Martial Arts

1. Можно прийти на разовую тренировку?

   Mozhno priyti na razovuyu trenirovku?

   Can I come for a single drop-in session?

   Usage

   Russian combat-sports clubs are organised as a "sektsiya" (training group) and normally sell a monthly "abonement". Even so, most sambo and MMA gyms also allow a "razovaya trenirovka" (single session), typically 700-1,500 roubles in Moscow or St Petersburg. Open with this line at the front desk

   Grammar Note

   "Mozhno + infinitive" is an impersonal construction with no subject and the standard way to ask permission. "Na + accusative" marks purpose, so "razovaya trenirovka" shifts to "razovuyu trenirovku"

2. Можно сначала посмотреть тренировку?

   Mozhno snachala posmotret' trenirovku?

   May I watch a training session first?

   Usage

   Sambo and wrestling halls ("zal borby") are relaxed about spectators and will usually let you watch for free. Adult classes peak on weekday evenings, 18:00-21:00. During children's sessions non-parents are sometimes turned away, and you should always ask before filming

   Grammar Note

   "Posmotret" is perfective and frames the watching as a single completed act. The imperfective "smotret" would instead suggest watching continuously or habitually

3. У вас можно взять напрокат перчатки и бинты?

   U vas mozhno vzyat' naprokat perchatki i binty?

   Do you rent out gloves and hand wraps?

   Usage

   Many gyms keep loaner gloves ("perchatki"), but wraps ("binty") and a mouthguard ("kapa") are normally bought yourself for hygiene reasons. A judo gi is "kimono", the sambo jacket is a "sambovka", and wrestling shoes are "bortsovki" — all sold in sports shops or the gym's own counter

   Grammar Note

   Russian rarely uses a verb "to have"; possession is expressed with "u + genitive". "U vas" literally means "at your place" and is the set way to ask a shop whether something is available

4. Я новичок, раньше никогда не занимался / не занималась.

   Ya novichok, ran'she nikogda ne zanimalsya / ne zanimalas'.

   I am a beginner, I have never trained before.

   Usage

   Most clubs run a separate "gruppa nachinayushchikh" (beginners' group) and will move you there if you say so. Stay quiet and you may end up in the experienced class and be thrown into live rounds on day one. The verb agrees with your own gender: men say "zanimalsya", women "zanimalas"

   Grammar Note

   Russian requires the double negative: "nikogda" must be paired with "ne". Past-tense verbs agree with the subject's gender and number rather than person, so a female speaker adds the ending "-las"

5. Давайте полегче, пожалуйста.

   Davayte polegche, pozhaluysta.

   Please go a bit easier on me.

   Usage

   The standard way to ask for lower intensity in pad work or sparring. Russian sessions have a reputation for pushing hard, so do not hesitate — partners take it as normal. To ask for the opposite, say "Mozhno pozhyostche" (you can go harder)

   Grammar Note

   Adding the prefix "po-" to a comparative softens it to "a bit more X" ("legche" = lighter → "polegche" = a bit lighter). "Davayte" frames it as a joint suggestion, which lands more gently than a command

6. У меня травма колена, можно без бросков?

   U menya travma kolena, mozhno bez broskov?

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

   Usage

   Sambo, judo and wrestling revolve around throws ("broski") and submissions ("bolevye priyomy"), so flag any knee or shoulder problem before you start. Swap "kolena" for "plecha" (shoulder), "spiny" (back) or "golenostopa" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "bez" (without) always governs the genitive, turning "broski" (throws) into "broskov". "Travma kolena" works the same way — the second noun stands in the genitive to modify the first

7. Сколько стоит абонемент на месяц?

   Skol'ko stoit abonement na mesyats?

   How much is a monthly membership?

   Usage

   A monthly "abonement" runs about 2,000-4,000 roubles in regional cities and 4,000-8,000 at large Moscow clubs; passes for a fixed number of sessions (8 or 12) are also common. Pay in cash, with a Russian-issued card, or via SBP instant transfer — assume foreign cards will not work

   Grammar Note

   "Na + accusative" expresses a span covered by something: "na mesyats" (for a month), "na god" (for a year). "Stoit" is the third-person singular of "stoit'" (стоить, to cost), with "abonement" as its subject

8. Сколько стоит одно занятие?

   Skol'ko stoit odno zanyatiye?

   How much is a single session?

   Usage

   For a short stay, paying per session is cheaper. A group class runs roughly 700-1,500 roubles, while one-on-one coaching ("individualnaya trenirovka", colloquially "personalka") is billed separately at 2,500-5,000. If you plan several visits, ask about a multi-session pass

   Grammar Note

   "Zanyatiye" is neuter, so the numeral takes the neuter form "odno" (masculine "odin", feminine "odna"). You can say "trenirovka" instead, but then it becomes "odna trenirovka"

9. У вас есть группа только для женщин?

   U vas yest' gruppa tol'ko dlya zhenshchin?

   Do you have a women-only group?

