The meaning and use of "OSU!" pronounced UUHhhsss!

[Sensei Rick]

I have heard and teach that osu is a contraction. Forgive my spelling here, but the words were ose shinobu. I was taught that there meaning was…. I am trying to keep pace with you. In the school where I teach we use this word to answer in the affirmative. Also, when I become sensei task master and I’m pushing my students to their limits, they respond with OSU! And it can basically mean… I’m trying….. Very hard sensei…. But I’m trying.

I have seen many styles and schools use this term in the same manner. I have questioned 1000’s of black belt on its meaning and at most they say, “it’s a karate word.” I accept this and move on, for I’m only trying to improve my knowledge and confirm what I was taught by my sensei.

My original sensei passed away in November 2006. His loss to me is devastating but I went and found a new dojo. Here, the term is used most indiscriminately. For instance, upon entering the locker room, the students all greet each other with osu, not hello. And they use it like the Hawaiian aloha, for goodbye also. They use it for every darn instance in the world….. It reminds me of a Kevin Neelan skit.

KEVIN SAYS; I was walking down the street, osu, and I saw this dog, osu, he wad sharp, osu teeth, osu. I looked and he didn’t have a collar, osu. But he did have a black, osu, belt.

You get the idea. I can’t stand it. It’s so overused that it looses its meaning with me. When I think of trying to keep pace with sensei, I try to keep pushing and pushing until I can’t stand anymore.

If anyone has any input I’d love to hear it. And please tell me how it is used in your dojo and how was it explained to you.

oh, i almost forgot.....

OSU!

[bushido_man96]

I have read, in Wikipedia, I believe, that the word is over-used in the Western schools (and used for the wrong reasons), and you don't here it used as much in Japan.

In TKD, we don't use any affirmations of this type. If the instructor addresses us with a command, we just reply with a "yes, sir" or "no, sir."

[NightOwl]

24 fighting chickens has a good podcast and article on this issue. I don't usually hear 'Osu' being used between Japanese, but most often I see it used as a casual and slightly crude way of saying 'hey' between guys. It really isn't a respectful term at all- a much more proper word to use would be 'hai' if you were going to have students address the instructor in Japanese.

[Elky]

http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/08/29/appropriate-usage-of-osu/

<-read that

[JWLuiza]

http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/08/29/appropriate-usage-of-osu/

<-read that

You guys beat me to it.

On the same note, Rob has two books that are great... one on his training in Japan and one a Kata Book...

[DancingSteve]

I have, over the years, seen the same thing. Over use and misuse of it. I honestly only ever used it in class as an affirmative to the sensei, We also say it during bowing in when we bow to the sensei. Which I kind of think of a misuse and sometimes dont do.

I have taken to using 'Hai' as an affirmative when sensei is speaking directly to me..or to us as a small group. And only using Osu, in sparing terms, as a group affirmative when the sensei has made a point and basically is saying, You get it? Now lets do it! Osu...and we go.

Your comments about it being like a Kevin Nealon skit made me laugh so hard. Its kind of like people who begin a Japanese style of karate and then almost instantaneously being pronoucing everything with a heavy japanese accent and using , neh, in their normal American speech. That also makes me laugh.

[marie curie]

In Seiei Kan Karate we used it the same as you descrive using it under your old teacher.

[bushido_man96]

http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/08/29/appropriate-usage-of-osu/

<-read that

You guys beat me to it.

On the same note, Rob has two books that are great... one on his training in Japan and one a Kata Book...

What are the titles of these books?

[obiwansbane]

Personally i use Hai, instead of osu.. i mean the word hai means yes, so "Do you get what im trying to say?" what better answer than yes...

[Ace2021]

We use Osu like the Army would use "hoo-ah", or that's what it reminds me of anyway.