minutes' break, have a drink.

    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 the nominative plural, as in "dvě minuty". The plural imperative adds "-te" to the singular form

18. Pro dnešek končíme. Dobrá práce!

    pro DNE-shek KON-chee-me. DOB-rah PRAH-tse

    That is it for today. Good work!

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Using the first-person plural "končíme" softens the ending by including the coach in the action. "Dnešek" is a noun formed from "dnes" (today) and stands in the accusative after "pro"

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