Martial Arts

1. Vai es varu šodien piedalīties vienā treniņā?

   vai es VA-ru ŠO-dien PIE-da-lī-ties VIE-nā TRE-ni-ņā?

   Can I take part in a single training session today?

   Usage

   Combat sports in Latvia run through membership clubs ("sporta klubs"), so a true one-off drop-in is not really a concept. Nearly every club offers one free trial session ("izmēģinājuma treniņš"), so open with this. Gyms in Riga will often take a per-session payment too

   Grammar Note

   The particle "vai" at the front turns the sentence into a yes/no question while leaving statement word order intact. "Piedalīties" is a reflexive verb governing the locative, so "take part in training" appears as "treniņā"

2. Vai drīkstu vispirms noskatīties treniņu?

   vai DRĪK-stu vis-PIRMS NO-ska-tī-ties TRE-ni-ņu?

   May I watch a training session first?

   Usage

   You will hardly ever be turned away. Latvian clubs are liveliest on weekday evenings between about 18:00 and 21:00, the best window to read the atmosphere. At a judo or BJJ club never step on the mat in shoes — take them off or watch from just inside the door

   Grammar Note

   "Drīkstēt" expresses permission and "varēt" ability, so a request for permission uses "drīkstu". The prefix "no-" marks completion, turning "skatīties" (to watch) into "noskatīties" (to watch through to the end)

3. Vai šeit var iznomāt cimdus un kāju sargus?

   vai šeit var IZ-no-māt CIM-dus un KĀ-ju SAR-gus?

   Can one rent gloves and shin guards here?

   Usage

   Gloves are "(bokso)cimdi", shin guards "kāju sargi", wraps "roku bandāžas" and a mouthguard a "zobu aizsargs". Many clubs keep a loaner set for trial sessions, but wraps and mouthguards are almost always your own for hygiene reasons. A judo uniform is a "judo kimono", a BJJ one simply a "gi"

   Grammar Note

   "Var" plus an infinitive with no subject expresses general possibility, "one can …". "Kāju sargi" is literally "guards of the legs", a genitive-plus-noun pattern Latvian uses constantly for equipment names

4. Es esmu iesācējs, nekad neesmu nodarbojies ar cīņas sportu.

   es ES-mu IE-sā-cējs, ne-KAD NE-es-mu NO-dar-bo-jies ar CĪ-ņas SPOR-tu.

   I am a beginner; I have never done any combat sport.

   Usage

   Tell both the front desk and the coach on duty and you will be put on a fundamentals track; say nothing and you may land in a group pitched at experienced fighters. A woman says "iesācēja" and uses "nodarbojusies". Replace "cīņas sports" with "džudo", "bokss", "kikbokss" or "brazīliešu džiu-džitsu"

   Grammar Note

   Latvian requires double negation: even with "nekad" the verb still takes "ne-" ("neesmu"). The participle agrees with the subject's gender — "nodarbojies" for a man, "nodarbojusies" for a woman

5. Vai varam trenēties mierīgi, bez pilna spēka?

   vai VA-ram TRE-nē-ties MIE-rī-gi, bez PIL-na SPĒ-ka?

   Can we train calmly, without full power?

   Usage

   Say this before you pair up for sparring. Latvian clubs, shaped by wrestling and sambo, can be intense in the grappling, so a beginner does well to say this up front. To ask for the opposite, "varam arī spēcīgāk"

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "bez" governs the genitive, so "pilns spēks" becomes "bez pilna spēka". Adverbs are formed from adjectives with "-i" ("mierīgs" → "mierīgi")

6. Man ir savainots celis, tāpēc izlaidīšu spērienus.

   man ir SA-vai-nots CE-lis, TĀ-pēc IZ-lai-dī-šu SPĒ-rie-nus.

   My knee is injured, so I will skip the kicks.

