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I am training at a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy, and their use of the word
"Oss" is ubiquitous.

I have asked and also answered the question [What is the etymology and meaning
of Oss?](https://martialarts.stackexchange.com/questions/7928/what-is-the-
etymology-and-meaning-of-oss) in the Martial Arts StackExchange forum.
However, I wanted to see if I could further clarify my answer by understanding
the Japanese to a greater degree. I would be grateful for any further
references.

What is the etymology and meaning of "oss"?
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meaning etymology
The etymology and meaning of Oss, Osu, Ossu
You've pretty much provided an elaborate answer to your question, but I'd at
least offer one of the more accepted explanation of its origin: an
abbreviation of the standard morning greeting,

> おはようございます → おはよっす → おわーす → おす → 押忍

as offered [here](http://gogen-allguide.com/o/ossu.html) and
[here](https://www.wikiwand.com/ja/%E6%8A%BC%E5%BF%8D) (Japanese).
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Here is what I was able to discover on my own:

## The Meaning of Oss

  * [persevering when pushed](https://www.attacktheback.com/what-does-oss-mean/)
  * [to push and to suffer](http://www.minrec.org/wilson/pdfs/Language%20-%20The%20%27oss%27%20greeting.pdf)1
  * [to keep the faith](http://www.minrec.org/wilson/pdfs/Language%20-%20The%20%27oss%27%20greeting.pdf)1
  * [the equivalent of a warm-handshake](http://www.minrec.org/wilson/pdfs/Language%20-%20The%20%27oss%27%20greeting.pdf)1
  * [hello, yes, or I understand](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm), ([additional reference](https://www.bjjee.com/articles/the-meaning-of-oss-or-osu/))
  * [acknowledging an opponent's good, hard technique, or, their skill](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm), ([additional reference](https://www.bjjee.com/articles/the-meaning-of-oss-or-osu/))
  * [the absolute and unfaltering devotion needed to "scale the cliff" of a martial art discipline](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm)
  * good job, rad, or kewl brah2

From Kyokushin Karate:

> [This strength of character develops in hard training and is known as Osu no
> Seishin 押忍の精神 (the Spirit of Osu). The word Osu comes from Oshi Shinobu
> 押し忍ぶ, which means "to persevere whilst being pushed". It implies a
> willingness to push oneself to the limits of endurance, to persevere under
> any kind of pressure.](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm)

From Carlson Gracie's philosophy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

> [In BJJ, Carslon Gracie introduced the use of the word “Oss” and it rightly
> fits the mentality of Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu: Brave, determined, strong,
> smashing. It’s a bit similar to the war cry “Hoo-ah” that you will hear U.S.
> Marines use.](https://www.bjjee.com/articles/the-meaning-of-oss-or-osu/)

## The Etymology of Oss, Osu, and Ossu

### Oshi Shinobu

  * [押し :: Oshi meaning "Push"](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm)
  * [忍ぶ :: Shinobu meaning "to Endure"](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm)
  * [to persevere whilst being pushed](http://www.uskyokushin.com/osu.htm)

Meaning, patience, determination, and perseverance.

### Onegaishimasu

  * [おねがいします :: Onegaishimasu or Onegai Shimasu meaning "Please"](https://www.bjjee.com/articles/the-meaning-of-oss-or-osu/), ([additional reference](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-difference-between-kudasai-and-onegaishimasu-3572604))

Meaning, a polite or honorific way of requesting something from another, of
saying "please".

### Ohayossu, Ohayoosu, and Oossu

From Jesse Enkamp of [Karate by Jesse](http://www.karatebyjesse.com), who
quotes Dr. Mizutani Osamu3:

  * [オハヨス :: "Ohayossu!”, “Ohayoosu!”, “Oossu!” meaning "Hey ya!"](http://www.karatebyjesse.com/meaning-oss-osu-japanese/)

Meaning, "hey ya", by male runners in the midst of jogging, responding in
rougher, masculine ways to Dr. Mizutani's greeting to them of "Ohayo
gozaimasu!" (good morning).3

So it seems that the term **oss** , which is derived from **osu** or **ossu**
, has a variety of interpretations and meanings.

However, there also seems to be a common essence shared among them all.

"Oss" seems to mean having humility and an acknowledgement of respect for the
person to whom it is being spoken; to have a perspective of strength and
perseverance towards a challenge that is being addressed, or, that is to be
endured; in more general or colloquial contexts, it operates as an affirmative
acknowledgment, a greeting, or a polite request.

