Martial Arts

18 phrases · Kazakh with romanization, English and audio

  1. Бір күндік жаттығуға қатысуға бола ма?

    Bir kündik jattyğuğa qatysuğa bola ma?

    May I take part in a training session for just one day?

    Usage

    Kazakhstan's traditional martial art is qazaqsha küres, a belt-grip wrestling style, alongside the belt wrestling of alysh; sambo and MMA gyms are also common in the cities. Open with this line to ask about a single visit

    Grammar Note

    "Verb in -уға + бола ма?" is the set way to ask permission ("may I ...?"). "болады" expresses possibility or permission

  2. Алдымен жаттығуды көруге бола ма?

    Aldymen jattyğudy köruge bola ma?

    May I watch the training first?

    Usage

    Use it when you want to see the atmosphere and the coaching before committing. Kazakh clubs are relaxed about spectators and usually let you watch for free; evening sessions are the busiest

    Grammar Note

    A definite object takes the accusative -ды/-ді/-ны/-ні (жаттығу → жаттығуды). Kazakh is SOV, so the object precedes the verb

  3. Шапан мен белбеуді жалға бересіздер ме?

    Şapan men belbeudi jalğa beresizder me?

    Do you rent out a jacket and a belt?

    Usage

    Qazaqsha küres is fought by gripping the jacket (шапан) and belt (белбеу), so you need both. Clubs will usually lend a set for a first visit. At a striking gym, gloves are called "қолғап"

    Grammar Note

    "мен" ("and") changes to "бен" or "пен" depending on the preceding final sound (шапан мен, доп пен). "жалға беру" is to rent out, "жалға алу" to rent

  4. Мен жаңа бастадым, тәжірибем жоқ.

    Men jaña bastadym, täjiribem joq.

    I have only just started; I have no experience.

    Usage

    Declaring your level up front means the coach will start you on breakfalls and basic grips. Kazakh clubs revolve around athletes who have trained since childhood, so if you say nothing the intensity may not suit you

    Grammar Note

    Lack of possession uses жоқ, the opposite of бар ("there is"): тәжірибем жоқ, "I have no experience". Possession is marked on the noun with -м

  5. Өтінемін, жайлап жасайық.

    Ötinemin, jaylap jasayyq.

    Please, let us take it gently.

    Usage

    Say this when you want lower intensity during grappling or pad work. To ask for the opposite, say "қаттырақ жасайық" (let us go harder)

    Grammar Note

    The ending -йық/-йік/-айық forms the first-person plural "let us ..." — a proposal to act together rather than an order, which keeps it polite

  6. Тізем жарақаттанған, лақтыру жаттығуларын жасай алмаймын.

    Tizem jaraqattanğan, laqtyru jattyğularyn jasay almaymyn.

    My knee is injured, so I cannot do the throwing drills.

    Usage

    Say this before training starts. There is no intake form, so speaking up is the only way to flag an injury. Swap "тізем" for "иығым" (shoulder), "белім" (lower back) or "білегім" (wrist)

    Grammar Note

    Inability is verb + -й/-а plus алмаймын ("I cannot"). "лақтыру" is a verbal noun ("throwing") modifying the noun that follows

  7. Айлық жарна қанша?

    Aylyq jarna qanşa?

    How much is the monthly fee?

    Usage

    If you are staying a week or more, a monthly rate is usually cheaper. Municipal "балалар спорт мектебі" (children's sports schools) charge very little but are aimed at local children

    Grammar Note

    The suffix -лық/-лік/-дық/-дік turns a noun into an adjective: ай (month) → айлық (monthly), күн (day) → күндік (daily)

  8. Бір жаттығу қанша тұрады?

    Bir jattyğu qanşa turady?

    How much does a single session cost?

    Usage

    The standard way to ask the drop-in rate. To check for a pass, follow up with "Абонемент бар ма?" (is there a subscription?)

    Grammar Note

    "тұру" literally means "to stand", but with prices it means "to cost" (қанша тұрады, "how much does it cost?")

  9. Әйелдерге арналған бөлек топ бар ма?

    Äyelderge arnalğan bölek top bar ma?

    Is there a separate group for women?

    Usage

    Women's groups and female coaches are increasingly common in Almaty and Astana, and Kazakhstan has produced international medallists in women's wrestling. Traditional küres clubs in smaller towns remain male-dominated, so ask in advance

    Grammar Note

    "-ға арналған" means "intended for" (балаларға арналған, "for children"). "арналу" is a passive verb meaning "to be dedicated to"

  10. Бүгінгі жаттығу кестесін қайдан көруге болады?

