Martial Arts

1. Mag ek eers die oefening kom kyk?

   May I come and watch a training session first?

   Usage

   South African gyms are relaxed about visitors and will usually let you watch for free. Afrikaans speakers are concentrated in the Western and Northern Cape and around Pretoria, where it can open doors faster than English

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans puts the auxiliary second and the main verb at the end. Chaining verbs as in "kom kyk" (come and look) is characteristically Afrikaans

2. Kan ek net vir een dag inval?

   Can I drop in for just one day?

   Usage

   South African gyms normally run monthly contracts, but many also list a drop-in rate. Cape Town's Sea Point and Green Point areas cluster boxing and MMA gyms used to visitors

   Grammar Note

   "Inval" is a separable verb: in a plain statement it splits as "Ek val in", but with an auxiliary it stays whole at the end of the clause

3. Hoeveel kos een klas?

   How much does one class cost?

   Usage

   The currency is the rand. Expect 100-200 rand for a drop-in and 500-1,200 a month for membership. Card payment is near-universal and cash-only gyms are rare

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans verbs do not conjugate for person: "kos" stays the same whoever the subject is, and tense is carried by auxiliaries or adverbs

4. Ek is 'n beginner, ek het nog nooit geboks nie.

   I am a beginner, I have never boxed before

   Usage

   Say this to the desk or coach and they will keep you on beginner-friendly pad work. Swap "geboks" for "gestoei" (wrestled) or "karate gedoen" (done karate)

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans requires double negation, closing every negative clause with a final "nie". "Nog nooit ... nie" means "never yet"

5. Verhuur julle handskoene en skeenskutte?

   Do you rent out gloves and shin guards?

   Usage

   Most gyms keep loaner gloves, but hand wraps and mouthguards are your own for hygiene reasons. Mouthguards are cheap at the front desk or any sports shop

   Grammar Note

   A question simply fronts the verb. The inseparable prefix "ver-" shifts a verb's meaning: "huur" (to rent) becomes "verhuur" (to rent out)

6. Kan ons dit asseblief lig hou?

   Can we please keep it light?

   Usage

   The standard line before sparring. "Light sparring" works in English at any South African gym, but saying it in Afrikaans warms your partner up at once. For the opposite, say "harder"

   Grammar Note

   The auxiliary "kan" takes second position and the main verb "hou" closes the frame. "Asseblief" can go almost anywhere, but sits most naturally after the object

7. My skouer is seer, ek kan nie stoei nie.

   My shoulder is sore, I cannot grapple

   Usage

   Always declare this before training. Swap "skouer" (shoulder) for "knie" (knee), "rug" (back) or "enkel" (ankle). Most South African gyms take no intake form, so speaking up is the only way

   Grammar Note

   Negation brackets the clause with "nie ... nie": the first before the element negated, the second always at the very end

8. Waar kan ek die klasrooster sien?

   Where can I see the class schedule?

   Usage

   South African gyms cluster classes before six in the morning and after five in the evening. The schedule is usually on a whiteboard at reception or on the gym's social media. Winter nights fall early, and late travel is best avoided for safety

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans writes compounds as one word: klas plus rooster gives klasrooster. When a question word fronts, subject and auxiliary invert

9. Bied julle BJJ- en MMA-klasse aan?

   Do you offer BJJ and MMA classes?

   Usage

   There is no traditional Afrikaans martial art, but modern combat sports are thriving. The MMA promotion EFC stages events regularly in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and BJJ academies are common in the cities

   Grammar Note

   "Aanbied" is separable, splitting as "Bied ... aan" in a question. When compounds share a second element, the first keeps a trailing hyphen: BJJ- en MMA-klasse

10. Is daar 'n stort en 'n sluitkassie?

    Is there a shower and a locker?

    Usage

    South African gyms are generally well equipped, but always lock valuables away or leave them at reception. Never leave a bag unattended in the changing room

    Grammar Note

    "Sluitkassie" is "sluit" (to lock) plus "kas" (cupboard) plus the diminutive "-ie". Afrikaans uses the diminutives -ie, -jie and -tjie very freely

11. Wys my asseblief weer hoe om die hou te gooi.

    Please show me again how to throw that punch

    Usage

    The standard request while learning a technique. "Hou" means a blow or strike; swap it for "skop" (kick) to ask about kicking. Nearly all gyms are happy to repeat as often as you need

    Grammar Note

    "Om ... te + verb" is the infinitive construction for purpose or content, with the verb placed directly after "te" at the end of the clause

12. Waar kan ek 'n EFC-geveg gaan kyk?

    Where can I go and watch an EFC fight?

    Usage

    EFC is Africa's biggest MMA promotion, staging cards at venues such as Sun City near Johannesburg and GrandWest in Cape Town. Tickets are mostly sold online. Boxing runs through smaller club-promoted shows all over the country

    Grammar Note

    "Gaan + verb" means to go and do something. When two verbs cluster at the end, the auxiliary-like "gaan" precedes the main verb "kyk"

13. Hou jou hande op en kyk hom in die oë.

    Keep your hands up and look him in the eyes

    Usage

    Said by the coach, one of the most frequent cues during pad work and sparring. It comes as a curt imperative but carries no rudeness

    Grammar Note

    An imperative simply fronts the bare verb. The separable "ophou" still splits, sending "op" to the end. The diaeresis in "oë" shows that o and e are read as separate vowels

14. Skop met alles wat jy het, moenie inhou nie.

    Kick with everything you have, do not hold back

    Usage

    Said by the coach during pad work. In actual sparring you would be told the opposite, so treat this as a command aimed at pads and bags

    Grammar Note

    A negative command is bracketed by "moenie ... nie". "Moenie" is the contraction of "moet nie", and in speech the contracted form is always used

15. Vat vyf minute, drink water.

    Take five minutes, drink water

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Johannesburg and Pretoria sit at 1,400-1,750 metres, and newcomers run out of breath quickly. Bring your own water

    Grammar Note

    "Vat" is the everyday Dutch-derived verb for taking, with a range close to English "take". Commands drop the subject and start with the verb

16. Dis genoeg vir vandag. Mooi gedaan!

    That is enough for today. Well done!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. Sessions usually end with handshakes or fist bumps all round. Answer with "dankie" (thank you)

    Grammar Note

    "Dit is" contracts to "dis" in speech. "Mooi" literally means beautiful but works broadly as praise, as in "mooi gedaan" and "mooi so"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages