As someone who loves sports but finds it very hard to self-motivate when tasked with training alone, I knew I wanted to find a sports team or at least a group of people to work out with. In my time in Tartu, I have always found it hard to get a group of friends together or find enough people and an available court to play on. With that said, staying active in Tartu is not hard. Nature trails and scenic views are abundant. Gyms and outdoor workout equipment are readily available. However, finding and joining organized sports teams, recreational team play, and amateur sports clubs can be a daunting task, especially with a language barrier. In this blog post, I’ll talk about my experience learning a new sport with Estonian as the main language and some tips on finding a way to play your favorite sport and stay active in Tartu.
This last winter I decided I wanted to do sports more regularly and find a way to work out that I would enjoy. I have always been interested in boxing and MMA, so I thought I would step out of my comfort zone and join a basic striking course at Tartu Fight Sport Gym VÕIMLA. I was a bit apprehensive because the language of instruction was fully Estonian, and I had never formally trained in striking before. However, once the class started all the other participants and instructors were eager to help me translate and answered any questions I had in English. It soon became more of an opportunity for me to learn and practice Estonian rather than a tough language barrier or a disadvantage in the course.
We started from zero, learning how to first move, engage our body and throw basic punches. It was very humbling and rewarding to learn how to throw simple punches, kicks, defend, and move properly. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the training was intense physically. It was a great feeling to leave exhausted after each training and feel like I had become a better fighter. Since completing the basic course I have continued to attend advanced training and even though I take a blow or two now and again I’m happy to be training there.
A lot of the information regarding more serious sports clubs is only available in Estonian. If you are serious about your sport the best option is to reach out or just show up. My experience has shown that the locals are more than happy to accommodate and help you traverse language barriers.
The university itself is a great resource to get involved with sports around the city. The University of Tartu has its own massive sports club that offers classes and houses many of the clubs and training. You can find these at www.sport.ut.ee or by checking out the bulletin boards around the university buildings for great opportunities that may have not been directly advertised to you.
If one is looking for a less formal training environment the foreigner pages on Facebook are great to find intramural and amateur sports games.
“Tartu Sports” and “ESN Tartu Sports” are great for finding sporting events open to everyone. Often there are other students, foreigners, and tour guides looking for people to fill out spots in their local games or upcoming activities. Social media avenues for any sport are there with amazing local communities.
One of these communities for me was the local Disc golf Scene. I’ve had multiple lost discs returned to me, great information about new courses to play at, and warnings about local course closures. Tartu and most Estonian villages are almost always equipped with a Disc golf course and various outdoor public workout equipment sets.
Overall, Tartu is a city that wants its residents to be active, and any anxiety about training alone and not being able to find a team to play with should be the least of your worries. Go out and find a club to play your favorite sport!
