Martial Arts

1. Μπορώ να συμμετάσχω σε ένα μάθημα σήμερα;

   bo-RO na si-me-TA-scho se E-na MA-thi-ma SI-me-ra

   Can I join a single class today?

   Usage

   The standard way to ask about dropping in. Kickboxing and MMA gyms in Athens and Thessaloniki are used to one-off visitors and many offer a free trial class (dokimastikó MA-thi-ma). Greek gyms typically run morning and evening blocks and some close through the midday heat in summer

   Grammar Note

   "bo-RO na" + subjunctive expresses ability. The aorist subjunctive "si-me-TA-scho" (from "si-me-TE-cho") frames it as a single completed act — exactly a drop-in. Note that the Greek question mark is written as a semicolon ";"

2. Μπορώ πρώτα να παρακολουθήσω μια προπόνηση;

   bo-RO PRO-ta na pa-ra-ko-lu-THI-so mia pro-PO-ni-si

   May I watch a training session first?

   Usage

   Use this when you want to size up the atmosphere and the coaching before paying. Greek gyms are relaxed about spectators and rarely refuse. The 19:00-21:00 slot is the busiest. Watch from along the wall — the space around the mats and the ring belongs to the athletes

   Grammar Note

   "Parakoloutho" covers both watching and attending a session. "pro-PO-ni-si" (training) is a feminine noun whose accusative form is unchanged. The related "pro-po-ni-TIS" means coach

3. Νοικιάζετε γάντια και μπαντάζ;

   ni-ki-A-ze-te GAN-di-a ke ban-DAZ

   Do you rent out gloves and hand wraps?

   Usage

   "GAN-di-a" are gloves and "ban-DAZ" are hand wraps (from English "bandage"). Most gyms lend gloves free for a trial class, but wraps are usually sold rather than rented for hygiene reasons, at around 5-10 euros at the desk. Shin guards are "e-pi-ka-la-MI-des"

   Grammar Note

   Use the second-person plural as the polite form when addressing a business. "ni-ki-A-zo" means both to rent out and to rent, so the subject decides the direction: "ni-ki-A-ze-te" (you rent out) vs "ni-ki-A-zo" (I rent)

4. Είμαι εντελώς αρχάριος (-α)

   I-me en-de-LOS ar-CHA-ri-os (-a)

   I am a complete beginner. (male / female)

   Usage

   Say this to both the desk and your coach up front and they will steer you toward light pad work. Greek gyms rarely post skill levels and rely on you speaking up; stay quiet and you may end up in a session pitched at experienced fighters

   Grammar Note

   Greek nouns and adjectives agree with the speaker's gender: "-os" for men, "-a" for women. The same pattern gives "pro-cho-ri-ME-nos / pro-cho-ri-ME-ni" for an advanced student

5. Πιο χαλαρά, σε παρακαλώ.

   pio cha-la-RA se pa-ra-ka-LO

   A bit easier, please.

   Usage

   The shortest way to ask for lower intensity during pad work or sparring. The familiar "se pa-ra-ka-LO" is fine with a training partner. To ask for the opposite, say "pio di-na-TA" (harder)

   Grammar Note

   The easiest comparative for adverbs is "pio" + adverb. "se pa-ra-ka-LO" is familiar; "sas pa-ra-ka-LO" is the polite form. Mid-drill, a bare "cha-la-RA" is enough

6. Έχω τραυματισμό στο γόνατο, θα αποφύγω τις κλοτσιές.

   E-cho trav-ma-ti-SMO sto GO-na-to tha a-po-FI-go tis klo-tsi-ES

   I have a knee injury, so I will skip the kicking drills.

