The Meaning of 'OSS' (+ When You Should NEVER Say It)

Here are the 3 possible origins of the term:

#1: The Kyokushin Theory

The first theory comes from Japanese full-contact Kyokushin Karate.

You see, in Kyokushin it’s common wisdom that the term “Osu!” stems from a longer phrase known as “Osu no Seishin”.

In this particular case, “Osu!” is a combination of two different kanji (Sino-Japanese characters), namely the verb ‘osu’ which means “to push”, and ‘shinobu’ which means “to endure/suffer” or “to hide”.

Put together, these two kanji form a new compound word, which can symbolize a lot of stuff, depending on who interprets it: “combat spirit”, “the importance of effort” “the necessity to overcome all obstacles by pushing them aside”, “advancing with a steady positive attitude”, “not showing suffering” and “the spirit of perseverance” are some of the commonly cited meanings of this “Osu!” version.

In other words, since Kyokushin Karate requires extreme amounts of physical conditioning and guts – this theory says that you are verbally reminding yourself to breach your comfort zone by putting your physical/mental limits to the test every time you say “Osu!”.

#2: The ‘Good Morning’ Theory

The next theory comes from Dr. Mizutani Osamu in Japan.

Dr. Mizutani, a linguistics professor at the University of Nagoya and frequently quoted in The Japan Times as a “language expert”, talks in his work about a fascinating experiment he once conducted with a group of random people in order to observe the various ways in which subjects would return a simple morning greeting.

Put briefly, Dr. Mizutani greeted unknown people on the streets of Nagoya with the expression “Ohayo gozaimasu!” (the most polite Japanese equivalent of “Good morning!”) and noted the different responses.

The result?

Although most subjects replied in a similar manner (“Ohayo gozaimasu!”), during the course of the experiment Dr. Mizutani noticed that greetings changed as situations changed.

Joggers, for instance, involved in an athletic activity, responded with considerably rougher language than people who were just out for a stroll or walking their dog.

So, the conclusion drawn by Mizutani was that “Osu!” is a very rough masculine expression used mainly by young men toward other men, most often while engaged in athletic activities, and that it basically means “Hey ya!” in English.

#3: The Onegaishimasu Theory

This last theory is called ‘The Onegaishimasu Theory’.

It’s similar to the previous ‘Good Morning Theory’ in the sense that a longer (formal) Japanese expression gets shortened to a more pragmatic (but less respectful) version.

Although “Onegaishimasu” is one of the most common expressions used in Japanese everyday language, it’s actually a pretty hard-to-translate term in English, and the closest equivalents I can come up with are “Please”, “Do me the favor”, or “Grant me the pleasure”, i.e. inducing a mutual feeling of reprocity and gratitude.

So, how does “Onegaishimasu” become “Osu!”?

Well, I actually noticed this phenomenon unfold myself on several occasions when I lived in Japan: While most regular students would exclaim “Onegaishimasu” as they bowed to each other before beginning an exercise, a couple of youngsters would always gradually shorten the phrase, until, by the end of class, the only thing that could be distinguished from the intended “Onegaishimasu” was a simple “Osu!” grunt.

Although the usage of “Osu!” has reached embarassing heights in modern Karate today (including some MMA and BJJ gyms), people are bound to keep using it because of its newfound meaning in martial arts circles as a handy, all-encompassing utility word.

But... you should never say it to a Japanese person – unless he is younger than you, lower in rank, or wants you to say it (if you’re a woman, don’t say it at all).

This is a VERY touchy subject!

“Osu!” expresses a strong assertiveness, masculinity and “let’s-kick-butt” spirit in Japanese.

So what could you say instead?

In 9 times out of 10, there are two very good options:

Say “Hai!”…
…or say nothing.

“Hai!” is the commonly used word in Japanese for “yes”/”understood”/”affirmative”.

That’s what we say in Okinawa – the birthplace of Karate – as well as in many other places where the “Osu!” parade hasn’t arrived yet and people value humility.

Most importantly; just shut up & train.

(Especially if you’re a true Karate Nerd)

However, if your instructor demands “Osu!” – go ahead and say it.

Because it would be disrespectful to not say it.

At the end of the day, that’s what matters.

“Karate wa rei ni hajimari, rei ni owaru.” (“Karate begins & ends with respect.”) – Funakoshi Gichin (1868-1957)

[samuelperez]

So this is the "I am groot" of training

[kitsune]

I trained in Shito-Ryu while living in Shiga-Ken from 2007-2009. Osu was the primary mode of communication from the youngest kid on the floor to the Soke of the style. No answer was unacceptable. Osu was always OK and expected.

I began studying Shima-Ha Shorin-Ryu Karate in 1997 at the junior college I attended. There was a Shotokan practitioner cross training there and introduced osu into the club. The teacher there liked its use, so it became common parlance.

I next trained in Matsubayashi-Ryu with a teacher who also studied Kobayashi and osu was also used in his school.

In 2008 or so, I traveled to Okinawa to train with the Matsubayashi-Ryu Soke, Nagamine Takayoshi. Osu was not acceptable in his dojo because of its relationship to the military. I was advised to never use it in Okinawa.

In my training on the mainland in Shito-Ryu, women used it in training just as much as the men. Outside the dojo, it is fairly inappropriate for a man or woman to use with non-Karate practitioners.

I guess the key is if you hear osu being used, use it. If not, don’t. “Read the air” to see if it’s ok to use it with your superiors. Most Karate ka will dig it. If they don’t, they’ll tell you. If you’re told to stop, you best stop.

