8th Degree Black Belt
Grand Master, CEO
Congratulation!
If you’re instructor has asked you to visit this page, it means you’ve been invited to apply for acceptance into the Mile High Karate Leadership Development Program!
Dear Friend,
As you can see, I have attached a “Million Dollar Bill” to the top of this letter. Why have I done this? Actually there are two reasons:
I have something very important to tell you, and I wanted to be sure I got your attention.
I’d like to share a very important story – that is directly related to $1,000,000.00 and I thought it would be a great way to “break the ice.”
The story?
Well – here it is.
For many years now Mile High Karate has held a semi-annual retreat with all of our Black Belts and Black Belt candidates. The big event of the year has been held for many years Silver Creek resort and recently moved to Breckenridge and has been attended by as many as 400 participants.
An annual ritual has become – sitting down the new Black Belts and asking a simple question:
Now, you’ve got to suspend disbelief for a second on this one..
What if I possessed a “time-machine” and could transport back to the moment that you decided to commit to Black Belt (and beyond) at Mile High Karate. What if I could travel back – and, while traveling back take back all of the skills, knowledge, attitude, friends, and accomplishments that you’ve achieved on the way to Black Belt ?
If I had that ability – how much would I have to pay you to allow me to take away all you’ve accomplished due to your association with Mile High Karate?
Well – often there is a stunned silence among the participants – and, their parents.
The I ask – what if I reimbursed 100% of everything you ever paid in tuition, events, equipment – If I reimbursed everything that you’ve paid – and, even paid $25 or even $50 per hour for the time you’ve spent? Would you take me up on the offer?
In every instance – literally 100′s of times the answer is a RESOUNDING – NO WAY!
Well, I then ask. .. What if I upped the ante? How about $50,000.00? No wait. Better yet , how about $100,000.00? For $100,000.00 would you let me take back everything you’ve learned and accomplished through Mile High Karate?
Again – a RESOUNDING – NO WAY!
Ok, Ok – I reply. Maybe that’s not enough to really change your life. Let’s think about a REALLY BIG number!
How about $1,000,000.00 (One Million Dollars!)
Now come on – that’s A LOT of money – what about $1,000,000.00 ?
If I could give you $1,000,000.00 cash – would you let me take back everything you’ve learned at Mile High Karate ? – and, take a different path 3, 4, or 5 years ago?
What do you think 487 Black Belts and their parents – have unanimously said to that outrageous proposition?
$1,000,000.00 just to have decided NOT to have trained to Black Belt at Mile High Karate?
Can you guess?
Well you are right.
EVERY one of them in the last 19 years have said not only NO – but, hell no! Each and every Black Belt ever developed at Mile High Karate has said the experience was not only worth $1,000,000.00 but literally was PRICELESS!
Now, you may be thinking one of two self-defeating ideas.
First, well that’s them. How do I know that I will be able to achieve Black Belt under the incredibly high standards of Mile High Karate?
Well. Frankly each of our teachers and school operators are trained for 100′s of hours – one the teaching and developmental skills necessary to achieve Black Belt. And, they have all been taught how to check for aptitude and attitude for a strong Black Belt candidate. And, to qualify prospective candidates to be allowed to train to Black Belt and beyond.
Guess what?
You have passed a VERY VIGOROUS screening process to be considered to train to Black Belt and beyond – and, to earn the Internationally Recognized symbol of achievement in Martial Arts – Mile High Karate’s Black Belt.
Second, Ok, Ok – they all achieved those incredible results – but, for me it just seems like to much time, effort, and money. Why would I want to do this?
Well – you are right about one thing.
Without commitment there is no achievement.
Is it worth the time, effort, and money? Well – ask ANY Mile High Karate Black Belt and you will find that they believe their achievement to be worth 100 times or even 1,000 times what it cost them in time, effort, and in money. Without exception– they believe that no other use of their time an resources would have had the same – life-long, permanent, improvement in their life that Mile High Karate has had.
