| March 29, 2025
The expression OSS was created in the Japanese Naval School and is universally used for everyday expressions such as please, thank you, I understand, sorry, greeting someone, etc., as well as inside the world of karate nearly any time a response is required. You must say it from your abdomen.
This is not really used in Wado Karate or Budo arts, I remember been away at a WKF World Championship and every second karate-ka you passes would say or go oss. Some of the members of our team were from the Ed Parkers Kempo and found it funny to go OSS and get an answer back of, yes you guessed it OSS.
Coming from a Japanese Sensei back ground, I was chastised if I ever used it, but been part of the Irish National Team and having other karate-ka saying OSS to me, Made it hard as I presumed I should reply back with OSS.
Sometimes guests would arrive to our Dojo and when they entered the Dojo they would Bow and OSS.
Sensei would give them a look that could cut you. He would say.
No not OSS say SHITSUREI SHIMASU (Excuse me) GO MEN KUDASAI (May I come in) OSS is not a word and is disrespectful.
The poor karate-ka would stumble over these words and you could take bets that on the second bow at the beginning of class you would hear OSS.
Again Sensei would cut him with a look and say NO say ONEGAI SHIMASU (please help me train well).
The first correction of this Karate-ka by Sensei would receive a load OSS; Sensei would say…No say HAI SENSEI.
In Wado Ryu manners and movements are conducted in a dignified manner, not military. In all movements and techniques we use the optimum amount of energy so that they are economical, graceful, fluid but powerful.
OSS becomes a habit for many Karate-ka and in these schools it is a polite answer but in Wado Ryu it is not encouraged