Mile High Karate is led by its founder, Grand Master Stephen Oliver, and its Chief of Instruction, Grand Master Jeff Smith; its Thornton school is owned and operated by Amanda and Stephen Christensen. All three are active in the school today.

Grand Master Stephen Oliver, Founder and CEO

Grand Master Stephen Oliver, MBA, is a 10th Degree Black Belt and the Founder and CEO of Mile High Karate and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery. He began training in 1969, opened his own school in 1975 at age 15, earned his Black Belt from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee in 1978 and founded Mile High Karate in Lakewood, Colorado, on August 6, 1983. He also serves as CEO and Chairman of NAPMA (the National Association of Professional Martial Artists) and Publisher of Martial Arts Professional magazine, and was inducted into the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame in August 2026.

His Mile High Karate profile · StephenCOliver.com · Biography at Martial Arts Professional

Grand Master Jeff Smith, Chief of Instruction

Grand Master Jeff Smith is a 10th Degree Black Belt and the Chief of Instruction for Mile High Karate, responsible for instructor training, Black Belt testing and development, and curriculum oversight. A Jhoon Rhee Black Belt, he won the Professional Karate Association (PKA) World Light-Heavyweight Championship on September 14, 1974. He is a member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame and the first recipient of the Bruce Lee Award, and co-authored Extraordinary Teaching with Stephen Oliver.

His Mile High Karate profile · MasterJeffSmith.com

Amanda and Stephen Christensen, Mile High Karate Thornton

Amanda and Stephen Christensen own and operate Mile High Karate Thornton at 3979 E 120th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233. They have taught with Mile High Karate in the Thornton and Westminster area since 2003. Class schedules and enrollment are at ThorntonMHK.com; call (303) 280-1839.

How the organization fits together

  • Mile High Karate, LLC is the franchisor of Mile High Karate®, founded by Stephen Oliver in 1983.
  • Mile High Karate Thornton is the current school, independently owned and operated by the Christensens.
  • Martial Arts Wealth Mastery is Stephen Oliver’s separate coaching organization for school owners. See For School Owners.