Martial Arts

1. के म एक दिनको लागि कक्षामा सामेल हुन सक्छु?

   Ke ma ek din-ko la-gi kak-shaa-maa saa-mel hu-na sak-chhu?

   Can I join the class for just one day?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask about a drop-in session. Taekwondo and karate dojos and boxing gyms in Kathmandu and Pokhara commonly take travellers for a single trial class

   Grammar Note

   Sentence-initial "ke" makes it a yes/no question. "-ko laagi" is the postpositional phrase for "for", formed by adding "-ko" to the noun and then "laagi"

2. के म पहिले अभ्यास हेर्न सक्छु?

   Ke ma pa-hi-le a-bhyaas her-na sak-chhu?

   May I watch the training first?

   Usage

   Use this to check the atmosphere and the instructor before paying. Nepali dojos are relaxed about spectators and will usually let you watch for free. Always take your shoes off before stepping onto the mat

   Grammar Note

   "Verb stem + na saknu" expresses ability. The stem "her" from "hernu" (to see) plus "-na" gives "herna"

3. यहाँ कराते वा तेक्वान्दो कक्षा छ?

   Ya-haan ka-raa-te waa tek-waan-do kak-shaa chha?

   Do you have karate or taekwondo classes here?

   Usage

   Nepal has little in the way of an organised indigenous martial art; what you can actually train in is imported — taekwondo, karate, boxing, muay thai. Taekwondo in particular has a large following and has brought Nepal international medals

   Grammar Note

   "Chha" is the third-person singular existential verb, "there is". Foreign sport names are transliterated into Devanagari and used directly as nouns

4. म बिल्कुल नयाँ हुँ।

   Ma bil-kul na-yaan hun.

   I am a complete beginner.

   Usage

   Say this up front and the instructor will keep you on basics. Nepali dojos post no skill levels and rely on you speaking up; stay quiet and you may be paired with belted students

   Grammar Note

   "Hun" is the first-person singular copula used for identity and inherent qualities. "Chhu" covers states and location, so for declaring what you are, "hun" is the right choice

5. कृपया बिस्तारै सुरु गर्नुहोस्।

   Kri-pa-yaa bis-taa-rai su-ru gar-nu-hos.

   Please start slowly and go easy.

   Usage

   The shortest way to ask for lower intensity. Most dojos gate sparring behind belt rank or protective gear, so do not assume you will join on day one. Note too that Kathmandu sits at 1,400 m and you will run out of breath faster than at sea level

   Grammar Note

   The ending "-nuhos" is the most polite imperative and the standard form with strangers and elders. With friends you would say "suru gara"

6. मेरो घुँडा दुख्छ।

   Me-ro ghun-daa dukh-chha.

   My knee hurts.

   Usage

   Say this before training starts — there is no intake form, so speaking up is the only way to flag an injury. Swap "ghundaa" (knee) for "kaandh" (shoulder), "kammar" (lower back) or "goligaantho" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   Nepali expresses pain with the verb "dukhnu" (to hurt), taking the aching body part as its subject. The possessive "mero" does not change with the gender or number of the noun

7. मासिक शुल्क कति हो?

   Maa-sik shul-ka ka-ti ho?

   How much is the monthly fee?

   Usage

   If you are staying a week or more a monthly rate is usually cheaper. Martial arts classes in Kathmandu run roughly 2,000-6,000 rupees a month, and gym-attached ones may add a joining fee

   Grammar Note

   "Ho" is the copula for identity and inherent qualities and is the one used when asking a price. "Chha" covers existence and states, so "ho" is the natural choice here

8. एक पटकको कति हो?

   Ek pa-tak-ko ka-ti ho?

   How much is it per session?

   Usage

   As a traveller this is the practical question to lead with. Expect roughly 300-800 rupees a session; tourist-facing gyms in Thamel charge more. Besides cash, mobile wallets such as eSewa are increasingly accepted

   Grammar Note

   The genitive "-ko" also expresses a unit rate: "ek patakko" means "per session", and "ek haptaako" would be "per week"

9. महिलाहरूको लागि छुट्टै कक्षा छ?

   Ma-hi-laa-ha-ru-ko laa-gi chhut-tai kak-shaa chha?

   Is there a separate class for women?

   Usage

   Women-only self-defence classes are increasingly common in Kathmandu, and some dojos have female instructors. If a mixed class is not for you, ask this in advance

   Grammar Note

   The plural is formed with "-haru" ("mahilaa" becomes "mahilaaharu"). Nepali often omits it when plurality is obvious, but in this restrictive "for X" phrase it is natural to include

10. कक्षाको समय कति हो?

    Kak-shaa-ko sa-may ka-ti ho?