   Usage

   Say this before training starts. Many Greek gyms use no intake form, so speaking up is the only way to flag an injury. Swap "GO-na-to" (knee) for "O-mo" (shoulder), "ME-si" (lower back) or "a-STRA-ga-lo" (ankle). The article changes with the noun's gender: "ston O-mo", "sti ME-si", "ston a-STRA-ga-lo"

   Grammar Note

   The future is formed with "tha" plus the subjunctive ("tha a-po-FI-go" = I will avoid). "Sto" is the contraction of "se" + "to" (in the). The article follows the noun's gender: neuter "γόνατο" takes "sto", masculine "ώμος" and "αστράγαλος" take "ston", feminine "μέση" takes "sti"

7. Πόσο κοστίζει ένα μεμονωμένο μάθημα;

   PO-so ko-STI-zi E-na me-mo-no-ME-no MA-thi-ma

   How much is a single class?

   Usage

   The standard way to ask the drop-in rate. Ordinary Athens gyms charge roughly 10-20 euros a session, while a monthly membership ("mi-ni-E-a sin-dro-MI") runs about 40-70 euros. If you are staying a week or more the monthly rate is usually cheaper — follow up with "PO-so ko-STI-zi i mi-ni-E-a sin-dro-MI?"

   Grammar Note

   "MA-thi-ma" is neuter, so the article and adjective take neuter forms too ("E-na me-mo-no-ME-no MA-thi-ma"). The price question is a fixed frame: "PO-so ko-STI-zi" + subject

8. Έχετε τμήμα μόνο για γυναίκες;

   E-che-te TMI-ma MO-no gia gi-NE-kes

   Do you have a women-only class?

   Usage

   Women-only classes and female coaches are increasingly common at city gyms in Athens and Thessaloniki. Many also run self-defence courses ("ma-THI-ma-ta af-to-A-mi-nas") aimed at women, which are a popular entry point into kickboxing

   Grammar Note

   "MO-no gia" + accusative means "only for". Swap "gi-NE-kes" for "pe-di-A" (children) or "ar-CHA-ri-us" (beginners) to reuse the pattern

9. Πού μπορώ να δω το πρόγραμμα των μαθημάτων;

   pu bo-RO na do to PRO-gra-ma ton ma-thi-MA-ton

   Where can I see the class schedule?

   Usage

   Greek gyms usually post the timetable on a board by the desk or on their Instagram or Facebook page rather than handing out a printed sheet. In August many gyms close or run a heavily reduced schedule, so always check the current month

   Grammar Note

   Possession is marked by the genitive: neuter "MA-thi-ma" becomes "ma-thi-MA-ton" in the genitive plural, with the article "ton". "Na do" is the irregular aorist subjunctive of "VLE-po" (to see)

10. Διδάσκετε παγκράτιο εδώ;

    di-DA-ske-te pan-GRA-ti-o e-DO

    Do you teach pankration here?

    Usage

    "pan-GRA-ti-on" was the ancient Greek combat sport combining striking and grappling, added to the ancient Olympic programme in 648 BC. It has been revived as a competitive sport since the late 20th century and Greece has both a federation and clubs teaching it. Ordinary neighbourhood gyms, though, focus on kickboxing and MMA, so it is worth asking rather than assuming

    Grammar Note

    The classical form "pan-GRA-ti-on" loses its final "-n" in Modern Greek, giving "pan-GRA-ti-o". Likewise "PA-li" means wrestling and "pig-ma-CHI-a" boxing — both words that have survived from antiquity

11. Μου δείχνετε ξανά αυτή την τεχνική;

    mu DI-chne-te xa-NA af-TI tin te-chni-KI

    Could you show me that technique again?

    Usage

    Even where the language barrier bites, this line plus a gesture gets the point across. Many Greek coaches speak English, but asking in Greek is appreciated. Add "pio ar-GA" (more slowly) and they will break the movement down

    Grammar Note

    A present-tense question doubles as a polite request in Greek ("mu DI-chne-te" = would you show me?). "Mou" is the weak indirect-object pronoun and sits before the verb

12. Πότε θα μπορώ να κάνω σπάρινγκ;

    PO-te tha bo-RO na KA-no SPA-ring

    When will I be able to spar?

