Are You Confused? Who Is Stephen Oliver and Why Should I Listen to Him?

Almost everyone in the martial arts industry now sells advice, and most of them have never run a large, profitable school. I opened my first school in 1975 and have operated my Mile High Karate schools in Denver continuously since 1983. Below I lay out the seven categories most industry gurus fall into, and exactly how my track record differs from each one.

Key Takeaways

• Most genuinely successful school owners are busy running their schools, not selling information.
• Stephen Oliver opened his first school in 1975 and has operated Mile High Karate in Denver continuously since 1983.
• He began studying martial arts in 1969 and trained in Tae Kwon Do with the Jhoon Rhee Institute alongside World Champions Jeff Smith, John Chung and Charlie Lee.
• He broke the $1,000,000.00 a year barrier in 1985 and has earned a six-figure-plus personal income strictly from schools.
• Nearly 100% of Mile High Karate teaching, marketing and sales has been done by employees implementing his systems, not by his own personality.
• Only use ideas and systems proven through extensive testing in the real world of daily school operations.

Gee – in our industry it seems like everyone has popped up to offer advice – how do you tell fact from fantasy? Value from Fraud?

Unfortunately in our industry most of the really successful people are spending their time growing their staff, students, schools, and especially their net profit not sharing their secrets with you. I am different from most of those sharing information in a variety of VERY important ways that are important to you and will help you dramatically grow your school – and, your income.

Many of the “gurus” in our industry fall into one of the following categories:

1. Never Been There – Never Done That

That’s right – there’s a BUNCH of people trying to sell you advice who have never sat where you sit – and, dealt with the problems and opportunities that you face every day. They often are excellent speakers – and, persuasive purveyors of their own products, programs, or subscriptions but really never did it themselves. Their ideas are unproven. Their perspective limited to that of an outsider.

How am I different?

Well – I opened my first school in 1975. And, have been continuously operating my Mile High Karate schools in Denver since 1983. Mile High Karate currently has successful locations throughout North America. I’ve operated a large school operation – have taught 1000’s and run every aspect of a school. And, can teach you step by step, item by item how to replicate my success – without the “brain damage!”

2. Not Even a Martial Artist

Believe it or not – there are “experts” in the martial arts business who aren’t even martial artists. They don’t understand the training, mindset, and love for the martial arts that we share – then dare to tell real martial artists how to run a school teaching real martial arts skills and curriculum.

How am I different?

I began studying martial arts in 1969. Trained in Tae Kwon Do with the Jhoon Rhee Institute along side the likes of World Champions Jeff Smith, John Chung, Charlie Lee, and the most awesome stable of kickboxers ever assembled. More recently I was promoted to 10^th Degree Black Belt by Jeff Smith. Mile High Karate includes some of the top martial artists in the World from former World Champion Jeff Smith to the top people in the “Parker Kenpo” lineage, the top instructors in Kung Fu, Traditional Karate, Tae Kwon Do and, event Thai Kick-Boxing & BJJ.

3. Only Run a School in Their Memory

Some of those who consult or run organizations or even “fake franchises” only run a martial arts school in their memory – in some case distant memory. Some of those recollections seem more like a distant dream (or, in some cases vivid nightmare!) Many of these people operated in very different circumstances and times.

How am I different?

I am still totally immersed in the daily operations of martial arts schools – up to doing 527 enrollment conferences in the past 3 years personally – nose to nose, belly to belly. Every Friday I meet (by phone & webinar) with our Regional Develoers from around the world. Every Wednesday I meet with our school owners, school managers and instructors – and, solve the everyday problems that you face in the real world (albeit at possibly a higher volume.)

4. Never Ran a Successful School

Even those advise givers who really are Black Belts – and, run or have run schools – usually never ran a particularly successful operation. Many got into offering advice about running a school or, put together an organization (license, association or other fake – often illegal – franchise) since they really couldn’t figure out how to make much of a living running a school or schools of their own.

How am I different?