Any way – why have I written you this week – and, explained our Black Belt system at great length?
Well,
This month you have been evaluated by your instructors and they have unanimously approved you to be accepted into the Mile High Karate family of Black Belts.
I am hoping that you will take the time to sit down with our expert staff this week to discuss the specifics of our Master Club so that you also may be allowed to train to Black Belt (and beyond!)
As I’m sure you know – I first work with most Mile High Karate students during the Black Belt preparation cycle and during the Black Belt retreat.
Honestly, I hope to be able to personally work with you in 2 ½ to 3 years – and, then sit and ask you “What if I had a ‘time-machine’ and could travel back in time and…
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Grand Master Stephen Oliver,
8 th Degree Black Belt
Founder & Chief Master Instructor – Mile High Karate
P.S. Please call to set an appointment today with your instructor to see if you qualify for either our Leadership Program or Master Club
What results have other families and students, like you,
experienced at Mile High Karate®?
“Their ability to think and concentrate, and to pay attention to detail
has been phenomenal for them.”
“I can’t just sit here. I’ve got to do this with him.”
“I would say that it’s worth anything that you’re looking for to help your kid’s self-esteem, self-discipline, and helping in school.”
My daughter had very low self-esteem. Ever since I brought her here, she feels a lot better about herself and is doing a lot better in school.
I like the discipline. That was the main reason I wanted to come. But she enjoys everything. She feels a lot better about herself. She likes the different people that she’s met. She likes that she has a goal to become a black belt. She does well and gets better every time she comes. It’s worth anything to help your kid’s self-esteem, self-discipline, and helping in school. It really does work. It’s helped my daughter a lot, in every way.
— Laurie Spradley
“The first time she came in, she was very shy and didn’t want to go anywhere near the front. That has changed drastically”
That seems to have improved a lot since Heather started karate. She’s very confident when she comes to class. It’s been a lot of fun watching her from the very beginning, when she learned the basic punches and using the sticks. It’s been a good experience.
She’s always been really good at school. She enjoys bringing in her work when she gets A’s and A+’s. The program really promotes and recognizes the kids when they bring in their good work. That helps motivate them to continue. The school has a job list for the kids to fill out to track cleaning their rooms or helping out around the house. That’s a good motivator. She likes to pull that list out and check it off when she’s done it. And once again, they get recognized for it when they come in.
Eileen Carasella
“Now that I’ve learned karate, I’ve learned to use it in self-defense only.”
Before I joined the school, I was getting into fights all the time. I was getting picked on and no one would leave me alone. Before, I wasn’t avoiding the fights. When they started pushing, I just pushed them right back. But now that I’ve learned karate, I’ve learned to use it in self-defense only.–Amber Plies’ Son
“It has done absolute wonders for my son. He’s doing a lot better in school. He’s got a lot more focus and a better attention span than he did before.”
Mile High Karate® has been really wonderful for both of us. Not only are we growing closer together on a daily basis, we now have a common interest and goal.
In myself, I have seen an improvement in self-esteem. I’ve seen a tremendous improvement with my son’s self-esteem. He’s doing a lot better in school. He’s got a lot more focus and a lot better attention span than he did before.
Justin had an incident on the playground where he was surrounded by a bunch of other kids. They wanted to start a fight. Justin looked at them and said, “I’m sorry, but you leave me no choice but to defend myself,” and got into a karate stance. The kids separated from the circle around him and he was able to walk away and not fight. If he had not taken karate, a fight would have started. I would highly recommend Mile High Karate® to any adult or child. I found karate to be challenging as far as exercise, and I get a lot more exercise here at Mile High Karate.® I’m also learning self-defense, self-esteem and self-control.
— Amber Plies.
“I have seen tremendous change in her. She is much more self-confident and she walks very proudly.”
