Hovedside
The Spirit of Osu (from kyukoshinbangalore)
Osu is the one word that you'll hear the most in a Kyokushin dojo or at a
Kyokushin tournament. When you enter or leave the dojo, you bow and say "Osu".
When you greet a fellow Kyokushin karateka, you say "Osu" instead of
"hello". When you respond to an instruction or question in class, you
say "Osu" instead of "yes" or "I understand". When
performing kihon waza (basic techniques) in class, each technique is often
accompanied with a loud "Osu". When practicing jiyu kumite (free
fighting) in class and your opponent lands a good, hard technique, you say
"Osu" to acknowledge your opponent's skill. As a measure of respect,
knockdown fighters at a tournament bow and say "Osu" to the front, to
the referee and to each other, before and after the fight. Osu is used in many
situations and seems to mean a lot of things. But what does it really mean?
Osu is a contraction of the words:
Oshi meaning "Push", and
Shinobu meaning "to Endure".
It means patience, determination and perseverance. Every time we say "Osu",
we remind ourselves of this.
Kyokushin training is very demanding. You push yourself until you think you've
reached your limit. First your body wants to stop, but your mind keeps pushing
you. Then your mind wants to stop, but your spirit keeps you going. You endure
the pain. You persevere. That is Osu.
Kyokushin karate is not learned overnight. It takes years to properly learn the
fundamentals. The basic techniques are performed thousands of times (ren ma -
"alwayspolishing") until they are done by reflex or instinct, without
conscious thought (mushin - "no mind"). It's easy to get frustrated by
doing the same thing over and over again, especially when progress seems to be
slow. To overcome that frustration and continue training takes patience and
determination. That is Osu.
The absolute and unfaltering devotion needed to "scale the cliff" of
Kyokushin karate is Osu.
The spirit of Osu is probably best described by Shihan Cameron Quinn of
Australia in his book "The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama". He writes:
There is a saying in Japan, "Ishi no ue ni sannen." Translated, it
means "Three years on a rock." This saying symbolizes the need to
persevere at all times. It is one of the most important philosophies in
Kyokushin karate. Kyokushin is an art offering many things according to the
immediate and long term aims of the trainee. Ultimately, one realizes that
transcending the kicks, the punches, and the kata, there is a special spirit in
the heart of the participants. It teaches them to face the demands of daily life
with a mature and enduring attitude. A budo-ka is not easily shaken by the blows
of adversity, realizing that for a person to draw near to their true potential,
a never- say-die spirit of perseverance is required.
This strength of character develops in hard training and is known as osu no
seishin (the spirit of Osu). 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. One who is truly able to manifest
the spirit of Osu in every word, thought, and action may be regarded as wise and
brave. Training should first and foremost be approached in the spirit of Osu.
One's daily life, and the responsibilities it holds, would be more completely
lived if addressed in the spirit of Osu.
Even for the beginner, who is conscious of his lack of training and does not
necessarily want to face the demand of training, it is enough merely being aware
that through perseverance and the will to continue, there comes great physical,
mental, spiritual, and emotional gains. All that is needed is that special
determination.