Martial Arts

1. Pwede ko moapil ug usa ka training session lang?

   Pwe-de ko mo-a-pil ug u-sa ka training session lang?

   May I join just one training session?

   Usage

   Cebu is internationally known as the home of eskrima. Two of the best-known systems, Doce Pares (founded in Cebu in 1932) and Balintawak (founded by Venancio "Anciong" Bacon in Cebu), both still maintain schools in the city. Groups often train club-style in a community hall, gym or park, so start by asking whether a single visit is possible

   Grammar Note

   The mo- prefix marks the irrealis or intended action in Cebuano verbs ("apil" = to join → "moapil" = will join). "Usa ka + noun" expresses "one of something"

2. Pwede ko motan-aw una sa inyong pagbansay?

   Pwe-de ko mo-tan-aw u-na sa in-yong pag-ban-say?

   May I watch your training first?

   Usage

   Cebuano eskrima clubs are welcoming to spectators and usually let you watch for free, and since they train outdoors or in gyms it is easy to observe. People in Cebu tend to be very open to newcomers, so asking to watch often ends with an invitation to try

   Grammar Note

   The pag- prefix nominalises a verb ("bansay" = to train → "pagbansay" = training). "Inyong" is the plural "your" and works as a polite form when addressing a group or a senior

3. Naa moy baston nga pwede hulaman?

   Na-a moy bas-ton nga pwe-de hu-la-man?

   Do you have a stick I could borrow?

   Usage

   The core eskrima weapon is a rattan stick, called "baston" or "olisi" in Cebuano, roughly the length from your elbow to your fingertips. They are inexpensive, so clubs generally keep spares and will lend you one. Related terms are "daga" (training dagger) and "espada y daga" (stick and dagger together)

   Grammar Note

   "Naa moy ..." is the contracted colloquial form of "Naa kamoy", meaning "do you (plural) have ...". "Baston" comes from Spanish "bastón"; Filipino martial arts vocabulary is rich in Spanish loans

4. Bag-o pa ko, karon pa ko nagsugod ug eskrima.

   Bag-o pa ko, ka-ron pa ko nag-su-god ug es-kri-ma.

   I am still new — I have only just started eskrima.

   Usage

   Saying this up front gets you started properly on the basic angles. Systems that originated in Cebu include Doce Pares, Balintawak, San Miguel Eskrima and Lapunti Arnis de Abanico. You can swap "eskrima" for "arnis" or "kali" — they are alternative names for the same art

   Grammar Note

   The nag- prefix marks a completed or ongoing action ("sugod" = to begin → "nagsugod" = has begun). The particle "pa" means "still / only just" and follows the word it modifies

5. Hinay-hinay lang palihug, ayaw kusog kaayo.

   Hi-nay-hi-nay lang pa-li-hug, a-yaw ku-sog ka-a-yo.

   Please go slowly, not too hard.

   Usage

   Stick work stings when it catches your hands or fingers, so there is no shame in asking. The Balintawak family in particular works at close range with fast exchanges, so asking for reduced intensity as a beginner is simply sensible. To ask for the opposite, say "Pwede paspasan?" (can we speed it up?)

   Grammar Note

   Reduplication ("hinay-hinay") softens and conveys gradualness. Prohibitions take "ayaw" in front, the Cebuano counterpart of Tagalog "huwag". "Kaayo" follows an adjective to mean "very"

6. Sakit akong pulso, pwede ba nako laktawan ang bug-at nga drills?

   Sa-kit a-kong pul-so, pwe-de ba na-ko lak-ta-wan ang bug-at nga drills?

   My wrist hurts — may I skip the heavy drills?