   Usage

   Women-only groups are common at fitness-oriented clubs in Moscow and other big cities, listed as "zhenskiy boks", "zhenskoye sambo" or "samooborona dlya zhenshchin" (self-defence for women). Traditional sambo and wrestling clubs usually train mixed

   Grammar Note

   The preposition "dlya" (for) governs the genitive, so "zhenshchiny" becomes "zhenshchin". The same pattern gives "dlya detey" (for children) and "dlya nachinayushchikh" (for beginners)

10. Где посмотреть расписание тренировок?

    Gde posmotret' raspisaniye trenirovok?

    Where can I see the training schedule?

    Usage

    The "raspisaniye" is posted on the board by the entrance and on the club's VKontakte page or Telegram channel. Instagram access is restricted in Russia, so VK and Telegram are the practical channels for checking times and messaging the club

    Grammar Note

    A question word plus a bare infinitive is a colloquial shortcut for "where can one ...", equivalent to "Gde mozhno posmotret". When one noun modifies another, the second goes into the genitive: "raspisaniye trenirovok"

11. Покажите, пожалуйста, ещё раз этот приём.

    Pokazhite, pozhaluysta, yeshchyo raz etot priyom.

    Please show me that technique once more.

    Usage

    "Priyom" covers techniques of any kind and works in sambo, judo, wrestling and MMA alike. Russian coaches tend to demonstrate rather than explain, and this line will get it repeated as often as you need. To be used as the demonstration partner, add "Mozhno na mne?" (may I be the one you do it on?)

    Grammar Note

    The imperative ending "-ite" addresses someone as "vy" (polite); the "ty" form would be "pokazhi". "Priyom" is an inanimate masculine noun, so its accusative looks identical to the nominative

12. Когда мне можно будет встать в спарринг?

    Kogda mne mozhno budet vstat' v sparring?

    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. Grappling clubs let you into live rounds ("skhvatka") much sooner

    Grammar Note

    Impersonal "mozhno" marks the person involved with the dative: "mne mozhno" = I am allowed. To shift it into the future you simply add "budet". "Vstat v sparring" literally means "to stand into sparring" and is the idiomatic phrasing

13. Здесь есть душ и раздевалка?

    Zdes' yest' dush i razdevalka?

    Is there a shower and a changing room here?

    Usage

    Almost every Russian sports facility has a "razdevalka" and showers. Older halls may have no lockable lockers, in which case valuables go to the desk or the coach. Nearly all of them require "smennaya obuv" — a separate pair of indoor shoes — and walking in with street shoes will get you stopped

    Grammar Note

    The existential "yest" does not change for number. "Razdevalka" is derived from "razdevatsya" (to undress) and denotes the place for it — the same word is used for a theatre cloakroom

14. Где в городе можно посмотреть турнир по самбо?

    Gde v gorode mozhno posmotret' turnir po sambo?

    Where in town can I watch a sambo tournament?

    Usage

    Sambo originated in the Soviet Union and exists as sport sambo and combat sambo ("boyevoye sambo"), which also allows strikes. Tournaments are typically held at the "Dvorets sporta" (palace of sport) and regional events are often free to enter. Swap "sambo" for "dzyudo", "volnaya borba" (freestyle wrestling) or "MMA"

    Grammar Note

    A discipline is attached with "po + dative": "turnir po sambo", "chempionat po boksu". "Sambo" is an indeclinable loanword and never changes, whereas "boks" does take the dative ending "-u"

15. Руки выше, смотри противнику в глаза!

    Ruki vyshe, smotri protivniku v glaza!

    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 "Ruki vyshe!". Russian coaches use short commands and the familiar "ty"; this is not rudeness but the normal register of instruction

    Grammar Note

    "Ruki vyshe" drops the verb entirely, which is standard for spoken commands. "Smotret komu-to v glaza" is the fixed pattern for looking someone in the eye: the person takes the dative and the eyes go into "v + accusative"

16. Бей в полную силу, не жалей!

    Bey v polnuyu silu, ne zhaley!

    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 the coach will say "Bey nogoy" or "Rabotay nogami" (work the legs)

    Grammar Note

    Negative commands normally take the imperfective, so "ne zhaley" comes from imperfective "zhalet" (to spare). The perfective "ne pozhaley" would shift the meaning to "do not regret it"

17. Пять минут отдыха, попейте воды.

    Pyat' minut otdykha, popeyte vody.

    Five minutes' rest, drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach between rounds, addressed to the whole class in the plural imperative. Many Russian gyms have no water fountain, so bring your own bottle. In summer the halls have no air conditioning and get seriously hot

    Grammar Note

    "Vody" is the partitive genitive, conveying "some water" rather than the accusative "vodu". The prefix "po-" means doing something briefly, so "popeyte" is "have a bit of a drink"

18. На сегодня всё. Молодцы!

    Na segodnya vsyo. Molodtsy!

    That is it for today. Well done!

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    "Na segodnya vsyo" is a verbless set phrase meaning "that wraps up today". "Molodets" praises one person; addressing the whole class it becomes the plural "molodtsy"

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