Martial Arts

1. Puc fer una classe solta avui?

   Can I do a single drop-in class today?

   Usage

   Catalonia has no surviving traditional martial art of its own; combat sports here mean modern gym disciplines — judo, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing. Barcelona gyms commonly take a "classe solta" (single class) or a "classe de prova" (trial class), so this is the line to open with. Staff will answer in Catalan or Spanish equally happily

   Grammar Note

   "Puc" is the irregular first-person singular of "poder". "Solt/solta" means "loose, sold singly" and agrees with the feminine noun "classe", hence "solta"

2. Puc mirar un entrenament abans d'apuntar-m'hi?

   May I watch a training session before signing up?

   Usage

   Almost nobody refuses a spectator. Barcelona gyms are busiest from 20:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, the best time to read the atmosphere. Never step on the mat in shoes at a judo or jiu-jitsu club; visitors watch from the chairs by the door. Many martial arts clubs are based inside municipal sports centres (centre esportiu municipal)

   Grammar Note

   Catalan attaches pronouns to the infinitive with a hyphen. Here the reflexive "me" combines with the locative "hi", eliding before the vowel to give "apuntar-m'hi"

3. Llogueu guants i canyelleres?

   Do you rent gloves and shin guards?

   Usage

   Gloves are "guants", shin guards "canyelleres" and hand wraps "benes". Gyms usually lend gloves free or cheaply but sell rather than rent wraps and mouthguards (protector bucal) for hygiene reasons. A judo uniform is a "quimono" and the belt a "cinturó". For a no-gi jiu-jitsu class you only need a rash guard and shorts

   Grammar Note

   "Canyellera" comes from "canyella" (shin) plus "-era", the suffix for protective gear; the same pattern gives "genollera" (knee pad) and "turmellera" (ankle support). "Llogar" covers both renting out and renting in

4. Sóc principiant, no he fet mai judo.

   I am a beginner; I have never done judo.

   Usage

   Tell both the desk and the instructor on duty and you will be put on a fundamentals track. Judo has a strong following in Catalonia, with clubs organised under the Catalan Judo Federation (Federació Catalana de Judo i Disciplines Associades). Swap "judo" for "boxa" (boxing), "kickboxing" or "jiujitsu brasiler"

   Grammar Note

   Catalan negation puts "no" before the verb and adds "mai" afterwards. In the compound past the natural order places "mai" after the participle, giving "no he fet mai"

5. Podem anar suau, si us plau?

   Could we go easy, please?

   Usage

   Say this to your partner before you start sparring. "Anar suau" is the set phrase for taking it easy; "a poc a poc" (slowly) and "sense pegar fort" (without hitting hard) work the same way. To ask for the opposite, say "podem anar més fort"

   Grammar Note

   "Si us plau" literally means "if it pleases you" and is the standard Catalan "please"; in casual writing it is often run together as "sisplau"

6. Tinc el genoll lesionat, prefereixo evitar les puntades.

   My knee is injured, so I would rather avoid the kicks.

   Usage

   Say this before training starts. On a single visit, speaking up is the only way to flag an injury — otherwise the instructor assumes you can do everything. Substitute "l'espatlla" (shoulder), "l'esquena" (back), "el turmell" (ankle) or "el canell" (wrist). For judo, replace "les puntades" with "les projeccions" (throws)

   Grammar Note

   Catalan uses the definite article rather than a possessive with body parts, so "el genoll" not "el meu genoll". "Lesionat" is masculine to agree with "genoll". "Prefereixo" follows the "-eix-" conjugation pattern

7. Quant costa la quota mensual?

   How much is the monthly membership?

   Usage

   A combat sports gym in Barcelona typically runs 40-70 euros a month. Clubs based in municipal sports centres often charge less thanks to resident rates. Ask whether there is a separate joining fee (matrícula) or federation licence charge. Many gyms close for August

   Grammar Note

   "Mensual" has one form for both genders and can be swapped for "setmanal", "anual" or "trimestral". "Quant" agrees with a noun when used adjectivally, but here it is adverbial and stays invariable

8. Quant costa la classe solta? Hi ha bo de deu classes?

   How much is a single class? Is there a ten-class pass?

   Usage

   A single class typically costs 10-20 euros. If you are staying a week or more, asking about a "bo" (multi-class pass) cuts the per-session price sharply; check the expiry date (caducitat) at the same time. Barcelona sees many short-stay visitors, so some gyms also offer a weekly plan

   Grammar Note

   "Hi ha" is the invariable existential form, used for both singular and plural. The noun "bo" means a voucher or multi-use pass and is a different word from the adjective "bo" (good)

9. Hi ha alguna classe només per a dones?

   Is there a women-only class?

