When entering or leaving the Dojo, stand in the doorway, face the front, bow and say "OSU". This represents a mark or respect for the Dojo and the people in it.

2. If late for training, kneel at the side of the class towards the back, facing away in SEIZA (formal kneeling position). When the instructor acknowledges you, stand up, turn to the front , bow and say "OSU" then "Shitsurei Shimasu" (excuse me for disturbing), then quickly join the back of the class.

3. Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in the Dojo.

4. Always move quickly in class when intructed to do something. DO NOT STROLL.

5. Do not practise KUMITE unless instructed to do so.

6. Do not break rank for any reason, without asking permission from the instructor. If you must leave your position, do not walk between the instructor and the class. Walk behind the row you are in to either side and proceed from there.

7. Always address the instructor and seniors by their proper title (SEMPAI, SENSEI, SHIHAN) inside the Dojo. Acknowledge them with a loud "OSU" when they speak to you.

8. Your training should be a serious matter. Do not laugh, giggle, talk or cause disruption during the class. You should always stand in  HEIKO DACHI when awaiting the next command.

9. All directions, by instructor, should be obeyed in the Dojo, without question. You will not be asked to do anything that your instructor has not done him/herself already. If you cannot keep up, do the best you can.

10. Keep fingernails and toenails short and clean.

11. During the break: No sitting on chairs, leaning against the wall or lying down. Do some training rather than waste time.

12. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure the Dojo is clean, tidy and safe at all times.

13. Your karate-gi must be neat and washed clean at all times. Your belt should NEVER be washed, only aired dry. It symbolically contains the spirit of your hard training, and under no circumstances are male karatekas allowed to wear t-shirts or other clothing underneath their karate-gi.

14. Don't wear jewellery or watches during training.

The meaning of " OSU! "

Osu means patience, respect and appreciation. In order to develop a strong body and strong spirit it is necessary to undergo rigorous training.

This is very demanding, because you must push yourself to what you believe to be your limit, and you want to stop; to give up. When you reach this point you must fight yourself and your weakness and you must win. To do this you must learn to persevere, but above all you must learn to be patient. This is OSU!

The reason you subject yourself to hard training is because you care about yourself, and to care about yourself is to respect yourself. This self respect evolves and expands to become respect for your instructor and fellow students. When you enter the dojo you bow and say "Osu" . This means you respect your dojo and the time you spend training there. This feeling of respect is OSU!

During training you push yourself as hard as possible because you respect yourself. When you finish you bow to your insructor and fellow students and say "Osu" once more. You do this out of appreciation. This feeling of appreciation is OSU.

Thus OSU is a very important word in Karate because it signifies patience, respect and appreciation. That is why we always use the word OSU; to remind ourselves of these indespensable qualities. Osu is a Japanese term borrowed from the military and is used to create cohesion and oneness in a group and a word to acknowledge and to confirm understanding, respect and to create the “never give up” attitude. It was especially important during World War Two when the troop where going to war.

OSU!!!

The  International Kenshi Kai Karate Kobudo Organization (IKKO), is dedicated  to the preservation of authentic traditional Okinawan Martial Arts  worldwide. Benefits The following are the  benefits one receives from the membership to the International Kenshi Kai Karate Kobudo:- Establishment of an International Brotherhood for the  propagation and preservation of authentic Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts Worldwide.  IKKO is dead against substance and drug abuse and the aim of the  Organization is to make our societies a safe and happy one.  The Organization encourages life success by encouraging academic excellence through  its "Grade Development Plan". Allowing students to improve mentally as well as  physically. The Organization provides beginner, intermediate and advanced  level training in a system of Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts tracing its  roots back to the 1600's. The Organization awards Rank Certification and Teachers Licences that are accepted and recognised throughout the World. The Organization holds Annual Training and Seminars by top Japanese/ Okinawan  masters for all members at its International Headquarters each Year. The  Organization is dedicated to the enhancement of authentic traditional Okinawan Budo with the emphasis on the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of this way of life. The multi-art make up of the International Kenshi Kai  Karate Kobudo provides the member a unique opportunity to receive cross training  in a variety of Authentic Martial Arts. International Karate Kobudo Organization Karate as we know today is made up of various different "Ryu", (School or Style). the ryu that we are studying is called "Okinawan Goju Ryu", Go meaning hard and Ju meaning soft or gentle and " Motobu Ha Shito Ryu" combinination of Shuri and Naha Te Karate.  The founder the Goju Ryu style of karate was Kanryo Higashionna, and was made popular by Chojun Miyagi who studied under Kanryo Higashionna. Higashionna travelled to Mainland China from his homeland Okinawa, where he spent a number of years studding the Kingai version of White Crane, which is one of the many forms of Chinese Fighting Arts. Miyagi refined this teachers teaching methods and was accredited with being the first karate master to develop a detailed cariculum in Karate, and was responsible to changing the name from Naha Te to Goju Ryu.  Chojun Miyagi passed away inn 1953, leaving many talented senior to continue his teachings. One of these students was Seiko Higa. Kenshi Kai Karate traces its lineage from this individual. The founder of the Shito Ryu style of karate was Kenwa Mabuni, who also was a friend of Miyagi and trained with Higashionna and Ankoh Itosu.Kenwa Mabuni taught a Kosei Kuniba and after his death the Kuniba Kai Karate Union as formed.  In recent times karate has gone through a "watering down" process and the true essence of Okinawan Karate was eroded. It is with this aim in mind that Kaicho Sensei (President Teacher) Tetsuhiro Hokama 8th Dan developed the Kenshi-Kai Organisation(GOJU RYU and the late Soke Koza Kuniba (Shito Ryu) continued withe the Kuniba Kai Karate Union. To preserve the teachings of our great old masters of Goju Ryu Karate-Do and Shito Ryu Karate-Do. Roughly translated Kenshi-Kai means Ken - Fist, Shi Heart our Spirit and Kai - Organisation and Kuniba Kai Sei- Sincere Shin Spirit Kai Organization. The aim of this federation is to teach True, Authentic (Seito) Okinawan Goju Ryu/Shito Ryu and Okinawan Kobudo. In True, Authentic it is meant Okinawan Goju Ryu/Shito Ryu and Kobudo based entirely on its original teachings as taught by the old masters, that of a system of self defence and a way to strengthen  and perfect one's character. True Okinawan Goju Ryu/Shito Ryu is not a sport, once sport is introduced many of the more lethal techniques and a large part of the mental training and training of  the spirit (Kuniba) is disregarded. The IKKO Organisation acknowledges that sport is an important aspect for younger people, it encourages, self confidence, mixing and developing a rsults oriented mental approach. In True Okinawan Goju/Shito, Do the ways is emphasised. Do is a way through life, a way to overcome defeat and any hardship that we may encounter in life. In order to practice any Art related to Do one must practice and train everyday and not just when one feels like it.   When practising True Okinawan Kenshi Kai Goju Ryu and Kuniba Kai Shito Ryu one must be involved totally, by this we mean mentally and physically, (i.e., we cannot do even a single movement or punch, kick without thinking.) This is called Kanren Undo or disciplined training. True Okinawan Kenshi Kai Goju Ryu Karate Do and Kuniba Kai Shito Ryu Karate Do cannot be learnt in a day or even a month, for the dedicated it is a lifetime study. This may be summed up in the following saying: "The staying power needed for lifelong practice and obligatory study is probably the hardest thing of all".

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