What is kata? Definition is usually something like, 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. There is more to kata than that. This has been dealt with extensively elsewhere.
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.

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 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 there in lies the difficulty. Again, techniques can be varied, but the basic combinations are ZKD and MGB, and ZKD and chudan gyaku-zuki.

 

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.

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. 

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