Martial Arts

1. An féidir liom seisiún amháin a dhéanamh?

   On fay-dir lyum shesh-oon a-wawn a yay-nuv?

   Can I do a single session?

   Usage

   The standard way to ask about dropping in. Irish boxing clubs and MMA gyms are used to one-off visitors and many run a free first session. MMA gyms such as SBG in Dublin have an international reputation, so a visitor walking in is nothing unusual

   Grammar Note

   Irish has no verb for "to have" or "can"; it uses prepositions fused with pronouns instead ("le" + "mé" gives "liom" = for me). "An féidir liom" plus a verbal noun is the fixed way to ask whether you may do something

2. An bhfuil cead agam breathnú ar an traenáil?

   On wil kad a-gum bran-oo er on tray-nawl?

   May I watch the training?

   Usage

   Use this when you want to size up the atmosphere and the coaching before committing. Irish boxing clubs often double as community facilities and are welcoming to spectators. The 18:00-21:00 slot is busiest, with children's classes running before it

   Grammar Note

   Possession is "tá" + noun + "ag" + person, and in questions "tá" becomes "bhfuil": "an bhfuil cead agam" = do I have permission. Again the preposition fuses with the pronoun ("ag" + "mé" gives "agam")

3. An gcuireann sibh lámhainní ar cíos?

   On gir-en shiv law-win-ee er kees?

   Do you rent out gloves?

   Usage

   Irish boxing clubs usually keep club gloves and will lend a pair free on your trial day, but hand wraps ("bindealáin") are sold rather than rented for hygiene reasons, generally around 10 euros. Headgear ("clogad") is normally club equipment

   Grammar Note

   The question particle "an" triggers eclipsis on the following verb, so "cuireann" becomes "gcuireann" and is pronounced with the "g" alone. "Cuir ar cíos" is the set phrase for renting something out

4. Is tosaitheoir mé, níl taithí ar bith agam.

   Iss tuss-i-hore may, neel ta-hee er bih a-gum.

   I am a beginner, I have no experience at all.

   Usage

   Say this to both the desk and the coach up front and they will keep you on light pad work. Irish clubs post no skill levels and rely on you speaking up; stay quiet and you may end up in a session pitched at experienced boxers

   Grammar Note

   Irish has two verbs for "to be": the copula "is" for permanent identity or occupation ("is tosaitheoir mé") and "tá" for temporary states. "Ar bith" in a negative sentence strengthens it to "none at all"

5. Go réidh, le do thoil.

   Guh ray, le duh hull.

   Easy, please.

   Usage

   The shortest way to ask for lower intensity in pad work or sparring. "Go réidh" means easy or steady and matches the Hiberno-English "take it handy". To ask for the opposite, say "níos crua" (harder)

   Grammar Note

   The particle "go" turns an adjective into an adverb ("réidh" = easy, "go réidh" = easily). "Le do thoil" literally means "with your will"; to more than one person it becomes "le bhur dtoil"

6. Tá gortú i mo ghlúin, seachnóidh mé na ciceanna.

   Taw gur-too i muh gloon, shakh-noh-ee may na kick-a-na.

   I have an injury in my knee, so I will avoid the kicking drills.

   Usage

   Say this before training starts. Some Irish clubs use an intake form, but at smaller ones speaking up is the only way to flag an injury. Swap "glúin" (knee) for "gualainn" (shoulder), "droim" (back) or "rúitín" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   The possessive "mo" (my) lenites the following word, so "glúin" becomes "mo ghlúin". The future tense is built by adding "-óidh" or "-faidh" to the stem

7. Cé mhéad atá ar sheisiún amháin?

   Kay vayd a-taw er hesh-oon a-wawn?

   How much is one session?

   Usage

   The standard way to ask the drop-in rate. Many Irish boxing clubs are local amateur clubs and charge as little as 5-10 euros a session. Private MMA and kickboxing gyms run about 15-25 euros a session, or 60-100 euros a month ("sa mhí")

   Grammar Note

   Prices are framed as being "on" the item, using "ar". That preposition lenites the following noun, so "seisiún" becomes "sheisiún", pronounced close to an "h"

8. An bhfuil rang ann do mhná amháin?

   On wil rang oun duh vraw a-wawn?

   Is there a women-only class?

   Usage

   Women's boxing is very strong in Ireland, and since Katie Taylor's Olympic gold in London 2012 clubs across the country have added women's classes. Many also run self-defence ("féinchosaint") courses

   Grammar Note

   Existence is expressed as "tá" + subject + "ann", becoming "an bhfuil" in a question. The plural of "bean" (woman) is the irregular "mná", lenited to "mhná" after the preposition "do"

9. Cá bhfuil an sceideal ranganna?

   Kaw wil on shked-al rang-a-na?

   Where is the class schedule?

   Usage

   Irish clubs usually post the timetable on a board by the door or on Facebook and Instagram. It changes substantially during school holidays and over Christmas, so check for the current week. Amateur clubs may also suspend sessions on competition weeks

   Grammar Note

   The question word "cá" also triggers eclipsis, turning "tá" into "bhfuil". When one noun modifies another, the genitive simply follows it — there is no word corresponding to English "of"

10. Cén cineál ealaíne comhraic a mhúineann sibh anseo?

    Kayn kin-awl al-een-eh koh-rik a woo-nen shiv on-shuh?

