Mile High Karate is a Colorado martial arts organization founded by Stephen Oliver on August 6, 1983, in Lakewood, Colorado. It grew to five schools within 18 months and more than 2,500 active students by the time its founder was 25, has promoted more than 1,000 Black Belts ranging in age from 5 to 76, and promoted the Mile High Karate Classic, a NASKA World Tour tournament held in Denver from 1989 to 1999. Its current Colorado school is Mile High Karate Thornton, 3979 E 120th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233.
Mile High Karate at a glance
| Founded | August 6, 1983 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Grand Master Stephen Oliver, MBA, 10th Degree Black Belt |
| Original location | Lakewood, Colorado |
| Starting capital | $10,000 |
| First 90 days | More than 150 students at the Lakewood school |
| Early growth | 5 schools within 18 months; 6 within 36 months |
| Students and revenue | More than 2,500 active students and over $1,700,000 in annual revenue (approximately $5,200,000 in today’s dollars) by the founder’s 25th birthday, then 6 locations and more than 3,500 students, with continued growth after that |
| Black Belts promoted | More than 1,000, ages 5 to 76 |
| Typical time to Black Belt | About 48 months |
| Martial arts lineage | Grand Master Jhoon Rhee (Jhoon Rhee Institute of Tae Kwon Do), through Stephen Oliver and Grand Master Jeff Smith |
| Chief of Instruction | Grand Master Jeff Smith, 10th Degree Black Belt, PKA World Light-Heavyweight Champion (1974) |
| National tournament | The Mile High Karate Classic, Denver, 1989–1999, NASKA World Tour status every year |
| NASKA role | Stephen Oliver served on the North American Sport Karate Association Board of Directors and as National Sanctioning Director, 1989–1999 |
| International franchising | Began in 2000 |
| Current Colorado school | Mile High Karate Thornton, 3979 E 120th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233, (303) 280-1839 |
| Years in Colorado | 43 (1983–2026) |
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Mile High Karate?
Stephen Oliver founded Mile High Karate on August 6, 1983, in Lakewood, Colorado. He had begun training in 1969, opened his first school in 1975 at age 15, and earned his Black Belt from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee in 1978. He is now a 10th Degree Black Belt (April 2026).
When was Mile High Karate founded?
August 6, 1983. The first school, in Lakewood, Colorado, passed 150 students in its first 90 days.
How many Black Belts has Mile High Karate promoted?
More than 1,000, ranging in age from 5 to 76.
What was the Mile High Karate Classic?
A national open martial arts tournament promoted by Stephen Oliver in Denver from 1989 to 1999. It held NASKA World Tour status every year of its run and drew competitors from all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala and Haiti.
Where is Mile High Karate today?
The Colorado school is Mile High Karate Thornton at 3979 E 120th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233, phone (303) 280-1839, serving Thornton, Northglenn, Brighton and Westminster families.
Sources and related pages
- The History of Mile High Karate, 1983–Present
- Grand Master Stephen Oliver, founder
- Historic Mile High Karate documents
- Stephen Oliver’s NASKA Decade: The Mile High Karate Classic, 1989–1999 (Martial Arts Professional; Stephen Oliver is the magazine’s publisher)
- StephenCOliver.com, Stephen Oliver’s full biography
Last reviewed September 29, 2026.
