| As
students enter a Japanese karate dojo, they stop in the
archway of the door, bow from the waist, and say "oss".
As their sensei emerges from his office and walks out onto the
training floor, he too, bows and says "oss." His
students return the bow and again loudly exclaim "oss!"
What is oss, anyway? A sound, a word, a greeting?
Push On
Oss is a
Japanese word written with two different characters. The first
character means "to push;" the second means "to
suffer." Combined, these two characters symbolize the
importance of "pushing" and persevering while
"suffering" through whatever difficulties life
presents. The goal is to maintain high spirits, facing all
obstacles with a positive attitude. A deeper meaning of oss
relates to "keeping the faith," no matter what you
encounter or strive to do. Finally, on the simplest level, oss
signifies a feeling of deep respect.
Mistaken Identity
The person
unfamiliar with martial arts might think that the practitioner
had made a mistake and said "oops!" Then again, they
might conclude that everyone in the dojo has caught the same
nasty head cold: "Oss!" "God bless you."
Unfortunately,
martial artists also use oss incorrectly, or at the wrong
times. For example, some students use oss to confirm or agree
with someone's actions and statements. Other karateka use it
to mean both "yes" and "no." Oss can even
be heard as a substitute for a strong kiai (spirit yell).
Although the intent may be sincere, the usage in those cases
is entirely incorrect.
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American Perspective
To
understand oss from a Japanese perspective, first attempt
to see it from an American perspective. For example,
saying oss while bowing is the Japanese equivalent of an
American extending his hand to another person. If you are
sincere, your handshake will be strong and firm - this
serves as an outward sign of esteem. Metaphorically
speaking, in shaking hands, you physically convey your
respect.
Bowing
does not afford an opportunity to express respect
physically because there is no shared contact. Therefore,
oss conveys that same respect verbally.
Dojo 101
Know and
use proper Japanese in the dojo; do not be limited to one
simple and misunderstood word. To express that you agree
with and understand something, say "wakaru masu."
When you need to respond with either a "yes" or
a "no," the proper translations are "hai"
and "iie," respectively. "Kiai" is a
loud, abdominal yell focusing power. Never use oss as a
substitute; not only is it wrong, but it sounds stupid.
If you
have been using oss incorrectly, now is the time to
correct that error. As a dedicated student, you have put
painstaking hours into developing your techniques. When
given the command to perform "mae geri," you
throw a front kick, and you demonstrate a reverse punch
when told to execute "gyaku zuki." Give no less
attention to the Japanese you speak. The meanings and uses
of a few words, like oss, should be understood by all who
enter a karate dojo.
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