All Yoshinkan aikidoka are familiar with “osu”. We say osu when we enter the dojo, to start class, when sensei shows us a technique, to thank our partner for training with us, when Hennessy sensei and Sheppard sensei correct us, and when we pour root beer for each other at parties. I have even used it when I get change at the local convenience store, which usually results in strange looks from the respective cashiers. I’ve also caught myself bowing and saying osu to my boss at work! But why do we say “osu” and what does it really mean?

In Japanese culture, osu is usually used by sports teams of high schools and universities and most Karate styles. At work, osu may be used as a lazy way of saying “ohayo gozaimasu” (good morning). Yoshinkan style Aikido is the only style of Aikido that is known to use osu.

From the original Chinese, “osu” is divided into two mam characters meaning “push” and “endure, persevere, put up with”. The two characters put together can be defined as meaning “to push ourselves to endure any hardship in training or in our daily lives.”

In ‘budo’ – it is used as a simple greeting or reply as an indication of your willingness to follow a particular sensei or style of training. So when sensei calls your name or helps you, respond with “osu” to let them know you understand that they are talking to you and helping you improve! We must always remember, that although we say “osu” a lot, the word should not lose feeling and remind us to always train as hard as possible. Osu must come from our hearts. Those who do not acknowledge sensei or your training partner with respect, may leave them with a feeling that perhaps you are not serious about your training.

Osu need not be said screaming at the top of our lungs, but let’s try to find in ourselves the spirit of Aikido and always do our best in our training and also in our daily lives. Kancho sensei always said “aiki soku seikatsu” or “Aikido is life”. So next time you walk into the dojo, out of respect’ for O-sensei, Hennessy sensei and Sheppard sensei, and all those who help improve us to be better people whether that be your training partner, a brother, sister, mother, father, uncle… say OSU! Aikido training does not end in the dojo. Extend your ai (love, harmony, balance) and ki (energy, life force) into your lives and share the spirit.

Good luck with your training!
Published in Aiki Budo Newsletter: January 1998

Written by Greg Gruninger

Cartoon by Peter Marshall

Breakfalls, you can’t avoid them. In order to progress in and continue with your Aikido training you must become proficient in preventing injury to yourself. Breakfalls are an aspect of Aikido that we should not ignore.

How do we master breakfalls when even the name itself suggests bone crushing agony? In preparing for this article, I found myself remembering when I had executed a textbook breakfall and when I had knocked the wind out of myself. So what was the difference? I was relaxed and flowed with Shite when I had performed a good breakfall. I found that the bad breakfalls resulted from my being tense and not aware of what Shite was doing. I believe that I anticipated the throw and began my breakfall prior to the actual execution of the throw. This resulted in a WWF -like slam to the mat. On the other hand if I relaxed and kept my mind on what Shite was doing and give myself to the technique the breakfall seemed to flow naturally. I did not have to think about what was happening. I just reacted.

Training plays a big part in teaching your body the right form to use when being thrown, however, the right frame of mind, when being thrown is equally important. Move with Shite and as you flow with the technique. The breakfall will flow naturally out of you.

Published in Aiki Budo Newsletter: January 1998

Written By Christine Earl

I learned to kiai after about a year of doing Aikido. It wasn’t easy. There’s something that seems inherently rude about yelling in someone’s face as you try to hit them. Not that hitting them isn’t rude also, but this is Aikido, a martial art, so that’s what we’re here for. Once I’d gotten over my inhibitions about the kiai, I decided to keep it up, even if my partner doesn’t. I have four reasons for doing this.

First, when you kiai, you breath out. At least I haven’t been successful at producing a decent yell while breathing in. Breathing is important in Aikido. A strike is a flow of energy out, toward your partner. If energy is flowing out, you should be breathing out. By remembering to kiai, you improve your breathing without really having to think about it.

Second, it adds energy. I move faster and strike harder when I kiai. I also move faster when my partner kiai’s with a strike towards me. This helps the technique. Aikido relies on the energy your partner gives you. It doesn’t work without it. So when your partner asks for a strike, give it all you’ve got. Kiai will add to the energy.

Third, it’s a distraction. Just like many of our atemi’s or strikes in Aikido, the intent is to distract. A strong kiai accompanying an atemi is yet another distraction, causing the person attacking to be less focused on their attack for a fraction of a second. This fraction of a second is what you need to get them off balance.

Fourth, and this is the most important reason of all, it feels good. Try it, you might like it!

Published in Aiki Budo Centre Newsletter April 1997.