Congratulations to Stephen Oliver on His Lifetime Achievement Recognition

Dr. Greg Moody · October 6, 2026

Grand Master Stephen Oliver. Photo: Go2 Karate Business Magazine, December 2023.

Go2 Karate named Grand Master Stephen Oliver the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement & Recognition Award in the December 2023 issue of Go2 Karate Business Magazine (Volume 1, Issue 3). He held a 9th Degree Black Belt at the time (Go2 Karate, 2023), and he's since been promoted to 10th Degree.

What makes a lifetime achievement award mean something? I think it's when it recognizes a body of work and is not just about longevity. In Stephen's case that body of work runs across martial arts instruction, school ownership, multi-school development, industry publishing, professional associations and decades of coaching other school owners.

What the body of work looks like

He earned his Black Belt from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee in 1978, became the youngest Branch Manager at the Jhoon Rhee Institute, and in 1983 took $10,000 to Denver and opened Mile High Karate. Within 36 months he had six locations and about 3,500 active students...

He was 26 (Go2 Karate, 2024).

He didn't do it alone. Grand Master Jeff Smith earned his Black Belt alongside him under Jhoon Rhee in 1978, and they've built Mile High Karate's franchise together since 2005 (Go2 Karate, 2024).

Area	What he built
Schools	Mile High Karate, six locations in 36 months, franchised with Grand Master Jeff Smith from 2005
Events	The Mile High Karate Classic, a NASKA World Tour event for 10 years
Publishing	Bought NAPMA and Martial Arts Professional magazine in 2007; wrote the first book on internet marketing for martial arts schools (1999); co-authored No B.S. Wealth Attraction for Entrepreneurs with Dan Kennedy
Associations	Founding board member of Educational Funding Company (1985), Hall of Fame (2000); NASKA board, National Sanction Director and Executive Committee (1989 to 2000)
Coaching	Founded the program that became Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, coaching single and multi-school owners
Rank	10th Degree Black Belt, April 2026 (Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, n.d.-b)

Why I think he earned it

I met Grand Master Oliver back in 2008 at one of his live events. I knew then he was an innovator not just in marketing but also very down to earth and practical - what he said worked! I have appreciated his friendship and advice ever since.

I said it a while back and it still holds: "Stephen Oliver knows the martial arts profession as well as anyone. He brings with him an amazing intellect and a unique perspective honed from years in the trenches" (Martial Arts Wealth Mastery, n.d.-a).

Congratulations, Grand Master Oliver!

References

Go2 Karate. (2023). Go2 Karate recognition award: Grand Master Stephen Oliver. Go2 Karate Business Magazine, 1(3), 37. Rev Publish.

Go2 Karate. (2024). Interview with Grand Master Stephen Oliver. Go2 Karate Magazine, 2(1), 5–13. Rev Publish.

Martial Arts Wealth Mastery. (n.d.-a). Dr. Greg Moody in the media. https://martialartswealth.com/go/media/greg-moody/

Martial Arts Wealth Mastery. (n.d.-b). Stephen Oliver, MBA: Martial arts business coach. https://martialartswealth.com/go/stephen-oliver/

Congratulations to Stephen Oliver on His Lifetime Achievement Recognition

What the body of work looks like

Why I think he earned it

References

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