    What kind of martial art do you teach here?

    Usage

    What you can actually train in Ireland is mainly boxing ("dornálaíocht"), kickboxing, MMA and jiu-jitsu. The traditional art is "bataireacht", stick fighting with the shillelagh, which had regional styles into the 19th century. It nearly died out in the 20th century and is now being revived by a small number of specialist instructors — not something an ordinary gym offers, so you would need to seek it out separately

    Grammar Note

    "Ealaín chomhraic" (art of combat) becomes "ealaíne comhraic" in the genitive. The relative particle "a" lenites the verb that follows, so "múineann" becomes "mhúineann"

11. An dtaispeánfá an teicníc sin arís, le do thoil?

    On das-pawn-faw on tek-neek shin a-reesh, le duh hull?

    Would you show that technique again, please?

    Usage

    Irish gyms run day to day in English; Irish is spoken mainly in the western Gaeltacht areas and at Irish-language clubs. Even so, a line of Irish is warmly received. Add "go mall" (slowly) and they will break the movement down

    Grammar Note

    The conditional ending "-fá" makes the request polite, matching English "would you". The question particle "an" eclipses "t" to "dt", which is pronounced as a "d"

12. Cathain a bheidh cead agam speáráil?

    Ka-hin a veg kad a-gum spa-rawl?

    When will I be allowed to spar?

    Usage

    Sparring carries injury risk, so Irish clubs gate it behind the coach's approval. Amateur boxing is tightly governed: headgear and a gumshield are mandatory for sparring and some clubs require you to be registered. Let the coach decide rather than pushing to join

    Grammar Note

    The future of "bí" (to be) is "beidh", lenited to "bheidh" after the relative particle "a". Verbs borrowed from English are naturalised with the suffix "-áil", giving "speáráil" from "spar"

13. An bhfuil cithfholcadáin anseo?

    On wil kih-ulk-a-dawn on-shuh?

    Are there showers here?

    Usage

    Local Irish boxing clubs often occupy old buildings and it is not unusual for there to be no shower, or only one. Towels are your own responsibility. Halls get cold in winter, so bring dry clothes to change into straight after training

    Grammar Note

    "Cithfholcadán" is a compound of "cith" (shower of rain) and "folcadán" (bath). The internal "fh" is silent and simply drops out in speech. The plural is formed with "-áin"

14. Cá mbíonn na comórtais dornálaíochta ar siúl?

    Kaw meen na ko-mor-tish dur-nawl-ee-okh-ta er shool?

    Where are the boxing competitions held?

    Usage

    Irish amateur boxing runs regular club shows around the country, and the National Stadium in Dublin is one of the few purpose-built boxing venues in the world. Local inter-club nights are cheap to get into and easy for a visitor to attend. Your gym's coach is the most reliable source of dates

    Grammar Note

    Irish has a dedicated habitual form of "bí", namely "bíonn", used for things that happen repeatedly. "Dornálaíocht" (boxing) is built from "dorn", the word for a fist

15. Coinnigh do lámha in airde, féach i súile do chéile comhraic!

    Kun-ig duh law-wa in ar-je, fay-akh i soo-le duh khay-le koh-rik!

    Keep your hands up, look into your opponent's eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. One of the most frequent cues during pad work and sparring. Irish coaches bark instructions in the bare imperative and there is nothing rude about it — though in practice you are more likely to hear "hands up!" in English

    Grammar Note

    The imperative is the bare verb stem with no subject. "Céile comhraic" literally means "companion of combat" and denotes an opponent; after "do" it lenites to "chéile"

16. Buail chomh crua agus is féidir leat, ná coinnigh siar!

    Boo-il khoh kroo-a a-gus iss fay-dir lat, naw kun-ig sheer!

    Hit as hard as you can, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The standard call when the coach on the pads wants full power, and also a signal that you may hit at full force. If instead you hear "tóg go bog é" (take it easy), you are tensing up too much

    Grammar Note

    A negative command puts "ná" before the verb ("coinnigh" becomes "ná coinnigh"). "Chomh" + adjective + "agus is féidir le" + person is the fixed frame for "as ... as one can"

17. Sos cúig nóiméad, ólaigí uisce.

    Suss koo-ig no-mayd, oh-lig-ee ish-ke.

    Five-minute break, drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Ireland is cool, but indoor training still means heavy sweating, so water breaks are called between rounds. Bring your own bottle — many clubs have no vending machine. Tap water is fine to drink

    Grammar Note

    Addressing the whole class takes the plural imperative "ólaigí" (to one person, "ól"). After a numeral the noun stays singular — you do not say "nóiméid"

18. Sin é don lá inniu. Maith thú, rinne tú go hiontach!

    Shin ay dun law in-yoo. Ma hoo, rin-eh too guh hoon-takh!

    That is it for today. Good on you, you did brilliantly!

    Usage

    Said by the coach to wrap up the session; a glove touch or a handshake usually follows. Reply with "go raibh maith agat" (thank you). Irish clubs have no tipping culture, but amateur clubs often run on donations, so dropping a few coins in the collection box is appreciated

    Grammar Note

    "Maith thú" literally means "good you" and is the everyday Irish expression of praise. "Rinne" is the irregular past of "déan" (to do). After "go", an adjective beginning with a vowel takes a prefixed "h", giving "go hiontach"

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