    Usage

    Sparring carries injury risk, so Greek gyms gate it behind the coach's approval. A common answer is after five to ten sessions, once your stance and defence hold up; one-off visitors usually stay on pads and the bag. Let the coach decide rather than pushing to join

    Grammar Note

    "Tha" plus the present ("bo-RO") gives a continuous future, while "tha" plus the aorist subjunctive gives a one-off future. Loanwords like "SPA-ring" are indeclinable

13. Υπάρχουν ντουζιέρες και ντουλάπια εδώ;

    i-PAR-chun du-zi-E-res ke du-LA-pi-a e-DO

    Are there showers and lockers here?

    Usage

    Smaller Greek gyms may have no shower, or no hot water. Towels are your own responsibility, and many lockers expect you to bring your own padlock ("lu-KE-to"). Athens gyms get very hot in summer, so bring a spare set of clothes and plenty of water

    Grammar Note

    "i-PAR-chi" is used with a singular subject and "i-PAR-chun" with a plural one. Word-initial "nt" spells the English "d" sound in Greek; "douziéra" comes from French "douche"

14. Πού γίνονται αγώνες κικ μπόξινγκ;

    pu GI-non-de a-GO-nes kik BO-xing

    Where are kickboxing matches held?

    Usage

    Kickboxing and MMA cards in Greece are staged irregularly at indoor sports halls ("kli-STO gi-mna-STI-ri-o") and are advertised mainly on gym noticeboards and social media. Tickets are usually available at the door, and your gym's coach is the most reliable source of information

    Grammar Note

    "GI-no-me" is a mediopassive verb meaning to become or to take place, and is the standard verb for events being held. The plural of "a-GO-nas" (bout) is "a-GO-nes"

15. Ψηλά τα χέρια, κοίτα τον αντίπαλο στα μάτια!

    psi-LA ta CHE-ri-a KI-ta ton an-DI-pa-lo sta MA-ti-a

    Hands up, look your opponent in the eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. One of the most frequent cues during pad work and sparring. Greek coaches bark instructions in the bare imperative — there is nothing rude about it. Often it is shortened to a single "psi-LA!"

    Grammar Note

    The imperative is built from the verb stem with no subject pronoun ("ki-TA-o" → "KI-ta"). "psi-LA ta CHE-ri-a" is a verbless noun phrase — this kind of clipped command is very common in training

16. Κλότσα με όλη σου τη δύναμη, μη συγκρατιέσαι!

    KLO-tsa me O-li su ti DI-na-mi mi sin-gra-ti-E-se

    Kick with everything you have, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The standard call when the coach holding the pads wants full power out of you, and also a signal that you may hit at full force. If instead you hear "cha-LA-ro-se" (relax), you are tensing up too much

    Grammar Note

    Prohibitions use "mi" plus the present or subjunctive, never the imperative. The possessive "sou" slots inside the noun phrase ("O-li su ti DI-na-mi"), which is the natural colloquial order

17. Πέντε λεπτά διάλειμμα, πιείτε νερό.

    PEN-de le-PTA di-A-li-ma pi-I-te ne-RO

    Five-minute break, drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Greek summers push indoor temperatures past 30 degrees, so water breaks are called between rounds as a matter of course. Bring your own bottle — many gyms have no vending machine

    Grammar Note

    Because it addresses the whole class, the plural imperative "pi-I-te" is used (to one person it would be "pies"). "Number + le-PTA + di-A-li-ma" is the fixed way to announce a break of a given length

18. Για σήμερα τελειώσαμε. Μπράβο, τα πήγες πολύ καλά!

    gia SI-me-ra te-li-O-sa-me BRA-vo ta PI-ges po-LI ka-LA

    That is it for today. Well done, you did really well!

    Usage

    Said by the coach to wrap up the session; a glove touch or a handshake usually follows. Reply with "ef-cha-ri-STO po-LI" (thank you very much). Tipping is not a thing at Greek gyms, but do confirm the extra fee in advance for a personal lesson

    Grammar Note

    "ta PA-o ka-LA" is an idiom meaning to do well, in which the neuter plural pronoun "ta" is fixed and carries no meaning of its own. In the past it inflects as "ta PI-ga / ta PI-ges"

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