   Usage

   Say this before training starts. Eskrima works the wrist and forearm hard because you swing a stick continuously, and newcomers often feel it quickly. Swap the body part for "abaga" (shoulder), "siko" (elbow), "tuhod" (knee) or "likod" (back)

   Grammar Note

   "Akong" is "ako" (I) plus the linker -ng, giving "my". "Nga" links an adjective to its noun and contracts to -ng after a vowel or n

7. Tagpila ang bayronon kada bulan?

   Tag-pi-la ang bay-ro-non ka-da bu-lan?

   How much are the monthly dues?

   Usage

   Community eskrima clubs in Cebu are often not run for profit, so dues can be very low or amount to sharing the venue cost. Schools that cater to visiting foreign students, and commercial gyms in Cebu City, charge proper monthly rates. The spread is wide, so ask before committing

   Grammar Note

   "Tagpila" asks a unit price, with the tag- prefix conveying "per". "Bayronon" derives from "bayad" (to pay) and means "that which is to be paid"

8. Tagpila ang bayad kada session?

   Tag-pi-la ang ba-yad ka-da session?

   How much is it per session?

   Usage

   The way to ask a per-visit rate. Follow up with "Naa moy private lesson?" if you want one-on-one coaching. Community clubs sometimes wave payment away; offering something towards replacement sticks or the venue is appreciated in that case

   Grammar Note

   "Kada" comes from Spanish "cada" and means "each / per" ("kada adlaw" = every day, "kada semana" = every week). Cebuano conversation mixes in both English and Spanish-derived vocabulary quite naturally

9. Naa ba moy klase para sa mga babaye?

   Na-a ba moy kla-se pa-ra sa mga ba-ba-ye?

   Do you have a class for women?

   Usage

   Eskrima relies on weapon and technique rather than size, so women take part in numbers. Since Republic Act 9850 of 2009 made arnis the national martial art and put it into the school physical education curriculum, most Filipinos of either gender have handled a stick at school. Some clubs run women-only sessions; at many others mixed training is simply the norm

   Grammar Note

   The particle "ba" marks a question and normally sits in second position in the sentence. "Mga" marks the plural and is pronounced "ma-nga"

10. Unsang orasa ang klase karong adlawa?

    Un-sang o-ra-sa ang kla-se ka-rong ad-la-wa?

    What time is the class today?

    Usage

    Community clubs tend to meet on weekend mornings or weekday evenings. When they borrow a school gym or barangay court the available hours shift by day. Outdoor sessions can be cancelled during typhoon season, so confirm on the day

    Grammar Note

    "Unsa" (what) takes the linker -ng before a following noun, giving "unsang". "Karong adlawa" is the set expression for "today", literally "this day"

11. Palihug tudloi ko sa sinawali hinay-hinay.

    Pa-li-hug tud-lo-i ko sa si-na-wa-li hi-nay-hi-nay.

    Please teach me the sinawali slowly.

    Usage

    "Sinawali" is the foundational double-stick drill in which the sticks weave against each other; the name comes from "sawali", woven bamboo matting, which the pattern resembles. Other core terms are "abecedario" (the numbered basic angles), "redonda" (continuous circular strikes) and "abanico" (fanning wrist strikes). Balintawak also drills free-flowing exchange known as "corridas"

    Grammar Note

    The -i suffix forms an imperative focused on the recipient of the action ("tudlo" = to teach → "tudloi ko" = teach me). "Sa" marks a specific object or location

12. Unsa kadugay una ko makaapil ug sparring?

    Un-sa ka-du-gay u-na ko ma-ka-a-pil ug sparring?

    How long before I can join sparring?

    Usage

    Free stick sparring is normally done in head and hand protection, while unpadded partner work stays inside set patterns. Instructors withhold permission until your basic angles and blocks are reliable, so it is safest to leave the timing to them

    Grammar Note

    "Unsa ka- + adjective" asks about degree ("unsa kalayo" = how far, "unsa kabug-at" = how heavy). The maka- prefix expresses ability or capacity

13. Unsang estilo sa eskrima ang inyong gitudlo dinhi?

    Un-sang es-ti-lo sa es-kri-ma ang in-yong gi-tud-lo din-hi?