My daughter is almost 13 years old. For almost 3 years, she’s been fighting bone cancer. She fought very, very hard and she survived, but she lost part of her leg. She never really lost her spirit, and that’s everything that I hold on to for her, and kept telling her to continue going forward. When she healed, she was physically healed. But I think she needed to heal spiritually and mentally.
he wanted to be healthy. She wanted to have more balance. She wanted to be like everybody else. And she wanted to be the best that she could be. I always thought she already was, but I don’t think she did. She gravitated to karate.
I have seen a tremendous change in her. She is just much more self-confident and she walks very proudly. And that makes me very happy. —Annie Cusack
“He’s now making almost straight A’s … the turnaround has just been incredible!”
My oldest son, Isaac, was, at best, making mostly C’s in school, with an occasional B. He’s now making almost straight A’s, with just one B.
The turnaround has just been incredible.
My other son, Ian, made C’s and one B. Now he’s all A’s, except for one B. Seeing the difference in his discipline, goals, and drive is just amazing. He’s a different kid.
They help out mom and dad around the house. They get their chores done. It’s working great, and we’re very proud of them. We’re just elated with what they’ve been able to learn. I highly recommend Mile High Karate.® — Jim Kerlin Father of Isaac and Ian
“I think Mile High Karate® is absolutely wonderful for kids.”
When we were white belts, my son was pushed up against a dumpster while he was wearing his uniform before class. They wanted him to show karate moves and fight with them. He told them no, that karate was for defense only and that he was not going to fight them. He talked his way out of it and was able to walk away with his head held high.
My oldest son has become incredibly more responsible. He does his own homework, his grades have improved, the teachers are very impressed with him, and he’s become very helpful around the house. He’s a totally different child in just three months.
I think Mile High Karate®’s program is absolutely wonderful for kids.
— Michelle Bowlig
“The kids who have been in karate here have a presence and self-confidence well beyond their years.”
Josh has been able to focus better on his schoolwork and homework. Mile High Karate® is more than just about the karate. They focus on the kids’ positive attributes and praise kids for doing well on tests.
He doesn’t get picked on because he’s got more self-confidence than a child who doesn’t take karate. What they stress in classes is for kids to be strong, self-confident, and in control.
The kids who’ve been in Mile High Karate,®especially for a few years, have a presence and self-confidence well beyond their years. We’ve noticed that improvement in our sons, too. It’s an ability to believe in himself and have goals that far exceed his age.
The higher the kids go, the more respect is there. Josh got lucky — enrolling at Mile High Karate® was a great choice.
— Wendy Myers & Blain Myers
“She now walks with her head held high, she makes friends very easily, and it’s a confidence that’s not arrogant.”
I originally got the kids involved in karate just as an extracurricular activity. It’s turned into a lot more than that. It’s turned into more of a lifestyle for them, especially with my shy girl. Karate has taught her a magnitude of self-confidence. She now walks with her head held high, she makes friends very easily, and it’s a confidence that’s not arrogant, it’s just a really strong sense of herself.
Our other daughter, Brittany, has had the same experience. She was probably more confident than Anna, but she’s learned how to be confident without being arrogant. With karate and the confidence level that she has, she’s able to generate confidence without having to be the princess of everybody. Karate is just amazing.
Our son is very confident of himself and his skills. Karate has taught him how to be self-disciplined. Karate is a life-changing thing, it’s not just learning how to punch and kick. It’s a way of life. If I have anything to say about it, we will be in karate forever.
— Lisa Taylor
“The kids’ respect for others has gone way up, using ‘yes, sir’ and ‘yes, ma’am’.”
By being focused at school, my oldest daughter’s grades are really improved. She’s proud to come to Mile High Karate® and show off her homework and the great report cards she’s been getting. She’s inspired her little sister to join the class, where she’s doing really well, focusing on discipline at home, keeping her room clean, and doing chores.
They’ve inspired me to join as well. It’s been a nice family activity for all of us. My husband said, “It’s a family atmosphere. It’s fun. They make it so much fun for the kids.” They’ve become like family to us. We moved several miles away from the school and continue to come here because of the highquality instructors. The kids have a great time here and everybody’s been nice.
