About US

Hanku red stamp reading Kihon Supplies in traditional Japanese letters used in kyokushin karate dojo

Kihon Supplies is run by us, Kate and James Miles, with the (occasional) assistance of our kids.

A man practicing kyokushin karate in a dojo, wearing a white gi with black belt, standing on a wooden floor with a NINTAI DOJO banner in the background.

James has a long career in Kyokushin Karate. It began in 1984 with Sensei Roy Banton at Leyton Dojo when he was just 12 years old. He joined Shihan Liam Keaveney at KOKORO DOJO in 1999. 

James attained his Kuro-obi (black belt) at the 2018 BKK Summer Camp and opened NINTAI DOJO not long after in November 2018. Since then it has grown into a strong community, with three students moving forward to open their own: SEICHO DOJO in Ipswich, Suffolk and COLCHESTER DOJO in Essex.

At BKK Summer Camp this year, James hopes to obtain his Third Dan.

He is a member of the BKK Executive Committee and Area Representative for the Eastern Region.

Woman practicing martial arts in a kyokushin karate uniform, suit or gi with a yellow belt in a dojo or training hall

Kate successfully graded for yellow belt before a recurring hip injury and her career in teaching got in the way of her karate.

But when James complained one day of the difficulties he was having in sourcing quality gis and belts for the Dojo, from a UK supplier who would deliver quickly, she saw an opportunity.

They have set up Kihon Supplies together, hoping to solve that problem for karate students and Dojo operators alike.

A woman and a man in martial arts uniforms gis or suits posing in front of a banner with Japanese characters, stating NINTAI kyokushin DOJO holding wooden breaking blocks.