   Usage

   Say it to the coach before the session starts. Latvian clubs rarely use an intake form, so speaking up is the only way to flag an injury. Replace "celis" (knee) with "plecs" (shoulder), "mugura" (back), "plaukstas locītava" (wrist) or "potīte" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   Possession uses a dative construction — "to me there is" — rather than a verb "to have" ("man ir"). The future is built by inserting "-š-" into the stem, giving "izlaist" → "izlaidīšu"

7. Cik maksā viena nodarbība un cik mēneša abonements?

   cik MAK-sā VIE-na NO-dar-bī-ba un cik MĒ-ne-ša A-bo-ne-ments?

   How much is a single session, and how much is the monthly pass?

   Usage

   Latvian combat sports clubs typically charge 30-60 euros for a monthly pass ("mēneša abonements"), with a single session running 5-10 euros. Many also sell a ten-session card, which suits a short visit best. Commercial gyms in Riga cost more

   Grammar Note

   Belonging and duration are expressed with the genitive ("mēnesis" → "mēneša abonements" = a month's pass). Latvian has no preposition matching English "of" and handles the relation entirely through case

8. Vai jums ir nodarbība tikai sievietēm?

   vai jums ir NO-dar-bī-ba TI-kai SIE-vie-tēm?

   Do you have a class only for women?

   Usage

   More and more Latvian clubs run a women-only slot, most commonly in kickboxing and boxing. Self-defence is "pašaizsardzība", and private studios and municipalities sometimes offer short women's courses in it

   Grammar Note

   The dative marks a recipient or beneficiary, so "for women" is simply "sievietēm". Notably, possession uses the same dative construction ("jums ir" = to you there is)

9. Kur var apskatīt treniņu grafiku?

   kur var AP-ska-tīt TRE-ni-ņu GRA-fi-ku?

   Where can one see the training schedule?

   Usage

   Clubs normally post the "treniņu grafiks" on their website and on a board at the venue. Many rent a school gymnasium, so be aware that training can pause entirely during the school holidays ("skolas brīvlaiks") and over the summer

   Grammar Note

   "Treniņu" is the genitive plural of "treniņš", expressing "of the training sessions". The prefix "ap-" adds the sense of covering something in its entirety

10. Vai varat parādīt šo paņēmienu vēlreiz lēnām?

    vai VA-rat PA-rā-dīt šo PA-ņē-mie-nu VĒL-reiz LĒ-nām?

    Could you show that technique once more, slowly?

    Usage

    Even if the verbal explanation escapes you, this gets the movement broken down. A technique is a "paņēmiens", a combination a "kombinācija", a throw a "metiens" and ground work "cīņa parterā". Latvian politeness calls for "jūs" with someone you have just met or who is older

    Grammar Note

    The verb ending matching "jūs" (you, polite or plural) is "-at", giving "varat". A demonstrative agrees in case, gender and number with its noun, so the masculine accusative "paņēmienu" pulls "šis" into "šo"

11. Kad es drīkstēšu piedalīties sparingā?

    kad es DRĪK-stē-šu PIE-da-lī-ties SPA-rin-gā?

    When will I be allowed to take part in sparring?

    Usage

    Sparring is gated behind the coach's approval, and being told it takes a few months to build a solid stance and guard is quite normal. Latvian clubs are strict about safety, and many make a mouthguard and headgear compulsory. Let the coach decide rather than pushing to join

    Grammar Note

    The future inserts "-š-" into the stem ("drīkstēt" → "drīkstēšu"). "Piedalīties" is a reflexive verb governing the locative, so "sparings" becomes "sparingā"

12. Vai šeit ir ģērbtuve un duša?

    vai šeit ir ĢĒRB-tu-ve un DU-ša?

    Is there a changing room and a shower here?