Right now – several Mile High Karate schools will do over $500,000.00 in gross revenues (in some cases much more) we will add many more locations with owner-operators like you, and with regional developers who develop multiple schools in their protected region. I broke the $1,000,000.00 a year barrier – way back in 1985 – and continue to operate a hugely successful operation. I’ve made a six figure + personal income for over 26 years strictly from schools.

5. Flash in the Pan

Often this comes in the guise of – gee I just started figuring this stuff out and had a great year last year. What if you pay me to tell you about my short-term successes. I did $ (pick a number $100,000 net, $400,000 gross, etc., etc.) will do more this year – and, would love to show you how I did it.

How I am different?

Well – I’ve already covered this for you – but, let’s just say that there are many people who have a good year of two. Let’s see if they can weather the ups and downs of our industry – and, boom years and recession.

6. Personality Driven – Not Duplicatable

I think we’d both be able to draw upon a few examples of Magnetic Personalities – who’s personal success is exciting – but, really not something that could EVER be replicated in your operation.

How am I different?

I’ve run a large school operation since 1983. In that time nearly 100% of our teaching, marketing, and sales were accomplished by employees (or, now franchise school owner/operators) who had to implement my systems. They are not dependent upon charisma or unstoppable energy. I have spent years studying operations and marketing – including formally achieving a Master’s in Business Administration – that included having a literal bevy of MBA’s and Ph.D.’s analyze the martial arts school business – to help me create powerful duplicatable systems for school operations.

7. Have Lost Touch With What Works in the 21st Century

Unfortunately the industry is full of dinosaurs and leaders of the past – who’s time has long since passed, but who’s friends and associates are unwilling to say “the emperor has no clothes.” Systems that may have been revolutionary in 1970 or 1980 (even 1990 and beyond) may be out of date or just plain insufficient in the current environment.

How am I different?

In a variety of ways I continue to explore the “leading edge” of new technologies, teaching techniques, marketing strategies, and technological enhancements. I explore the latest approaches not only through my own school implementation but through an unmatched “master-mind” team of industry leaders that I network with and share ideas with constantly. The latest strategies and tools are immediately available to all of our franchisees.

What to Look For Before You Take Anyone’s Advice

You should only use ideas and system that have been PROVEN to work through extensive testing – in the real world of daily school operations. And, no short-term “fixes” only long-term success strategies

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Stephen Oliver?

Stephen Oliver is a 10th Degree Black Belt and the Founder and CEO of Mile High Karate and of Martial Arts Wealth Mastery. He is also CEO and Chairman of the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA) and the publisher of Martial Arts Professional Magazine. He founded Mile High Karate in Denver in August 1983 and has coached martial arts school owners since 1985.

Why should a school owner listen to Stephen Oliver rather than another consultant?

He has actually done the work he teaches. He opened his first school in 1975, has operated Mile High Karate in Denver continuously since 1983, broke $1,000,000.00 a year in 1985, and remains involved in daily school operations rather than consulting from memory.

What is Stephen Oliver’s martial arts rank and background?

He is a 10th Degree Black Belt, promoted in April 2026 by Grand Master Jeff Smith, and was inducted into the Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame in August 2026. He began training in 1969 in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Bob Olinghouse and Gran Moulder of the Jhoon Rhee Institute, and later trained in Washington, DC alongside World Champions Jeff Smith, John Chung and Charlie Lee.

What business credentials does Stephen Oliver have?

He holds an A.B. cum laude in International Economics from Georgetown University, earned in 1982, and an Executive MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, earned in 1992. He used that training, along with MBAs and Ph.D.s who analyzed the martial arts school business, to build duplicatable systems for school operations.

How big did Mile High Karate get?

Mile High Karate opened five locations in its first 18 months and six within 36 months, reaching more than 2,500 active students and more than $1,700,000 a year in revenue by the time Stephen Oliver was 25. That figure is roughly $5,200,000 in today’s dollars.

How can I tell if a martial arts business system is worth using?

Use only ideas and systems that have been proven through extensive testing in the real world of daily school operations. Avoid short-term fixes and look for long-term success strategies that do not depend on one person’s charisma.