Author: Bret Gordon
In the martial arts world, one can hardly go a day on the mat without hearing the exclamation "Osu!" In fact, it has even infiltrated social media in the forms of oss, osu, ush, along with many more variations, and has muddied the waters on what it actually means. Some will say it is a respectful exclamation to show understanding. Others will say it's a greeting between people with mutual respect. Some use it solely to sound Japanese. My goal is to expel the myths of "Osu" and shed light on its actual meaning and proper use.
Osu is actually not a word in Japanese at all. There is some disagreement of the roots words, but we know for certain osu is a contraction. The first theory is that osu is the shortened version of "Oshi Shinobu," which in English translates as "to endure under pressure." The second is that it actually comes from "Onegaishimasu," commonly translated as "Please teach me." So why did we shorten these words to osu, and how did it become the go-to phrase in nearly all Western martial arts schools?
Osu is actually not a word in Japanese at all. There is some disagreement of the roots words, but we know for certain osu is a contraction. The first theory is that osu is the shortened version of "Oshi Shinobu," which in English translates as "to endure under pressure." The second is that it actually comes from "Onegaishimasu," commonly translated as "Please teach me." So why did we shorten these words to osu, and how did it become the go-to phrase in nearly all Western martial arts schools?
This shortening of the Japanese language, unfortunately, does not have a mystical purpose - or even one that complicated. It's pure laziness, both on the part of the Japanese instructors and the American GIs who studied under them while stationed in Japan and Okinawa. Osu grew out of necessity as a form of shorthand between the two parties. It was a simple way for them to communicate during instruction without the GIs actually having to learn the Japanese language. Unfortunately, this was brought back along with the martial arts training and has since become bastardized into a language of its own. I've seen complete exchanges between sensei and student saying nothing but "osu" and simply changing the inflection.
So if it's not even a word, is it appropriate to use in the dojo and if so, when? First and foremost, if you are a student of an instructor who insists on using "osu," you should follow their example. It is their school or system after all, and would be disrespectful not to. However, in my opinion, the only time it is appropriate is when bowing to someone of lower rank or position, using it as the shorthand version of "onegaishimasu" which the lower rank should be saying to you completely, or when bowing to the shomen, kamiza or kamidana. For most other situations in which "osu" is commonly used, such as to show understanding of the instruction, the phrase "Hai, wakarimasu" or simply "Hai" would be more appropriate and respectful.
Hopefully this article has helped you in your understanding of proper Japanese etiquette. Stay tuned for more articles on the subject!
So if it's not even a word, is it appropriate to use in the dojo and if so, when? First and foremost, if you are a student of an instructor who insists on using "osu," you should follow their example. It is their school or system after all, and would be disrespectful not to. However, in my opinion, the only time it is appropriate is when bowing to someone of lower rank or position, using it as the shorthand version of "onegaishimasu" which the lower rank should be saying to you completely, or when bowing to the shomen, kamiza or kamidana. For most other situations in which "osu" is commonly used, such as to show understanding of the instruction, the phrase "Hai, wakarimasu" or simply "Hai" would be more appropriate and respectful.
Hopefully this article has helped you in your understanding of proper Japanese etiquette. Stay tuned for more articles on the subject!