    Usage

    Clubs that rent a school gymnasium sometimes have no usable showers, so it is worth checking. Bring your own towel. Latvian changing rooms and showers are typically communal without cubicles, and some facilities also have a sauna ("pirts")

    Grammar Note

    "Ģērbtuve" is "ģērbties" (to dress) plus "-tuve", a suffix that turns a verb into the place where it happens. The same pattern yields "mazgātuve" (washroom) and similar facility names

13. Kur var noskatīties cīņas sacensības?

    kur var NO-ska-tī-ties CĪ-ņas SA-cen-sī-bas?

    Where can one watch a combat sports competition?

    Usage

    Judo, wrestling, sambo and BJJ meets are called "sacensības", run in sports halls at weekends, and are usually free or a few euros to watch. Kickboxing and MMA shows are ticketed and staged a few times a year in Riga's arenas. Ask at a club and they will point you to the next one

    Grammar Note

    "Sacensības" is a plurale tantum: it stays plural even when referring to one event. "Cīņas" is the genitive singular of "cīņa" (fight) modifying the noun that follows

14. Vai šeit māca cīkstēšanos vai sambo?

    vai šeit MĀ-ca CĪK-stē-ša-nos vai SAM-bo?

    Do they teach wrestling or sambo here?

    Usage

    Latvia has a solid wrestling tradition ("cīkstēšanās"), and sambo clubs, a legacy of the Soviet period, survive around the country. That lineage is why so many coaches have strong grappling fundamentals. Kickboxing and BJJ gyms are now growing too, above all in Riga

    Grammar Note

    A third-person verb with the subject left out expresses an unspecified doer, "they teach / it is taught". "Cīkstēšanās" is a noun built from a reflexive verb, and its accusative ends in "-os"

15. Rokas augšā, skaties pretiniekam acīs!

    RO-kas AUG-šā, SKA-ties PRE-ti-nie-kam A-cīs!

    Hands up, look your opponent in the eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. One of the most frequent calls during pad work and sparring; "Rokas augšā!" stands alone as a command with no verb. Latvian coaches instruct bluntly and briefly, and none of it is meant as rudeness

    Grammar Note

    "Skatīties kādam acīs" is the idiom for looking someone in the eye: the person takes the dative and "acīs" the locative plural. The reflexive second-person singular imperative ends in "-ies"

16. Sit ar pilnu spēku, netaupi!

    sit ar PIL-nu SPĒ-ku, NE-tau-pi!

    Strike at full power, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The standard call when the trainer holding the pads wants a genuine strike. "Sist" covers punches and kicks alike; for a kick specifically say "sper". Half-hearted contact is actually more likely to hurt you

    Grammar Note

    A negative imperative is formed simply by prefixing "ne-" to the verb ("taupi" → "netaupi"). The preposition "ar" takes the accusative/instrumental in the singular and marks the means by which something is done

17. Piecu minūšu pārtraukums, padzerieties ūdeni!

    PIE-cu MI-nū-šu PĀR-trau-kums, PA-dze-rie-ties Ū-de-ni!

    Five minutes' break, drink some water!

    Usage

    Said by the coach to the whole group. Tap water ("krāna ūdens") is drinkable across most of Latvia, though some people in Riga buy bottled water for the taste. Bringing a bottle ("ūdens pudele") to refill is the norm

    Grammar Note

    The prefix "pa-" adds the sense of doing something briefly or a little ("dzert" = to drink → "padzerties" = to have a drink). The plural imperative of a reflexive verb ends in "-ieties"

18. Šodienai pietiek. Labi padarīts!

    ŠO-die-nai PIE-tiek. LA-bi PA-da-rīts!

    That is enough for today. Well done!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. What follows varies by club — a circle and a few words, or in judo kneeling and bowing — so just do what the others do. Answering with "Paldies par treniņu!" always goes down well

    Grammar Note

    "Pietikt" means to suffice, and what it suffices for goes in the dative ("šodienai" = for today). "Padarīts" is a past passive participle that works on its own as a compliment with no subject supplied

Browse all TravelPhrases languages