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01-25-2008, 01:07 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
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meaning of "osu"
I recently started training at a Yoshinkan dojo. They frequently use the term "osu" for al sorts of things like "hello", "thank you", etc. Their explanation to me was that the word is not used in conversational japanese, and that it is similar to the "hooyah!" used by marines. Can any of you guys elaborate?
thanks
Fred
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01-25-2008, 01:23 PM
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#2
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Dojo: Dale City Aikikai
Location: VA
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 394
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Re: meaning of "osu"
The real meaning of osu is push. But it is also used as slang as hooray as you posted as well as yes, understand, got it, OK, hello, etc... What ever the context of the conversation is, if you say osu, it will mean what ever the answer should be. However, don't say it in an Aikikai dojo for we don't use it. I found that out the hard way at Aikikai Honbu dojo. My previous style used the word and I had thought that all Aikido used it.
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01-25-2008, 01:37 PM
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#3
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Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
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Re: meaning of "osu"
It is considered rather rude outside of most "tough guy" contexts. You'll see it in men's university clubs (judo, some kendo I hear, etc), the Yoshinkan, some karate dojo, places like that. There are some good posts on www.e-budo.com and an old article by Robert Mustard on alt-rec.martial-arts or one of those news groups. I'd have to search for it myself now...
Best,
Ron
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Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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01-25-2008, 01:45 PM
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#4
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Location: Aichi-ken, Nagoya-shi
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 644
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Ohayo gozaimasu - Generally, "Good morning", but really a kind of generic greeting, particularly in certain industries where it is used at any time of the day.
Ohayossu - Shortened version of above.
Owasu - Shortened version of above.
O(s)su - Shortened version of above. Often used by young men as a greeting to each other and in manly pursuits (budo, sports, etc) as multipurpose sound of acknowledgment. There are a number of variations, like "Ussu!" and "Wiisu!"
Technically, there are no official kanji for it, since it's contracted word. However, 押忍 (characters for "push" and "endurance") are often used unofficially.
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Josh Reyer
The lyf so short, the crafte so longe to lerne,
Th'assay so harde, so sharpe the conquerynge...
- Chaucer
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01-25-2008, 06:48 PM
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#5
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Location: Oregon, USA
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 224
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Quote:
Joshua Reyer wrote:
Ohayo gozaimasu - Generally, "Good morning", but really a kind of generic greeting, particularly in certain industries where it is used at any time of the day.
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And regions, too. Up here in Miyagi, it seems to be the normal greeting for the first time you see someone in a day.
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Kentokuseisei
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01-25-2008, 07:51 PM
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#6
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Dojo: None at the moment - on hiatus
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 965
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Yosinkan peepul no very breit, limited vocabulari..... so Osu use make easy everything.
Osu!
Boon.
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SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
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01-25-2008, 09:29 PM
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#7
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Dojo: Aikido Kenkyukai International
Location: Ambler, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 232
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Maybe (just for fun) check out some cool Yakuza films! Especially with Beat Takeshi - great stuff!
(Hello Ron, hope all's well)
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01-26-2008, 01:56 PM
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#8
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Dojo: Budoshingikan
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 179
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Re: meaning of "osu"
From my Yoshinkan days, my teacher told me it meant s strong budo salutation.
Odudog, what do you mean you found out the "hard way" when you used the word Osu in the presence of the Aikikai?
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Eric Joyce
Otake Han Doshin Ryu Jujutsu
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01-26-2008, 06:14 PM
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#9
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Dojo: Dale City Aikikai
Location: VA
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 394
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Re: meaning of "osu"
I used it the first time I was at the Aikikai Honbu dojo within a few minutes of being in the building. The guy I used it on just happened to have come out of the office in which Doshu was located in. The guy stopped me and told me politely yet in a stern manner that osu was for Karate, this is Aikido, so no osu. I thought I was doing the right thing but it seems like I just made a fool of myself.
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01-26-2008, 08:10 PM
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#10
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Dojo: Budoshingikan
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 179
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Quote:
Mike Braxton wrote:
I used it the first time I was at the Aikikai Honbu dojo within a few minutes of being in the building. The guy I used it on just happened to have come out of the office in which Doshu was located in. The guy stopped me and told me politely yet in a stern manner that osu was for Karate, this is Aikido, so no osu. I thought I was doing the right thing but it seems like I just made a fool of myself.
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Oh I see. Well, you were doing what you thought was the right thing. His state regarding "Osu is for karate" was a bit myopic. But, when in Rome...
