kyokushin is a japanese fight discipline under karate umbrella ,however very different from the karate styles i.e.shotokan,wado-ryu,goju ryu in terms of kumite...the katas show similiarities with other karate styles(partly with okinawan styles) ,however when kumite(comptition) is concerned the applied technics are very different from other karate styles...the kicks,knees,elbows have been modified from muay thai after the contacts with thais (1968's/kurosaki)...also have some effects from korean styles since the founder (mas oyama) have been influenced by them in terms of kicks,as well...in a sense, it was a modern ,open minded style among other karate styles...