Origin of Kyokushin Karate

Kyokushin Kata has its origins in:

  1. Goju-Ryu (Chojun Miyagi) - Goju style is heavily influenced by Southern styles of what the people of the region did for their livelihood. Southern Chinese primarily worked around the rivers and rice fields, work that promoted upper body strength, therefore Ma-ai or fighting range is close, stability over mobility is stressed and upper body movements and breathing techniques with strong, stable stances are typical.
  2. Shoto-kan (Ginchin Funakoshi) - Shoto-kan style is influenced by Northern Chinese Kempo. People of this area worked on the plains as farmers and hunters and traveled extensively by foot or horseback promoting lower body strength therefore Ma-ai or fighting range is mid to long range and economy of motion is stressed (straight line blocks and strikes, etc.)