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

[bushido_man96]

The traditional Japanese way of applying themselves to learning a discipline or art form seems to be very much based on "doing, without thought or question".It’s the "purposeless art" thing I suppose. A concept that our culture in the west simply doesn't embrace.

Personally I try to apply this principle to certain activities within the Dojo IE kihon, as I feel that the relaxed and empty state of mind helps foster better ingrained techniques in the long-term.

Sometimes too much thinking and questioning can paralyse your Karate and rather than advancing it, sends it backward.

I think that it is a good thing to apply the principle when practicing something, in order to stay focused and undistracted. However, before beginning the practice, I think it is important to analyze everything to see if it will work, what it is for, etc. That way, when you do practice, you have the rational behind it.

[jaymac]

When responding to our instructor in class, we use "Hai" and his title. He explained that OSU has become so overused and in fact may be deemed disrespectful if used when training with true japanese instructors. He learned this at a seminar that was being taught (forgive me for forgetting the name of the instructor), by a high ranking japanese instructor from Okinawa. Many of the students at this seminar were using OSU and he stopped the seminar and said that he no longer wanted to hear this during his time there. He said it was disrespectful and to just "be quiet and learn."

[Sensei Rick]

I like your post Jaymac. I am studying with Koyama himself and he uses the word. I am inclined to agree with you and let it be stopped in my own classes..... hmmmmm?

[nursenox]

Hi. I don't know if this will help, but here are my observations:

Here in Okinawa, I hear Osu used almost exclusively at the dojo. They use it as an informal greeting outside only rarely. I wonder if that is more of a mainland Japan thing.

In my dojo here, they use it as greeting and goodbye, to answer role call, and to respond to being told to do certain things, but not as militantly formal as I see in American schools.

I don't know this for sure, it's just a guess, but since it seems to be more of an Okinawan thing than a mainland thing.

Oh, and another observation- People also use a word that sounds similar when they are pushing or straining to do something difficult. Coincidence?

[jaymac]

You know, I wonder then if true Okinawan instructors find it disrespectful when coming from Westerners?

[nursenox]

You know, I wonder then if true Okinawan instructors find it disrespectful when coming from Westerners?

Mine doesn't. I don't know about others.

[Sensei Rick]

Okay, I'm giving a bit of an update. I am at least trying to get people to stop using it as a greating. I mean, they aren't saying "aloha". the fellow students keep greeting me by saying uhsss, but I just grab them and say HI, HOW ARE U, WHAT'S UP, HOW'S THE WIFE. I say anything but uhs... uuuhhhggggg!!!! I can't stand it being used for a greeting!!!!

[KarateEd]

I pointed a friend of mine, who had lived in Japan for 4 1/2 years, to that "24 Fighting Chickens" article. He read it and, though his not an MA practitioner, he agreed with the observations made within that article.

Ed

[savedbygrace]

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."

This is also the way it is in my school that I train at.

[bushido_man96]

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."

This is also the way it is in my school that I train at.

I think that this all the more formal that we really need to be. I have heard that the "sir" or "ma'am" thing doesn't even go on in BJJ schools. I have heard that they are very informal. Which would be a nice change.