What does os mean in karate? It is definitely difficult to answer this question. According to the recognition of many prominent karate masters, this word can have several thousand meanings. It is controversial and pronunciation itself. Experts believe that such a pronunciation is a misunderstanding, it is more correct to say "wasp". Understanding all the intricacies is not easy. Each adherent chooses for himself the meaning of this concept. Someone speaks of humility, discipline, politeness. It especially looks comical against the background of what the Okinawan masters themselves put into this word. However, first things first.
One version of the origin of the word
Trying to understand what “wasp" means in karate, one can often stumble upon such an interpretation. Shin-ryu karate-do insists on the O-Ning concept. The literal meaning of “O” is to crush, act, push. "Nin" is patience, endurance, the ability to endure all the hardships, hardships, trials.
The still famous Australian karateist Cameron Queen, explaining the meaning of this word, argued that the "wasps" in karate are nothing more than "pressure resistance". Only having an unbending spirit and self-discipline, you can understand the essence of this martial art. In conditions of hard pressure during training, a fighter must constantly work at the limit of all his reserves. The same attitude to karate and those who surround it in the hall. Therefore, pronouncing "wasp" or "wasp", he expresses respect and gratitude to his colleagues who help him on the path of self-improvement.
Internal password
One of the students of Yamaguchi Gogan, Peter Urban, quite seriously argued that this concept was first introduced by his great teacher. This word was the password by which the graduates of the Imperial Military Schools identified each other.
Currently, it is for the Japanese a certain shade of vulgarity. If you look at what “os” means in kyokushinkai karate, then depending on the situation, its meaning changes. It can be a greeting, an expression of your consent, a show of respect - there are many options.
It is immediately necessary to make a reservation that when trying to say hello in this way on the street with a Japanese, nothing good will come of it. This word is gangsters, mafiosi and other scum of Japanese society. Such is the reality.
Let's remember that until recently, karate did not enjoy special respect in budo. This fact is undeniable. Consequently, the discussion about what “wasp” means in karate, and what its role in the spiritual development of a person is, is nothing more than an attempt to raise its status. Only karate, like other types of martial arts, was not created for this at all. They serve purely practical purposes.
"Crush and bury"
Andrei Nikolaevich Kochergin spoke very accurately on this subject . He recalled a story with an Okinawan master, who was apparently taken with questions about what “wasps” mean in karate, and so he decided to clarify. Without thinking twice, the Okinawan karateist, who devoted his life to the study of this art, showed two hieroglyphs and explained their meaning. Here is their meaning: "Crush and hide."
One can disagree with Andrei Nikolaevich, but he only retold the legend. You can not agree with the Okinawan master. He just lived in the place where karate originated. Enlightened Europeans who call the “dojo” an ordinary gymnasium, where they have to train by the will of fate, and bow down to the side of an ordinary basketball basket (apparently representing the altar of spirits), of course, more clearly.
Another interpretation of the word
There is no single point of view on the question of what wasps mean in Japanese in karate. The most stable, widespread, claims to be a reduction from the words Ohayo gozaimasu. It is translated as "good morning." Shihan Cameron Queen, who gives his understanding of the issue, does not agree with this. In the book "Budo Karate Mas Oyama" he mentions a certain expression of the Japanese people, which sounds like Ishi no ue ni san nen. The literal translation is “Three years on a rock”.
This expression fully symbolizes the specifics of the Japanese people, who put discipline and readiness for self-sacrifice at the forefront. In any case, there are obstacles, the purpose of which is to test a person. Overcoming himself, defeating his cowardice, laziness, self-pity for his beloved and many other unfavorable factors, he becomes strong. By defeating others, but not struggling with the internal negativity in himself, he only has the power.
“Os” is a reminder first of all to oneself who you are and why all this is needed. We can say that this is a kind of anchor for entering the necessary emotional state. Willingness not to back down on the path to self-improvement.
Conclusion
The debate about what os was means in karate will not subside. There will be a new day and a new version for fans of spiritual self-improvement through martial arts. Copying a form without content will not lead to anything good, but in order to fully absorb the cultural heritage and values of a people, it is necessary to be born in its midst. But this is a completely different story.