   Usage

   Women-only self-defence courses (curs d'autodefensa per a dones) are widely run by Barcelona's district councils, frequently hosted at combat sports gyms. Kickboxing and jiu-jitsu clubs increasingly offer women's classes too. For a mixed class, asking whether there is a female coach (entrenadora) helps you decide

   Grammar Note

   Catalan distinguishes "per a", marking the intended recipient, from "per", which marks cause or route. The plural of "dona" is "dones"

10. On puc veure l'horari de les classes?

    Where can I see the class timetable?

    Usage

    Barcelona gyms concentrate on 07:00-09:00 and 19:00-22:00, with few midday classes. Evening sessions starting at 20:00 or 21:00 follow the general Spanish rhythm of the day. The timetable is usually on the wall by the desk or on the gym's Instagram. They close in August and on public holidays, so check on the day

    Grammar Note

    The definite articles "el" and "la" elide to "l'" before a vowel or silent "h", giving "l'horari". The plurals "els" and "les" do not elide

11. Em pots ensenyar com es posen les benes?

    Can you show me how the hand wraps go on?

    Usage

    Gloving up without wraps (benes) risks your knuckles and wrist. The coach will usually wrap you the first time but expects you to manage afterwards, so learn on day one. To ask about tying a judo belt instead, say "com es lliga el cinturó". If the coach is older or a stranger, switch to "vostè" and say "Em pot ensenyar...?"

    Grammar Note

    The weak pronoun "em" (to me) goes before the conjugated verb. "Es posen" uses the impersonal "es" for a passive sense — how they are put on — with the verb agreeing in the plural with "benes"

12. Quantes classes necessito per poder fer sparring?

    How many classes do I need before I can spar?

    Usage

    Sparring carries injury risk and is gated behind the coach's approval. Around ten sessions, once your stance and defence hold up, is the usual answer, and many visitors never get past pads and bag work. "Sparring" stays in English, while judo calls it "randori". Let the coach decide rather than pressing

    Grammar Note

    "Quant" agrees with the noun it counts, becoming "quantes" before the feminine plural "classes". "Per + infinitive" expresses purpose

13. Hi ha vestidors i dutxes?

    Are there changing rooms and showers?

    Usage

    Barcelona gyms generally have changing rooms (vestidor) and showers, but bring your own towel (tovallola) and flip-flops (xancletes). At a judo or jiu-jitsu club you train barefoot on the mat and put sandals on the moment you step off. Washing your gi after every session is an unwritten rule

    Grammar Note

    "Vestidor" derives from "vestir" (to dress). "Dutxa" pluralises to "dutxes" — feminine nouns ending in "-a" take "-es" in the plural

14. Puja la guàrdia i mira el rival als ulls!

    Get your guard up and look your opponent in the eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The most frequent cue during pad work and sparring; "La guàrdia!" alone does the job. Coaches bark short imperatives, with no rudeness intended. Beginners drop the guard and look away as they strike, so these are the first two habits corrected

    Grammar Note

    The affirmative "tu" imperative of "-ar" verbs ends in "-a", giving "puja" and "mira". The preposition "a" fuses with the article "els" to form "als"

15. Colpeja fort, no et retinguis!

    Hit hard, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The standard call for full power on the pads or the heavy bag (sac), and also permission to hit at full force. It is never said during partner sparring. In kickboxing you will also hear "Puntada forta!" (kick hard)

    Grammar Note

    Negative commands use the present subjunctive, so "retenir-se" becomes "no et retinguis". Pronouns attach to the end of an affirmative command ("retén-te") but move in front of a negative one

16. Cinc minuts de descans, beveu aigua.

    Five-minute break, drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach between rounds. Barcelona summers are humid and indoor temperatures pass 30 degrees, so drinking is not optional. Bring your own bottle (ampolla); many gyms also have a vending machine. During the break you wait at the edge of the mat or outside the ring

    Grammar Note

    "Beveu" is the imperative for "vosaltres" (you plural), used when addressing the whole class; to one person you would say "beu". Unlike Latin American Spanish, Catalan uses a second-person plural in everyday speech

17. Per avui ho deixem aquí. Molt bé, bona feina!

    We will leave it there for today. Very good, nice work!

    Usage

    Said by the coach to close the session. Judo and jiu-jitsu clubs line up on the mat and bow; striking gyms usually end with a round of fist bumps or handshakes. The natural reply is "Gràcies!", and tipping is not done

    Grammar Note

    The neuter pronoun "ho" vaguely stands for "this thing we are doing" and precedes the verb. "Feina" is the characteristically Catalan word for work, corresponding to Spanish "trabajo"

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