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Eric Joyce
Otake Han Doshin Ryu Jujutsu
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01-28-2008, 11:55 AM
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#11
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Dojo: Aberdeen Aikido Yuishinkai
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 181
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Quote:
Joshua Reyer wrote:
Ohayo gozaimasu - Generally, "Good morning", but really a kind of generic greeting, particularly in certain industries where it is used at any time of the day.
Ohayossu - Shortened version of above.
Owasu - Shortened version of above.
O(s)su - Shortened version of above. Often used by young men as a greeting to each other and in manly pursuits (budo, sports, etc) as multipurpose sound of acknowledgment. There are a number of variations, like "Ussu!" and "Wiisu!"
Technically, there are no official kanji for it, since it's contracted word. However, 押忍 (characters for "push" and "endurance") are often used unofficially.
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Interesting.
I thought it was abbreviated "onegai shimasu".
Oh well, just one more think I got wrong
peace and love
Jo
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01-28-2008, 12:43 PM
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#13
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Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
I remember that thread! Just too lazy to look it up...Thanks Jun!
B,
R (Vipi?!?)
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Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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01-29-2008, 12:02 PM
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#14
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Great links.
Osu!
Fred
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01-30-2008, 02:13 AM
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#15
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Dojo: Wherever I am.
Location: New Zealand
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,013
Online
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Quote:
Jo Duncan wrote:
Interesting.
I thought it was abbreviated "onegai shimasu".
Oh well, just one more think I got wrong
Jo
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I think you got it right.
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02-01-2008, 05:05 AM
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#16
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Location: Kuala Lumpur
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 125
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Osu = ohayo gozaimasu + onegai shimasu
and "be patience with myself and others"
I am Yoshinkan folk too!
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KamiKaze
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02-03-2008, 01:26 PM
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#17
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Dojo: GUST Aikido Club
Location: Salwa, Kuwait
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 381
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
I asked my Shihan about this since he doesn't like the term even though he comes from Karate. I have to apologize to some since I had incorrectly put down in another writing somewhere else that it was a short version of some things like Ohio Gozaimasu. That is, at least, what I had learned earlier.
However, after inquiring with my Shihan and my father, I learned that the term and its written form (which gives the real meaning) in Japanese is as in Push. The term was apparently used by a group of people undergoing pioneer training for resettlement of Manchuria by Japanese. These people were, by some accounts, close to fanatical racist fascists, at least they seem to have some connection with those types of people. That is why my parents and my Shihan never liked people using the term, I guess. It brings back the ideals of the fascists according to my father. The term was used to expound the idea that they will push through any problems like Gambatte. So Sensei would say, Gambatte, and the student would say Osu! I was told not to be so impolite when I used Osu so instead, I used Gamabri Masu or just Hai.
Knowing where it comes from, I won't let my students or people attending my seminars use it. I don't need a bunch of fanatical racist fascist type people in my classes. Hai is fine enough for my students and me.
Rock
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02-03-2008, 09:46 PM
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#18
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Dojo: Kenshinkan Dojo (Aikido of North County) Vista, CA
Location: Oceanside, California
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,253
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Re: meaning of "osu"
I've never heard the term used, and I wouldn't know "osu" from an old shoe, but I am reminded of the way we Californians can use the word "dude". A friend of mine and I had a great time with "dude" in staff meetings and the like - we were both executive level members of a governmental agency and we enjoyed quite a chuckle out of using the word to express almost any emotion. Those around us probably thought we were louts too.
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Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
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02-04-2008, 12:35 AM
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#19
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Dojo: 鷹松道場|Takamatsu Dojo ATL
Location: ATL--GA
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 221
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Every time I hear "osu" Salt N Pepa cranks up the beat in my head:
Ah, push it - push it good
Ah, push it - push it real good
Ah, push it - push it good
Ah, push it - p-push it real good
Oooh, baby, baby
Baby, baby
Oooh, baby, baby
B-baby, baby
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-Doug Walker
新道楊心流の鷹松道場
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02-04-2008, 02:49 AM
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#20
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Dojo: None at the moment - on hiatus
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 965
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
Quote:
Anthony Wong wrote:
Osu = ohayo gozaimasu + onegai shimasu
and "be patience with myself and others"
I am Yoshinkan folk too!
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That is also the same explaination I have been told... from another Yoshi-Orge (TM)/
Boon.
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SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
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02-04-2008, 05:40 AM
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#21
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Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
Offline
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Re: meaning of "osu"
I had heard it used as a greeting between warriors.
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Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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