Star Sager
“My oldest and I discovered that the instructors are really great.”
They provide a nice family atmosphere and make you feel very comfortable. I joined, and soon after, my wife and my youngest, as well.
Sean Sager
“I’ve gotten a lot of self-esteem and learned to meet other people
a lot better than I’ve been. I’ve gotten better grades.”
“I’m a lot better of a person now
that I’ve had martial arts.”
Need a Copy of the Form CLICK HERE
What’s the focus of our curriculum for kids and families?
At Mile High Karate,® we have the #1 program for character development
and leadership training for kids and families in North America, Australia, New Zealand and UK.
Mile High Karate’s program is vigorously designed in conjunction with
experts in the field of education to provide social, physical, emotional, and attitudinal growth.
Why Karate Instruction Will Benefit Your Child
Mile High Karate’s program works hand in hand with a child’s schoolwork, providing improved self-discipline, self- confidence, mental alertness, and goal-setting skills. At Mile High Karate® young people are taught that through dedicated, intense work, all worthwhile goals in life are possible. Parents have attributed our program with improved grades as a direct result of the increased achievement motivation, self-direction, and self-confidence provided by the program.
Goal Setting
It is important for each child to learn to set short-term, inter mediate, and long-term goals. At Stephen Oliver’s Mile High Karate®, every child’s goal is the Black Belt. a symbol of excellence in martial arts and an important tool for instructors and parents to use for developing desire, tenacity, and for teaching the importance of follow-through in any activity.
Exam Emphasis On Schoolwork
All young people in the program are required to bring copies of their grades from school, complete parent/teacher intent to promote forms, and complete exam qualification forms prior to testing. All of these support our focus on academic excellence as well as contribute to the family and the community. Stephen Oliver’s instructors work hand-in-hand with school teachers and parents to insure a well-balanced and focused development process for each child.
Proper Use of Skills
It is constantly stressed to all students that karate skills require them never to be abusive or offensive and are only for use defensively.
What results have other families and students, like you,
experienced at Mile High Karate®?
“Now that I’ve learned karate, I’ve learned to use it in self-defense only.”
Before I joined the school, I was getting into fights all the time. I was getting picked on and no one would leave me alone. Before, I wasn’t avoiding the fights. When they started pushing, I just pushed them right back. But now that I’ve learned karate, I’ve learned to use it in self-defense only.–Amber Plies’ Son
“It has done absolute wonders for my son. He’s doing a lot better in school. He’s got a lot more focus and a better attention span than he did before.”
Mile High Karate® has been really wonderful for both of us. Not only are we growing closer together on a daily basis, we now have a common interest and goal.
In myself, I have seen an improvement in self-esteem. I’ve seen a tremendous improvement with my son’s self-esteem. He’s doing a lot better in school. He’s got a lot more focus and a lot better attention span than he did before.
Justin had an incident on the playground where he was surrounded by a bunch of other kids. They wanted to start a fight. Justin looked at them and said, “I’m sorry, but you leave me no choice but to defend myself,” and got into a karate stance. The kids separated from the circle around him and he was able to walk away and not fight. If he had not taken karate, a fight would have started. I would highly recommend Mile High Karate® to any adult or child. I found karate to be challenging as far as exercise, and I get a lot more exercise here at Mile High Karate.® I’m also learning self-defense, self-esteem and self-control.
— Amber Plies.
“I have seen tremendous change in her. She is much more self-confident and she walks very proudly.”
My daughter is almost 13 years old. For almost 3 years, she’s been fighting bone cancer. She fought very, very hard and she survived, but she lost part of her leg. She never really lost her spirit, and that’s everything that I hold on to for her, and kept telling her to continue going forward. When she healed, she was physically healed. But I think she needed to heal spiritually and mentally.
he wanted to be healthy. She wanted to have more balance. She wanted to be like everybody else. And she wanted to be the best that she could be. I always thought she already was, but I don’t think she did. She gravitated to karate.