[tainamonteiro]

I've been practicing Shotokan Karate for 9 years in Brazil and we use the word "OSS"" in all situations, even in competitions, but I never questioned myself about its origins. Thanks for the explanation 😊

[Soho_Minos]

"Do you accept her/him as your wife/husband?
OSS"

[mada_xd]

I do kyokushin for 3 years now but i never knew what the word really ment.Thank you sensei Jesse!Osu

[theGreaterAwareness]

I'm fluent in Japanese and English. Basically, it is the restructuring of a word to make the word more easy to say. In English, we have a similar situation where a sentence like:
"What are you doing" can be restructured like this: What ya doin? Wha'cha doin?. Likewise, in Japanese, a phrase that can seem repetitive and a chore (for some people) is either "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu" or "Ohayo Gozaimasu". Both phrases end with "su". And so a formal sentence has been into a short sound. As non-Japanese people say "Ossu". A close example would be to say "Good day!" and shorten it to "ay". In a place where people are busy, and friends, words can be abbreviated but in Japan you would not say it to a stranger or someone in an authority position above you. "Ossu" is just a sound. Whatever the local meaning is, is what it means. It's an abbreviated phrase that has been shortened so much that it is one sound.

[arnoburkholderdelarosa]

In Kendo we use a lot the expression “Onegaishimasu”, but never ever use “Osu”. I heard the “Osu” is also related with the japanese mafia or “Yakuza” and that is other reason because normally you can’t use it. A Kyokushin sensei once told me “a waiter said ‘hai’ but a warrior always says ‘osu’. But years after that a Kendo sensei told me “a gentleman says ‘hi’, only a thug says “osu” (????)

[maxphysics]

I like the videos where you speak directly into the camera more than this kind of format, but thank you for the explanation of OSU.

[jonathankruger]

When I worked in Osaka, Japan for 7 years as a missionary I found this word Osu commonly used by the Yakuza among themselves. I used to speak to the Yakuza about my faith in God and they would usually reply Osu if they understood what I was saying to them. I was later told by the Japanese themselves that it is used by rather rough people. I also found that the Bosozoku biker groups in Osaka also used Osu when I would meet and speak to them. But I never once heard this word used in any of the older traditional Judo or Aiki Jujitsu dojo I trained at. Even among the Kohai and Senpai. It was always Onegai Shimasu or Hai wakari mashita to the dojo Sensei or to each other. I was taught by the Japanese that it was Choto kitsuii na kotoba, a rather rough word.

[shotokankaratedude]

Oss is also a city in the netherlands. I live there 😂

[トランディスタレディ夫]

Hello Jesse!
I always respect you .
You consider & understand Japanese culture very well.

As one of Japanese, I explain "OSS".

OSS = 押忍= 押す + 忍ぶ(耐える)
押す=張り手…相撲、punch of 力士
&
忍ぶ=stand, endure
We must stand enemy's 張り手.
押忍=Punching enemy continuously & standing enemy's punch .

In fact OSS was 相撲用語 from the start.
It is said that 拓殖大学（takushoku university）
空手部(karate club) used "OSS" for the first time in Japan.

Is my English right?
I'm afraid that my English sentence.

[miguelacevedo]

Thank you for your explaining of "osu". As a Kyokushin practitioner of more than 15 years since 1968 my self. I looked at the expression of the word meaning hard training and respect to my Sensei, Sempays and fellow practitioners. Out of Kyokushin Karate, I had never heard it said to practitioners or used in other styles.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with all.
My best regards and respect.

[ssiskov]

mas oyama helped spread the word world wide. :)

[wushunoob]

I went to a karate seminar a few weeks back and the amount that they said "Oss" just seemed ott to me.
I don't have much understanding of it but it was like their own language that only consisted of that word to me 😂

[HansDavidian]

In my BJJ gym:

Coach: Do you understand the technique?

Students: Oss.

Coach: Do you need to see it one more time?

Students: Oss.

Coach: Okay. One, two, three *clap* Oss.

[joseaparici]

I practice Ashihara (it comes from Kyokushin; our Shihan, Jose Romero Sr., learned it in Holland in the 70's and we follow Kancho Hideyuki in the late 80's already here in Spain) and we use it all the time but my surprise was when I started to learn jiu-jitsu two years ago and saw that they use it too!

[squee]

I've always avoided using OSS because of the very reason that i didn't understand what it meant. Hai is my go to. After watching... I'm going to stick to hai.

[Deltree]

Only our 4-dan Sensei says that at the beginning of training during seiza-bow. But when other group of kyokushin karate comes to practice, they always say Osu when bow before entering the tatami. But yeah. This clarified a lot. Thanks Jesse!

[Tentacl]

I train BJJ in Brazil and we use Oss a lot. There's a japanese senior (around 80 years old) who trains there (not BJJ tough, he does strenght conditioning) and he seems to like when we greet him with Oss too. That's how he adress us all too, including our (coral belt) master.

I live in a asian neighborhood, so he's not just accepting we are gaijin who don't know what we are saying, and he trains there for over 10 years. My personal theory is, he likes to feel part of a manly group of fighters with a stoic behavior who train a martial art from his homeland, even in the brazilian version.

[ronobvious]

I have been in two different Aikido dojo where "osu" was used. One school agreed that it was kind of a rough, lower class sort of thing to say. That described our training there pretty well so it seemed appropriate. Still, we didn't use it very often. The other Aikido school began every single class with Sensei saying "osu" to the students and all students repeating it back to him.