Ohtar says Osu!

[Ohtar]

Hello,

I'm new here, so thougt I'd better introduce myself first. I'd already done it in another topic, because 'new threat' didn't work, but now I can't find it anywhere anymore. (When I press 'next page' I get the next topic :confused: )
Well, I come from Holland, and I practise now Kyokushinkai karate for 3 years. I've got a yellow+stripe belt (5th kyu). In my club there are not much girls (17) of my age or older who train Kyokushin, and enjoy it really. Who practises here Kyokushin?

I bet Kyokushin girl! :D

Osu!

[TkdWarrior]

LoL...
welcome to the forums, mate...
the new thread button is just below this post or on every section here... just surf this site thoroughly n experiment :D
-TkdWarrior-

[Cooler]

Welcome to the site Ohtar I look forward to your input. Now what gives you the idea that Kyokushin girl studies Kyokushinkai karate? ;)

Cooler

[Saz]

Kyokushinkai? Never heard of it?! :D

Osu Ohtar, welcome to the forum. Its always good to see another kyokushin practioneer here :) This is a really great place, you'll get loads out of it and hopefully put loads in :)

Osu

[Ohtar]

There is something strange. Often, there are next pages, but no 'next page' button!
:confused:

[Ohtar]

sorry, that I'm posting two times, but it works again. :o

[TkdWarrior]

there r no next page button but instead there is link in bottom of thread like previous page 1 2 3 4... last page
-TkdWarrior-

[Knight_Errant]

Hey man, could you do us all a big big favour and not toss the word 'osu' around like some oriental soya-based condiment? Thanks. I'm otherwise friendly.

[paul paterson]

Osu,

Why does the word Osu cause offense to you Knight_errant? As this word is used all over the globe within the dojos of good martial arts schools.

Osu.
Paul Paterson.

[Knight_Errant]

well, for various reasons I take exception to people using foreign words and touting various 'deep' meanings and generating an aura of mysticism around themselves.

[paul paterson]

Osu,

If that were so true ten why do you practice a martial art as that would be seen to be foreign. As for an aura of mysticism, sorry but no, no, no. Please look up the word Osu. As I have said before, you have your reasons and I have mine but that does not mean you have to say who can and can not say certain words that then becomes a big brother thing.

Osu
Paul Paterson.

[Knight_Errant]

martial arts? foreign? I thought it was an inventive way of kicking the **** out of people myself, but there we are. Use the word osu if you like, but remember it's really just a japanese athletic expression, probably roughly equivavlent to 'yowza' or 'man, that rocked'. Incidentally, I have no particular wish for this to become a big arsey internet slanging-match. That's not what I signed on for.

[paul paterson]

Osu
Paul Paterson.
Osu

[Cain]

LOL! :D

Go easy knight errant, it's their way of greeting, I don't think they mean any offense, no need to go over the top for it :D

chill man :D

|Cain|

[Adam]

Fine then, don't use the word if you don't like it.

I sorta like it- OSU! A powerful word.

Makes you happy just saying it - OSUOSUOSUOSU!

Incidentally, it does have a deeper meaning and it's not got to do with athletics.

I used to do Kyokushin too Ohtar. Very nice style.

[Cain]

Adam you misunderstood me, I don't find it funny or offensive, but what I did find strange was knight errant's reaction to it :D

|Cain|

[Knight_Errant]

some explanations required here... the word 'osu'- have you been to japan and seen how it's used? I read an article by a guy who has, and he thinks very different thinks about it than I used to.

[Adam]

What did he say about it?

[Knight_Errant]

See for yourself at The site in question (http://www.24fightingchickens.com/shotokan/mu/osu/index.html)

[Adam]

Interesting. I believe the word is used in a different context in kyokushin, but I'm sure Paul Paterson with his greater experience would be able to explain it much better than I would.
I do agree that it shouldn't be used outside of training, though. That makes it a cheap word and makes it loose its meaning, as well as making the dojo kind of a cult group. Uneccesary mysticism is not a large part of kyokushin. Perseverance and strength of mind is.

Here is what is probably what Sosai believed OSU to be.

Osu means patience, respect and appreciation. In order to develop a strong body and strong spirit it is necessary to undergo rigorous training.

This is very demanding, because you must push yourself to what you believe to be your limit, and you want to stop; to give up. When you reach this point you must fight yourself and your weakness and you must win. To do this you must learn to persevere, but above all you must learn to be patient. This is OSU!

The reason you subject yourself to hard training is because you care about yourself, and to care about yourself is to respect yourself. This self respect evolves and expands to become respect for your instructor and fellow students. When you enter the dojo you bow and say "Osu" . This means you respect your dojo and the time you spend training there. This feeling of respect is OSU!

During training you push yourself as hard as possible because you respect yourself. When you finish you bow to your insructor and fellow students and say "Osu" once more. You do this out of appreciation. This feeling of appreciation is OSU.

Thus OSU is a very important word in Kyokushin Karate because it signifies patience, respect and appreciation. That is why we always use the word OSU; to remind ourselves of these indespensable qualities.

[paul paterson]

Osu,

Looks like someone has been reading his International Karate Organization Kyokushin Students Hand Book.

I have heard many people speak of the spirit of osu and its meaning, and with as many different understandings. To date, although exposed to some of Kyokushin's best and brightest, I cannot say that I have mastered the ability to, in a scholarly manner, provide one simple definition to this concept. This is because the spirit of osu encompasses a multi-dimensional definition.It allows for each one of us to apply all or some of its philosophies within our lives.

Confucius wrote that "sincerity is the end and the beginning of all things." He goes on to say that "perceiving what is right, and what is not, argues lack of courage." This is so true of what Osu and Kyuokushinkai is.

There is a saying in Japan, Ishi no ue ni san nen, Translated, it means "three years on a rock." This saying symbolizes the need to perservere at all times and it is one of the most important philosophies in Kyokushinkai Karate.

A Budo-ka is not easily shaken by the blows of adversity, realizing that for a person to draw near to their true pontential, a never-say-die spirit of perserverance is required. This strength of character develops in hard training and is known as osu no seishin. The word osu comes from oshi shinobu, which means "to persevere whilst being pushed". It implies a willingness to push oneself to the limits of endurance, to persevere under any kind of pressure. The single word osu captures most accurately the ultimate in what the art of karate, particularly Kyokushin has to offer.

Osu.
Paul Paterson.

[paul paterson]

Osu,

"Learning to use the word "osu" can only be mastered by practice. It should be used without embarrassment for all responses, yes, no, please, thank you, excuse me, and with attention to what signified, an unbreakable spirit."

Osu.
Paul Paterson.

[Adam]

I thought so too. It's a word with a complex meaning, and I myself have never grasped the true meaning of Osu and, for that matter, kyokushinkai. It's supposed to come only after years of training, but I still feel the power of the word.

Osu!

[Saz]

Osu has a different meaning in the kyokushin dojo than to what it everyone else seems to think it means. Its not meant to cause offence, quite the opposite, its meant to show strength and respect. Knight_errant, why not go along to a kyokushinkai class and see what it means there in practice. There's loads in Wales. Thats probably the best way of understanding what we mean by it. Its hard to actually explain.

I think it'll take years of training to fully master what it means. I don't fully understand the whole meaning of it yet, but I know I will do as I train longer. It can mean different things to different students too. To me it signifys the strength and perservence, the ability to do that extra press up, or extra kick, when you think you're about to collapse from pain. Its also about showing repsect to other karateka.

I'd like to know if Osu is used in other styles of karate in a similar way to the way we use it. I've been to shotokan classes a few times, but they didn't seem to put as much emphasis on it as we do.