The Kyokushin kata

Practise kata    Northern kata    Southern kata

"What is a kata?" I have been often been asked by non-karateka. My definition is usually something like "A prescribed sequence of steps, strikes, and blocks combined in such a manner as to allow us to practise them with a view to achieving all of balance, speed, power, precision, and grace of execution." That usually satisfies them. However, as we all should know, there is more to kata than that. This has been dealt with extensively elsewhere (e.g. Cameron Quinn's book the Budo Karate of Mas Oyama, which I highly recommend — Cameron, where's my cut?), and is dredged up every few weeks or so on the Cyber dojo discussion list, and so will not be discussed further here. For that matter, a lot of the "hard" information on this page comes from the same book, and I'm just providing some commentary.

The range of Kyokushin kata is as diverse as the martial arts background of the style's founder, Mas Oyama. The kata learnt early on in our training regimen also reflects the Mas Oyama's earlier training and, similarly, his later training is evident in our senior kata.

Thus, the early kata are mostly based on Shotokan (Taikyoku and Pinan) and Chinese Kempo (Yantsu) and the later, more flamboyant and impressive kata are derived from Goju Ryu. This differs from some styles, especially the sport styles, which often teach these Goju Ryu based kata early on in their training to allow their practitioners to compete more effectively in kata competitions.

This page discusses the kata with which I am familiar. As I learn more about the others, I will discuss them. I will not describe any of them in detail, firstly because I haven't got that kind of time, secondly, because Steve Arneil's kata book does that very well, and thirdly, Steve Arneil's book notwithstanding, not every group does them the same. So I what I might tell you could be very wrong in your group. Ask your instructor how you should be doing it.

  Practise and exercise Kata

These are not proper kata per se, and are mostly used to teach basics. The Kyokushin practise kata are simple in principle, but can be made as complex as the instructor chooses to make them. They are intended to provide practice for balance, coordination, and technique.

• Ju Kata (Ten step kata) or Star Pattern
  This is a very basic pattern, using only half the steps of the normal starting kata i.e. Taikyoku sono ichi. It is an exercise in balance, and the simplest variation of it involves one stance (zenkutsu dachi-ZKD) and one block (mae gedan barai - MGB) repeated ten times. However, any combination of stances and techniques can be used, and the simplicity of the pattern itself can soon be overtaken by the complexity of the sequences used.
• Kihon kata sono ichi
  Again, a simple ten step kata also used by World Oyama Karate, if I am not mistaken. As with Ju kata, the purpose of this exercise is to practise balance and coordination, and both involve changing directions with each move. Again, the combination of techniques can be changed for added complexity.
• Kihon kata sono ni
  This kata serves a very different purpose and with 40 steps actually doubles the number of steps taken relative to the Taikyoku kata. This kata is an exercise in stances, where each of the four most basic moving stances (zenkutsu dachi, kokutsu dachi, sanchin dachi, and kiba dachi) and a corresponding punch of some sort are repeated along the same H or I shape that constitutes the basic Taikyoku kata. This kata is less subject to variation, but some instructors can be quite inventive e.g. using these techniques but following the Taikyoku kata stepping sequence!

Under the IFK training regimen, there exists also a 24 step sequence where one moves forward, turns, and moves in the opposite direction, and then back again in a particular sequence. The difficulty here is that it varies between one and two steps depending on the position in the count, and therein lies the difficulty. Again, techniques can be varied, but the basic combinations are ZKD and MGB, and ZKD and chudan gyaku-zuki.

  Northern Kata

The Kyokushin kata can be roughly divided up by their origins, and this group is principally influenced by the Gichin Funakoshi's Shotokan which in turn derived from the Shorin-ryu (the Okinawan version of Shaolin Kempo). This in turn originated from the northern regions of China, where the firm and open terrain permitted the use of long, powerful stances and lots of kicks and jumps. Blocks and strikes could be hard and straight, and accuracy is emphasised.

1. Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, and San
   These are controversial kata, not so much in Kyokushin, but in other styles. Some ryu feel that these are too easy and therefore not worthy of being considered a kata. These were created by Gichin Funakoshi as beginner's kata and again consist of two basic moves - ZKD and oi-zuki, or ZKD and MGB, and for Taikyoku sono san, also kokutsu dachi (KKD). Basic though they might be, it takes beginners a long time to do them satisfactorily, and I have seen black belt candidates perform them poorly for lack of understanding of the simple techniques the kata use. Variations again can make them more difficult. Most Kyokushin shodan gradings require that one or more of them be performed in ura, i.e. with a reverse spin on all moves that normally go in a forward direction, which is another balance (and stamina) exercise. Doing them backwards i.e. last move first, is an excellent brain exercise.
    
2. Tsokugi Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San
   These follow the same pattern as the basic Taikyoku kata but using kicks instead of hand techniques, in increasing order of difficulty. Again, these can be performed in ura and other variations.
    
3. Pinan Sono Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, and Go
   Also known as Heian Shodan, Nidan etc... in other karate styles, these were originally created by Anko Itosu as simplified versions of the more advanced Chinese based kata, including Kanku, and were again modified slightly by Funakoshi. They are performed in ura for dan gradings in the IFK and the IKO(1). In Kyokushin, one of the main differences appears to be that we try to end up, more or less, on the same spot from which we started. Other styles do not necessarily do that.
    
4. Yantsu
   
5. Tsuki no
   
6. Sushiho
   
7. Kanku dai
   

  Southern Kata

1. Sanchin (Ibuki, Kiai, and slow breathing)
2. Gekisai Dai
3. Gekisai Sho
4. Tensho
5. Saiha/Saifa
6. Seinchin
7. Garyu
8. Seipai
9.