Osu no Seishin-The Spirit of Perseverance in Real Life

There’s a phrase that resonates deeply with me, Osu no Seishin. In martial arts, especially in disciplines like Kyokushin karate, this phrase embodies the “spirit of perseverance,” or more literally, “to push through.” It’s a mindset forged in sweat, repetition, and quiet struggle. And it doesn’t just belong in the dojo, it belongs everywhere.

It belongs in the moments when your alarm goes off at 4:30 AM (or you just can’t sleep) and you’re staring at a blank screen, trying to shape your ideas before heading off to your “real” job.

It belongs on those late nights, when everyone else is asleep, and you’re still at your keyboard, tweaking your website, writing content, creating designs, or just questioning your sanity.

It belongs on the weekends, when you could be spending time with your wife or partner, but instead, you’re grinding, building something from nothing. You’re trying to carve a new path.

For me, www.thirdmonkeypro.org  isn’t just a website, it’s the product of Osu no Seishin. It’s my attempt to create new opportunities through content creation, to build something that speaks to people, connects with them, maybe even inspires them.

But I’ll be honest, there are so many moments when I think, “What the hell am I doing? This will never work.” Doubt creeps in, especially when the work feels endless, and the results feel invisible. It’s easy to measure yourself against success stories and wonder if you’ve already failed by comparison.

And yet, there’s a more painful thought: What if I never tried at all?

That kind of failure, the failure of inaction, of regret, is something I refuse to live with.

I’ve never been great at anything. Not in the martial arts, not in powerlifting, not in the Highland Games or Olympic weightlifting. Most people probably never even noticed I was there. But I was. I showed up. I gave it what I had.

That showing up, that pushing through, is Osu no Seishin.

You don’t have to be the best. You don’t need recognition. Sometimes, just not quitting is the victory.

So if you’re in the middle of your own quiet grind, whether you’re building a business, chasing a dream, learning a skill, or just trying to stay afloat, remember this: never give up, even when it feels like you have no chance. Because choosing to try when it would be easier to quit? That’s success.

That’s Osu.

And that’s what I’ll keep doing, early mornings, late nights, weekends. Because this matters. Even if no one notices… I’ll know I was here.