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Osu! - Not Just a Word
In Kyokushin Karate, one word echoes more than any other - "Osu!". It is shouted during technique practices, used to greet the dojo, acknowledge an opponent, answer a command, or express gratitude and resolve. But Osu is far more than just a word. It embodies the heart and spirit of Kyokushin Karate.
Etymologically, Osu is a contraction of two Japanese words: Oshi (Push) and Shinobu (Endure). Together, they signify a mindset of pushing forward while enduring adversity. This fusion of pressure and perseverance is at the core of the Martial Way. Osu is not simply said - it is lived.
Osu no Seishin - 押忍の精神
In training, one says Osu! to affirm: "I will not give up". When the body begins to break down and the mind grows weak, Osu is the voice of the spirit that says "Keep going!". As Masutatsu Oyama taught, “First the body wants to stop, then the mind, but the spirit must go on.” That resolve - that ultimate patience and self-discipline - is Osu.
The Osu word also expresses respect, gratitude, and humility. When entering the dojo, bowing and saying Osu shows reverence for the place of learning. When acknowledging a partner’s clean strike, Osu recognizes skill with dignity. After a match or lesson, Osu expresses thanks. It is a word of warrior ethics - binding together loyalty, honor, alertness and appreciation.
Historically, Osu likely entered the martial arts lexicon through the Imperial Japanese Navy and was used among Samurai of the Saga Clan. Masutatsu Oyama, himself a military pilot before founding Kyokushin, would have encountered it there. He then infused it into Kyokushin, where it became a hallmark of the style’s spirit and severity.
Even beyond its dojo use, Osu inspires a personal philosophy: to face life with determination, to polish the basics endlessly (Renma), to act without hesitation (Mushin), and to trust in the process of growth through struggle.
This spirit - Osu no Seishin, the spirit of perseverance - is Kyokushin’s core. It reminds us that Karate is not merely about fighting, but about forging a person of strength, humility, and resolve.
So each time we say "Osu!", we are not just speaking - we are committing. We are saying: "I endure. I push forward. I respect. I overcome."
Osu!
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