1FEY, B.R., 1994, _To oss or not to oss: that is the question_ , _Dojo
Magazine_ , Winter 1994, p. 80-81  
2These are general impressions from training, class, and, sigh, bro-jitsu
experiences.  
3Mizutani, Osamu, _Japanese: The Spoken Language in Japanese Life_ , Tokyo,
Sotakusha, Inc., 1981, p. 59-60
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I've researched a little online and stumbled upon a few interpretations of the
origins of _oss_ but most of them seem to tackle it the wrong way. There are
actually two separate words that seem to be mingled into one but that most
Japanese seem to differentiate.

The _oss_ mostly used in martial arts is actually said differently from the
other word _'ss_. _'ss_ starts with a muted exhaling sound instead of an open-
mouthed "o" use in the _oss_ followed by the same dragging "ss".

### osu → oss

_Oss_ , as explained in other articles comes from 押忍, as used in sports in
general (baseball students or any other team that trains seriously tend to use
it here in Shikoku island) starts with an open mouth sound and finishes with a
dragging "ss".

### ...masu → mss → 'ss

The other similar word _'ss_ comes from an abbreviation of other words. Those
words can be shortened differently depending on the situation and urgency or
roughness. Roughness usually equates to determination for men/boys who shorten
_osu_ or the other words and is always said with conviction. I've never heard
a half-assed _'ss_ or _oss_... yet ;)

  * Onegaishimasu → Onuhashmass → uhmass → mss → 'ss
  * Arigato gozaimasu → agmassu → agmss → mss → 'ss
  * Ganbarimasu → ganbamassu → gamss → mss → 'ss
  * Yoroshiku onegaishimasu → yoroshknegaishmass → yoshmass → mass → 'ss

P.S.: I was surprised that no articles mentioned the word _ganbarimasu_ that
is widely used all around Japan and shortened the same way.

Compared to the _osu_ , two of those words are often used in the past tense
and that's where they become easy to differentiate since there is no past
tense for _oss_.

  * arigato gozaimashita, ganbarimashita → ... [various shortened versions] ... → 'shta*  
*Quite a few other words are shortened to _'shta_ since it's the common past tense conjugation.

## Context

Students and teachers using _oss_ everyday sometimes replace the common
_'ss/'shta_ with an _oss_ in many situations but not in all of them. People
not using _oss_ would normally _'ss_ or _'shta_ unless they want to show
ultimate determination by borrowing the _oss_ from competitive sports. It is
then a little out of place, since people around would know that the person
isn't involved in an activity usually using _oss_ , and would have a stronger
impact.

I guess it's a risky thing to use _oss_ for someone not able to "read the
mood" and the _oss_ might be perceived as a joke instead of determination if
not said with enough seriousness.

I think that Japanese can put up with a lot of misuses of the language as long
as it's not overused or continuous. I don't think that the general public
would take any offense in using _oss_ but since it's usually serious business,
the best thing is to look at the Japanese people present while saying it and
see if they look irritated. Once would be fine anywhere... but Japanese expect
people to realize it when they are annoying; reading body language/facial
expression is a necessity in Japan.

I hope my input helps to clarify the origins of _oss_ and its close neighbour
_'ss_. I am sure that if you start to listen carefully you'll "see" the
difference quite fast.
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In a military context, おっす is used in the same way as お疲れ様です. So when passing
another soldier on base you greet them with either おっす (which sounds like
'ossss') or お疲れ様（です）. I actually thought おっす was a contraction of お疲れ様です until
reading some of the other replies here.
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The word Oss most likely came from the Japanese Kyokushin Karate schools that
would say "Osu no Seishin."

In this phrase, Osu means _to push_ and Seishin means _to endure_ so the
entire meaning is something like pushing and enduring, which is interpreted
approximately as **combat spirit**.

Eventually this was shortened into just _Osu_ , and this morphed into the
_Oss_ we all hear on the Jiu Jitsu mats daily.

(reference: [What does Oss Mean?](https://themmaguru.com/what-does-oss-mean/))
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The word Oss or Osu is used in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (or BJJ) by practitioners
who usually transfer from Eastern martial arts. Oss is not a usual term and
you can avoid using it altogether, nobody is going to blink an eye.

But maybe it's best to just ask for the etiquette, you want to blend it :)

Source: [The Meaning of “OSS” or “OSU” (and when NOT to say it!)
](https://bjjbear.com/meaning-of-oss-osu/)
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