I have seen a tremendous change in her. She is just much more self-confident and she walks very proudly. And that makes me very happy. —Annie Cusack
“He’s now making almost straight A’s … the turnaround has just been incredible!”
My oldest son, Isaac, was, at best, making mostly C’s in school, with an occasional B. He’s now making almost straight A’s, with just one B.
The turnaround has just been incredible.
My other son, Ian, made C’s and one B. Now he’s all A’s, except for one B. Seeing the difference in his discipline, goals, and drive is just amazing. He’s a different kid.
They help out mom and dad around the house. They get their chores done. It’s working great, and we’re very proud of them. We’re just elated with what they’ve been able to learn. I highly recommend Mile High Karate.® — Jim Kerlin Father of Isaac and Ian
“Their ability to think and concentrate, and to pay attention to detail
has been phenomenal for them.”
“I think Mile High Karate® is absolutely wonderful for kids.”
When we were white belts, my son was pushed up against a dumpster while he was wearing his uniform before class. They wanted him to show karate moves and fight with them. He told them no, that karate was for defense only and that he was not going to fight them. He talked his way out of it and was able to walk away with his head held high.
My oldest son has become incredibly more responsible. He does his own homework, his grades have improved, the teachers are very impressed with him, and he’s become very helpful around the house. He’s a totally different child in just three months.
I think Mile High Karate®’s program is absolutely wonderful for kids.
— Michelle Bowlig
“The kids who have been in karate here have a presence and self-confidence well beyond their years.”
Josh has been able to focus better on his schoolwork and homework. Mile High Karate® is more than just about the karate. They focus on the kids’ positive attributes and praise kids for doing well on tests.
He doesn’t get picked on because he’s got more self-confidence than a child who doesn’t take karate. What they stress in classes is for kids to be strong, self-confident, and in control.
The kids who’ve been in Mile High Karate,®especially for a few years, have a presence and self-confidence well beyond their years. We’ve noticed that improvement in our sons, too. It’s an ability to believe in himself and have goals that far exceed his age.
The higher the kids go, the more respect is there. Josh got lucky — enrolling at Mile High Karate® was a great choice.
— Wendy Myers & Blain Myers
“I can’t just sit here. I’ve got to do this with him.”
“One good thing about karate is that Chris now does his chores around the house. He can see how he’s contributing to the family.”
Chris has really developed since he’s been in Mile High Karate.® When he first started karate, he was kind of shy and didn’t want to get up in front of the class. But after a year and a half of karate, he’s one of the top third graders in the school. He’s picked for special projects by the principle herself. He has great grades and he loves school. Karate has given him self-discipline and confidence in himself.
Chris does his chores around the house now. He can see how he’s contributing to the family, where before, he really didn’t want to do it and he would just pass the buck and let mom and dad do it.
I’ve been to several schools, and I interviewed several before I came here. I thought this was the best. I think the instructors are great, and I like the way they bring in positive aspects from all the books you have to read, the positive self-motivation you get, and the great workouts. Mile High Karate® is an excellent school. About four years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Part of my therapy was to make sure I get plenty of exercise and develop a positive outlook on life.
I found out that by coming to Mile High Karate,® I could get those things. I could come in here, get a good workout, build my muscles, work on my flexibility and my balance, and get the positive aspects from the school. So, it’s been a very positive experience and a very good part of the treatment.
— Brian Vial
“Both of us have tremendously grown from this experience.”
My self-confidence has certainly grown a lot. I’m a lot more apt to look at people when I talk to them, to have more eye contact. The physical fitness aspect gives me the confidence to go out and do what I want to do and to feel very assertive when I do it. My son, as well, has a lot more confidence than in the past when talking to his daycare teachers. This happened very quickly. The staff are really friendly people.
They’re very, very accepting of everyone. Even when we started, we weren’t exactly sure what we were getting ourselves into, but they worked with us and were very patient. I would recommend the school very highly to anybody wanting to get their kids, as well as themselves, into a program physical fitness and confidence.
