Osu!

Yesterday morning, D qualified for her advanced blue belt in Seido karate. To do so, she demonstrated her mastery of such skills as knife hand, snap kick, basic self-defense and a kata called Seido 1, which is a fifteen move series of blocks, punches, and turns. In addition, she can recite the first three parts of the Karateka Code of Ethics and has learned a number of Japanese words and phrases, including those for stop, go, turn around, sit down, meditate, thank you, the numbers 1-10 and, most importantly, the word "Osu."

Osu (spelled so in English despite being pronounced closer to 'ous', the vowel sounding as the 'oo' in cook, the 's' a short sibilant sound, such as in 'this') is a word with many meanings. In karate class, it is the all-purpose word of acknowledgement, said by students in response to teachers. We might translate it as 'yes' but it is a 'yes' that is imbued with a respectful understanding and an implicit promise of effort on the part of the speaker. Osu = "Yes, teacher, I hear you, I understand what you are asking, and I will try my best."

Osu is also spoken when entering and exiting both the dojo and the training floor. In this sense, it is similar to the other meaning, but here the teacher being respected is the non-physical presence of Kaicho Nakamura (founder of Seido karate) and, really, all teachers who work in the dojo and the dojo itself.

We are attempting to incorporate osu into the vocabulary of our household as well.

Seido 1