Get fit, learn self-defense, earn a Black Belt
Mile High Karate Thornton teaches martial arts and self-defense to adults at 3979 E 120th Avenue in Thornton, Colorado. Adult classes combine conditioning, traditional karate technique and practical self-defense for students of any starting fitness level.
Adults start where they are. Many have never trained before; others are returning to martial arts after years away. Instructors adjust drills so every student can work hard safely and improve from class to class.
Training covers kicking and striking technique, traditional forms, controlled sparring with padded safety equipment and practical self-defense. It is also a structured way to stay fit, with a clear goal: Mile High Karate has promoted Black Belts from age 5 to age 76.
Many adults train alongside their children in family classes.
What adult students train
Conditioning
Strength, flexibility and stamina built through real, varied training.
Practical and realistic
Awareness, avoidance and techniques that work under stress.
Traditional karate
Kicks, strikes, blocks and forms in the Jhoon Rhee lineage of American Freestyle.
The Black Belt
About 48 months of consistent training, finishing with a three-day retreat in Breckenridge.
A Black Belt school since 1983
Mile High Karate Thornton is owned and operated by Amanda and Stephen Christensen, who have led Mile High Karate in the Thornton and Westminster area since 2003. The school belongs to the Mile High Karate organization founded in Colorado by Grand Master Stephen Oliver on August 6, 1983, with Grand Master Jeff Smith as Chief of Instruction, in the lineage of Grand Master Jhoon Rhee.
- More than 1,000 Black Belts promoted by Mile High Karate, ages 5 to 76
- Well over 30% of active Thornton students are Black Belts
- Well over 120 intramural tournaments hosted in Thornton
- Black Belt testing finishes at a three-day retreat in Breckenridge, Colorado
Adult martial arts questions
- Am I too old to start karate?No. Mile High Karate has promoted Black Belts as old as 76. Instructors adjust training to each student’s starting fitness.
- Do I need to be fit to start martial arts?No. Adults of any starting fitness level train at Mile High Karate Thornton, and fitness improves as you train.
- Do adult classes teach real self-defense?Yes. Practical self-defense is one of the three foundations of the Mile High Karate curriculum, alongside personal development and traditional forms.
- What style of martial arts does Mile High Karate teach?American Freestyle, which grew from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee’s Tae Kwon Do and combines Korean kicking, traditional forms and practical self-defense.
- Can I train with my kids?Yes. A high percentage of Mile High Karate families have one or both parents training, and the school offers family classes.
More answers are on the Mile High Karate Thornton parent FAQ.
Other programs at Mile High Karate Thornton
Book your first adult class
Call to book an introductory lesson. The instructor meets the student, teaches a few basics and sets a first goal. Wear comfortable exercise clothes and bring water.
(303) 280-18393979 E 120th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233 · Directions
© Mile High Karate, LLC and Stephen Oliver – All Rights Reserved. Mile High Karate® is owned by Mile High Karate, LLC, Stephen Oliver – Founder, CEO.