— Traci Johnson
“I decided if they can do it, I can do it.”
I came to watch Lisa on her first day of class. As I was watching them, I noticed there were several other women on the floor for their first class who appeared to be my age or older. I decided if they can do it, I can do it. With my hectic schedule — helping raise grandchildren and children and teenagers — I was trying to figure out some way I could get physical activity in my life. I figured, “Well, I’m here with the grand kids three times a week anyway, so why not kill two birds with one stone.” Now my sons are telling their friends that their mom is going to be one of those moms their friends are going to want to come see.
— Cheryl Mulhouser
“I’ve gotten a lot of self-esteem and learned to meet other people
a lot better than I’ve been. I’ve gotten better grades.”
“I would say that it’s worth anything that you’re looking for to help your kid’s self-esteem, self-discipline, and helping in school.”
My daughter had very low self-esteem. Ever since I brought her here, she feels a lot better about herself and is doing a lot better in school.
I like the discipline. That was the main reason I wanted to come. But she enjoys everything. She feels a lot better about herself. She likes the different people that she’s met. She likes that she has a goal to become a black belt. She does well and gets better every time she comes. It’s worth anything to help your kid’s self-esteem, self-discipline, and helping in school. It really does work. It’s helped my daughter a lot, in every way.
— Laurie Spradley
“The first time she came in, she was very shy and didn’t want to go anywhere near the front. That has changed drastically”
That seems to have improved a lot since Heather started karate. She’s very confident when she comes to class. It’s been a lot of fun watching her from the very beginning, when she learned the basic punches and using the sticks. It’s been a good experience.
She’s always been really good at school. She enjoys bringing in her work when she gets A’s and A+’s. The program really promotes and recognizes the kids when they bring in their good work. That helps motivate them to continue. The school has a job list for the kids to fill out to track cleaning their rooms or helping out around the house. That’s a good motivator. She likes to pull that list out and check it off when she’s done it. And once again, they get recognized for it when they come in.
Eileen Carasella
“I’m a lot better of a person now
that I’ve had martial arts.”
“She now walks with her head held high, she makes friends very easily, and it’s a confidence that’s not arrogant.”
I originally got the kids involved in karate just as an extracurricular activity. It’s turned into a lot more than that. It’s turned into more of a lifestyle for them, especially with my shy girl. Karate has taught her a magnitude of self-confidence. She now walks with her head held high, she makes friends very easily, and it’s a confidence that’s not arrogant, it’s just a really strong sense of herself.
Our other daughter, Brittany, has had the same experience. She was probably more confident than Anna, but she’s learned how to be confident without being arrogant. With karate and the confidence level that she has, she’s able to generate confidence without having to be the princess of everybody. Karate is just amazing.
Our son is very confident of himself and his skills. Karate has taught him how to be self-disciplined. Karate is a life-changing thing, it’s not just learning how to punch and kick. It’s a way of life. If I have anything to say about it, we will be in karate forever.
— Lisa Taylor
“The kids’ respect for others has gone way up, using ‘yes, sir’ and ‘yes, ma’am’.”
By being focused at school, my oldest daughter’s grades are really improved. She’s proud to come to Mile High Karate® and show off her homework and the great report cards she’s been getting. She’s inspired her little sister to join the class, where she’s doing really well, focusing on discipline at home, keeping her room clean, and doing chores.
They’ve inspired me to join as well. It’s been a nice family activity for all of us. My husband said, “It’s a family atmosphere. It’s fun. They make it so much fun for the kids.” They’ve become like family to us. We moved several miles away from the school and continue to come here because of the highquality instructors. The kids have a great time here and everybody’s been nice.
Star Sager
“My oldest and I discovered that the instructors are really great.”
They provide a nice family atmosphere and make you feel very comfortable. I joined, and soon after, my wife and my youngest, as well.
Sean Sager