OSU/OSS: A Vernacular Exclamation

[Kenjin]

Thought you might find this article educational. OSU - Do not use.

 

[Tony Dismukes103]

The article matches pretty well my understanding of the cultural context for "Osu". I don't think I've ever encountered anyone claiming that it's "an indispensable component of classical Japanese etiquette/protocol" or anything like that. Are there schools out there presenting it that way?

 

[Kenjin]

Yes, hence the article.

 

[Gyakuto104]

I wanted to know more about this rather uncouth expression so I read this:

It soon became clear that nobody really knows its true origin and is the equivalent of saying ‘whassup’. An urbane martial artist doesn’t use this expression!

 

[isshinryuronin]

uneducated > misuse > slang > vernacular > accepted language

 

[Kenjin]

In this manner, repetition precedes comprehension. The student learns when to produce the sound long before being encouraged to investigate what it means, where it originated, or whether it is appropriate beyond that particular organization. What begins as imitation gradually becomes habit; habit acquires ceremonial familiarity; and ceremonial familiarity is eventually mistaken for historical legitimacy.

 

[Hyoho]

Thought you might find this article educational. OSU - Do not use.

My High School principle (Japan) was very vocal about students NOT using this to address others in general. A simple ohayo gozaimasu or konichiwa is the norm.

 

[Same Trick49]

Yes the - ohayo gozaimasu - is what goes in okinawan dojos

Edit - no no - Onegaishimasu - it is

 

[_Simon_104]

I think I said osu probably 30+ times tonight in training. I am so naughty!!!

Ps. I know why certain groups say it, and it's okay. I think meaning is pretty context dependent, even moreso with language. It means something different within different spaces. It has a deep meaning for me specifically.

 

[Gyakuto104]

I think I said osu probably 30+ times tonight in training. I am so naughty!!!

I was waiting for you to chime in It’s always you people who do rough/tough Karate (and Shotokan as well) who oss like a steam locomotive rally.

Ps. I know why certain groups say it, and it's okay. I think meaning is pretty context dependent, even moreso with language.

But then you could simply grunt like an silver back gorilla if a specific meaning isn’t required

It means something different within different spaces. It has a deep meaning for me specifically.

Is that meaning something you’d be willing to share? I’m genuinely interested

 

[Prince_Alarming104]

I use it to mean "I (or you) have just done something massively immature but physically impressive"

 

[Buka20]

Calling that article oxymoronic would be kind.

Its ostentatious verbosity is annoying and not something I usually associate with Japanese Martial Arts. Now I shall go say Osu to my dog and give her a cookie.

 

[_Simon_104]

I was waiting for you to chime in It’s always you people who do rough/tough Karate (and Shotokan as well) who oss like a steam locomotive rally.

But then you could simply grunt like an silver back gorilla if a specific meaning isn’t required

Haha, well no, the meaning is required, hence why it's utilised.

Is that meaning something you’d be willing to share? I’m genuinely interested

How.. long have you got.. haha

It's of course quite varied in usage. From being used as a greeting, to an acknowledgement that you heard or understood an instruction, as a respect to your partner and dojo, to the usage specifically within Kyokushin and derivatives.

This one comes down to the translation of the full phrase oshi shinobu, meaning to push, to endure. So it's not just to persevere, but to persevere  while being pushed, done under profound pressure. That's important. It isn't just to persevere with something, in other words just doing a task under your own choice in a relatively stress-free environment. But to do so, and to really  choose it in the midst of immense pressure something truly special happens..

Here's where words get tricky haha... importantly and what I think people confuse. Osu isn’t just some machismo, hyper-masculine energy, grit thing. I mean, it starts as that yang energy. But to me, that's really surface level in understanding and application. Because there's a defining limit on that isn't there. It's based on force, and with all force it runs out. Osu as I understand it is based more on something deeper, closer to spirit but that has connotations people can struggle with.

It's like you hit a limit, the body wants to give up, so the mind pushes you. That runs out, the mind wants to give up, then spirit takes over. That's where osu begins. It's not just some mental fortitude, and I would add a further stage after spirit and that is heart, but that one I can't talk about without breaking down in tears haha. Things pare down to their essence, almost like it gets stripped back to something more essential.

It has really depth that actually can't be fully understood unless you've experienced it yourself. I'm trying not to sound so vague and mysterious haha but here we are.

It draws something out of you, and every single time you say osu when you're in that beyond fatigued state, it not only reminds you of it but it opens something within you. It goes from yang to the more yin, receptivity and surrender aspect. Total surrender to the process without any resistance.

I could go on, and I'm not sure if I've explained myself well haha, but hopefully that made sense

 

[Gyakuto104]

This one comes down to the translation of the full phrase oshi shinobu, meaning to push, to endure.

According to that book on the subject, nobody knows its origin at all. Something to do with Waseda University or a contraction of ‘ohyo gozaimasu’, nobody really knows. Oshi shinobu is never mention from recall.

If your group uses it then fair enough; it’s like gangster’s greeting code phrase like “ Yo mofo, I’ll pop a cap in ur ***!” (my local old-age pensioner’s book club uses that one-chilling) . It does make my skin crawl on hearing a Karate class shouting “OSS” at everything and anything.

 

[isshinryuronin]

It does make my skin crawl on hearing a Karate class shouting “OSS” at everything and anything.

It just ain't proper except in a particular circle of like-minded people. Ya feel me, brah?

 

[isshinryuronin]

I don't mean to mock those here whose school has adopted this expression (can't bring myself to type it). Morals/mores can be subjective: If something once considered "wrong" or "mistaken" is embraced by a particular group, does that make it "right" and "acceptable?"

It's not the student's fault in any case. We are all subject to our environment. But it's wise to know that the greater community outside that environment sees it not as its "adopted" meaning, but in its original connotation as informal slang. Using informal slang of any kind to those not your "homies" can be seen as disrespectful or, at the least, unrefined.

Let me end by saying it's not a big thing that affects the actual art or the effort those put into training. But I'm with Gyakuto's quote posted just above. But that's on us old fashioned guys.

 

[Gyakuto104]

But that's on us old fashioned guys.

Old? Yeah, I suppose…

 

[Darren1]

Thought you might find this article educational. OSU - Do not one needs access to it, which i don`t have.

 

[Hyoho]

It just ain't proper except in a particular circle of like-minded people. Ya feel me, brah?

This would be my take on things. It's a group thing. My principal was rather annoyed at people using it in general.

 

[Gyakuto104]

I began to feel a bit of a berk saying “HAI!” after receiving instruction from my Western teacher in a dojo of Western students and instead smiled and said “thank you”. If I was training in Japan I would say “HAI!” and the occasional “naruhodo“.

I’ve changed my opinion now and think, if you dojo uses the noise “OSS!” then fill your boots and join in! Just don’t use it outside the dojo which can happen with any habit (I remember us roaring with laughter when one of our dojo mates unconsciously bowed on entering a bar!)