The Meaning Of “Osu” or “Oss” in Karate

The Meaning Of “Osu” or “Oss” in Karate

If you walk into a Japanese karate dojo for the first time and hear people say “osu” or “oss” all the time but don’t know what it means, this post is for you. It covers the origin, meanings, and usage of this term. The origin of...
Itosu Anko’s Ten Precepts of Karate

Itosu Anko’s Ten Precepts of Karate

Itosu Anko (1831 – 1915) is seen by many as the grandfather of modern kata because he was the one who first formalized the method of teaching karate techniques and introduced karate to the general public for the first time. Itosu Anko’s ten precepts of karate...
What Is the Philosophy of Karate?

What Is the Philosophy of Karate?

Various karate masters have expressed the view over time that, above all, karate is about character building and the cultivation of the mind and that its philosophy is to develop both the mind and the body and to seek virtue in thought and action. In this post, I will...
The Intended Meaning of Karate Ni Sente Nashi

The Intended Meaning of Karate Ni Sente Nashi

“Karate ni sente nashi”, one of the 20 precepts of karate written by Gichin Funakoshi, is often translated literally as “there is no first attack in karate” and many people interpret it as a karateka should never launch the first attack. In my...