    Bügingi jattyğu kestesin qaydan köruge bolady?

    Where can I see today's training schedule?

    Usage

    Classes at Kazakh clubs cluster in the late afternoon and evening once school is out. The timetable is usually on a board at reception or announced on the club's Instagram or WhatsApp group rather than printed

    Grammar Note

    The suffix -гі/-ғы turns time and place words into adjectives: бүгін → бүгінгі (today's), ертеңгі (tomorrow's)

  11. Осы тәсілді маған тағы бір рет көрсете аласыз ба?

    Osy täsildi mağan tağy bir ret körsete alasyz ba?

    Could you show me this technique one more time?

    Usage

    You do not need the name of the move — "осы тәсіл" (this technique) is enough. Kazakh coaches teach largely by demonstration, so asking for another showing beats a verbal explanation

    Grammar Note

    Ability is the verb plus -а/-е followed by the auxiliary алу (көрсете аласыз, "you can show"). The ending -сыз/-сіз is the polite second person

  12. Неше жаттығудан кейін еркін күресуге болады?

    Neşe jattyğudan keyin erkin küresuge bolady?

    After how many sessions may I wrestle freely?

    Usage

    Free wrestling carries injury risk and is normally gated behind the coach's approval. A common answer is anywhere from a few to a dozen sessions, once your breakfalls and basic grips hold up; short-stay visitors often never go beyond drills

    Grammar Note

    The postposition "кейін" (after) governs the ablative -дан/-ден/-тан/-тен (жаттығудан кейін, "after the session"). A noun following "неше" stays singular

  13. Душ пен киім ауыстыратын бөлме бар ма?

    Duş pen kiim auystyratyn bölme bar ma?

    Is there a shower and a changing room?

    Usage

    Private gyms in Almaty and Astana normally have showers, though hot water can be limited at clubs in smaller towns. Bring your own towel

    Grammar Note

    The ending -атын/-етін forms a participle that modifies a noun (киім ауыстыратын бөлме, "the room where one changes clothes"). Kazakh builds relative clauses this way, without a relative pronoun

  14. Қазақша күрес жарысын қайдан көруге болады?

    Qazaqşa küres jarysyn qaydan köruge bolady?

    Where can I watch a qazaqsha küres competition?

    Usage

    Qazaqsha küres is a folk wrestling style fought standing with grips on the jacket and belt, with no ground work. The national tournament is called "Qazaqstan barysy", and bouts also appear at holidays and regional festivals, sometimes alongside the mounted game of kokpar

    Grammar Note

    The suffix -ша/-ше means "in the manner of" or "in the language of": қазақша (Kazakh-style, in Kazakh), орысша (in Russian)

  15. Белбеуді берік ұста, қарсыласыңның көзіне қара.

    Belbeudi berik usta,qarsylasyñnyñ közine qara.

    Grip the belt firmly, look at your opponent's eyes.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. In qazaqsha küres the bout is decided by how you grip the belt and jacket, so grip cues dominate practice. Instructions come in the familiar "сен" form rather than polite "сіз" — this is not rudeness

    Grammar Note

    The second-person singular imperative is the bare stem (ұстау → ұста, қарау → қара). "қарау" governs the dative, hence "көзіне қара"

  16. Бар күшіңмен лақтыр, аяма.

    Bar küşiñmen laqtyr, ayama.

    Throw with all your strength, do not hold back.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. A half-committed throw is more dangerous for both partners than a decisive one, so you are pushed to commit. It is also a signal that your partner can take the fall

    Grammar Note

    A negative command is stem + -ма/-ме/-ба/-бе/-па/-пе (аяу → аяма, "do not spare"). The instrumental -мен/-бен/-пен means "with"

  17. Бес минут демалыңдар, су ішіңдер.

    Bes minut demalyñdar, su işiñder.

    Take a five-minute break and drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach between rounds. Kazakh summers are dry and hot and the halls warm up, so water breaks are essential. After practice you will often be offered hot tea (шай)

    Grammar Note

    The ending -ыңдар/-іңдер is the plural imperative, addressing the whole group while staying familiar. To one person you say "демал" and "су іш"

  18. Бүгінге осы жетеді. Жарайсың!

    Büginge osy jetedi. Jaraysyñ!

    That is enough for today. Well done!

    Usage

    Said by the coach to wrap up the session. "Жарайсың" means "well done"; use "Жарайсыңдар" for a group and "Жарайсыз" for the polite form. Reply with "Рақмет" (thank you)

    Grammar Note

    The dative -ге/-ға can also mark a scope ("as far as X is concerned"), as in бүгінге ("for today"). "жету" means "to suffice" or "to reach"

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