    What time is the class?

    Usage

    Nepali dojos typically run early morning (around 06:00-08:00) and evening (around 17:00-19:00) sessions. Saturday is the weekly holiday, so check weekend hours, and many close for one or two whole weeks during Dashain and Tihar

    Grammar Note

    "Kati" asks about quantity and also about clock time; the phrase "kati baje?" (at what o'clock?) is equally common

11. के यहाँ सामान भाडामा पाइन्छ?

    Ke ya-haan saa-maan bhaa-daa-maa paa-in-chha?

    Is equipment available to rent here?

    Usage

    Dojos will often lend beginners gloves and protective gear, but hand wraps and uniforms are almost always sold rather than rented for hygiene reasons. A dobok or gi can be bought at sports shops in Kathmandu

    Grammar Note

    "Paainchha" is the impersonal passive of "paaunu" (to obtain), meaning "one can get". Because it names no agent it is ideal for asking whether a service exists

12. यो प्रविधि मलाई सिकाइदिनुहुन्छ?

    Yo pra-vi-dhi ma-laai si-kaa-i-di-nu-hun-chha?

    Could you teach me this technique?

    Usage

    Instructors are addressed as "sir" or "guru", and you thank them with "dhanyavaad". Nepali dojos tend to be formal, so asking before trying a technique goes down better than experimenting on your own

    Grammar Note

    Inserting the causative -aai- into "siknu" (to learn) gives "sikaaunu" (to teach), and adding "dinu" (to give) layers on the sense of doing it as a favour for someone

13. यहाँ नुहाउने ठाउँ छ?

    Ya-haan nu-haa-u-ne thaaun chha?

    Is there somewhere to shower here?

    Usage

    Plenty of Kathmandu dojos have no shower at all, or only cold water. Winter water is bitingly cold, and hot water usually depends on a solar heater that fails on cloudy days. Bring your own towel and a change of clothes

    Grammar Note

    Adding "-ne" to a verb stem forms an attributive "for doing X": "nuhaaune thaaun" is "a place for bathing". The frame works for asking about any amenity

14. प्रतियोगिता कहिले हुन्छ?

    Pra-ti-yo-gi-taa ka-hi-le hun-chha?

    When does the competition take place?

    Usage

    Taekwondo and karate national championships and boxing cards are held at Kathmandu's covered halls, usually cheap or free to watch. As for older traditions, village fairs sometimes feature wrestling-style bouts, and displays with the khukuri knife appear at events tied to Gurkha regimental culture

    Grammar Note

    "Hunchha" is the habitual present, "does / usually takes place". For one specific scheduled event you may also use the future "hunechha"

15. हात माथि राख, अगाडिको मान्छेको आँखा हेर।

    Haat maa-thi raakh, a-gaa-di-ko maan-chhe-ko aan-khaa her.

    Keep your hands up, look at the eyes of the person in front of you.

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. One of the most frequent cues during sparring and pad work. You are taught to watch the eyes and shoulders rather than the fists — drop your gaze and you misread the next strike

    Grammar Note

    The bare-stem imperative is used with juniors and is natural from an instructor to a student. The polite equivalents would be "raakhnuhos" and "hernuhos"

16. पूरा तागतले हान, नडराऊ।

    Pu-raa taa-gat-le haan, na-da-raa-u.

    Strike with full power, do not be afraid.

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. The standard call when the person holding the pads wants your full commitment. A hesitant, half-power strike is more likely to hurt your own wrist, so you are pushed to commit

    Grammar Note

    A prohibition is formed with the prefix "na-" on the verb ("daraau" = be afraid, "nadaraau" = do not be afraid). The postposition "-le" is the instrumental, "with / by means of"

17. पाँच मिनेट आराम गरेर पानी खाऊ।

    Paanch mi-net aa-raam ga-re-ra paa-ni khaa-u.

    Rest for five minutes and drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. The Kathmandu valley is dry through the winter months and the altitude dehydrates you faster than you expect, so frequent water breaks are built in. Bring your own bottle

    Grammar Note

    The suffix "-era" links actions as "having done X". Note that Nepali normally uses "khaanu" (to eat) for drinking water, so "paani khaanu" is the natural expression

18. आजलाई यत्ति। राम्रो गर्‍यौ!

    Aaj-laai yat-ti. Raam-ro gar-yau!

    That is it for today. You did well!

    Usage

    The instructor's closing line. Most dojos then line up for a final bow, with students replying "dhanyavaad sir". Tipping is not expected, though some people offer something after a private lesson

    Grammar Note

    The dative "-laai" can also mark a limitation, "as for today". "Garyau" is the familiar second-person past, natural from an instructor to a student

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