    Which style of eskrima do you teach here?

    Usage

    Systems that began in Cebu include Doce Pares (founded 1932 and the source of many later branches), Balintawak (founded by Venancio "Anciong" Bacon and known for close-range single-stick work), San Miguel Eskrima and Lapunti Arnis de Abanico. Styles differ substantially in stance, range and how the angles are numbered, so asking about lineage reads as a mark of respect

    Grammar Note

    The gi- prefix puts the focus on the object of a completed action ("tudlo" = to teach → "gitudlo" = what is taught). In Cebuano the verbal affix determines which element of the sentence is in focus

14. Asa ko makatan-aw ug eskrima nga tournament?

    A-sa ko ma-ka-tan-aw ug es-kri-ma nga tournament?

    Where can I watch an eskrima tournament?

    Usage

    Competitive arnis and eskrima have a full-contact division fought in protective gear and an "anyo" division judged on the accuracy of forms. Arnis is an official event at the Palarong Pambansa national student games, visible from the regional qualifiers upward. In Cebu, demonstrations and tournaments are sometimes scheduled around school anniversaries or city festivals such as Sinulog

    Grammar Note

    "Asa + subject + verb" is the basic order for asking about location. The maka- prefix expresses ability, combining with "tan-aw" (to see) to give "can watch"

15. Ipataas imong guard, tan-awa ang mata sa imong kaatbang.

    I-pa-ta-as i-mong guard, tan-a-wa ang ma-ta sa i-mong ka-at-bang.

    Get your guard up, look at your opponent's eyes.

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. In eskrima the cue covers both the stick hand and the position of the empty "alive hand", which is kept forward because it is used to check, trap and control. Commands come as short, subjectless imperatives with no rudeness implied

    Grammar Note

    The ipa- prefix adds a causative sense ("taas" = high → "ipataas" = make it high). Imperatives commonly take the -a suffix ("tan-aw" → "tan-awa")

16. Kusgi imong hampak, ayaw kaulaw.

    Kus-gi i-mong ham-pak, a-yaw ka-u-law.

    Strike harder, do not be shy.

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. "Hampak" is the Cebuano word for a stick strike. A half-committed swing wanders off line and is more likely to catch your partner's hand, which is why holding back is treated as the riskier choice. "Kaulaw" means to feel shy or self-conscious, from "ulaw", the Cebuano counterpart of the Tagalog concept "hiya"

    Grammar Note

    The -i suffix builds a transitive imperative meaning "increase it / make it so" ("kusog" = strong → "kusgi" = make it stronger). Note the vowel elision in the stem

17. Pahulay ug lima ka minutos, inom mo ug tubig.

    Pa-hu-lay ug li-ma ka mi-nu-tos, i-nom mo ug tu-big.

    Rest for five minutes, everyone drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. Cebu is hot and humid year round and neither school gyms nor outdoor courts are air conditioned, so water breaks are built into the session. Bring your own bottle, or buy one at a nearby sari-sari store

    Grammar Note

    Quantities take the form "number + ka + noun" ("lima ka minutos" = five minutes, "tulo ka adlaw" = three days). "Mo" is the contracted form of "kamo" (you plural), used when addressing the whole group

18. Igo na ni para karon. Maayo kaayo!

    I-go na ni pa-ra ka-ron. Ma-a-yo ka-a-yo!

    That is enough for now. Very good!

    Usage

    The instructor's closing line. Sessions typically end with a mutual bow and a handshake. Taking an older instructor's right hand and touching it to your forehead — the gesture known in Tagalog as "mano po" — is widely practised in Cebu too. Reply with "Salamat kaayo, Sir / Ma'am"

    Grammar Note

    The particle "na" means "already" and signals a change of state. "Kaayo" follows an adjective to mean "very" and is the basic intensifier in Cebuano

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