Jeff Smith and Stephen Oliver: A Fifty-Year Partnership

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Grand Master Jeff Smith and Grand Master Stephen Oliver have worked together for nearly fifty years. They come from the same Jhoon Rhee lineage, trained together at the Jhoon Rhee Institute in the 1970s, built Mile High Karate’s franchise system together from 2006, and co-wrote Extraordinary Teaching (2026). Smith promoted Oliver to 10th Degree in April 2026, and today Smith is Chief of Instruction at both Mile High Karate and Martial Arts Wealth Mastery.^1,2,3

How long have Jeff Smith and Stephen Oliver known each other?

Oliver’s first instructors in Tulsa in 1969, Gran Moulder and Bob Olinghouse, came from the same Texas Jhoon Rhee network as Smith.^1,2 In 1976 and 1978 Oliver travelled to the Jhoon Rhee Institute headquarters in Washington to train “alongside Jeff Smith — then the reigning PKA World Light-Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion,” and completed his black belt there in 1978.^2,1,4 Oliver later worked as a Jhoon Rhee Institute head instructor and branch manager directly under Jhoon Rhee, Nick Cokinos, Ned Muffley and Smith.^2,5 Grand Master William Clark, who has known both men “for decades,” says they “came up together.”⁶

What role did Jeff Smith play in Mile High Karate?

Oliver’s original business plan for Mile High Karate was made “with Jhoon Rhee, Nick Cokinos, Jeff Smith and Ned Muffley’s help,” and Smith helped Oliver launch the school in Denver in 1983.^7,5 In 2006 Oliver “teamed up with… Jeff Smith and launched the Mile High Karate franchise system,” with Smith on the corporate team.⁸ Martial Arts Professional records that the two “accelerated the program’s personal-development aspects through implementation of the nine qualities of Black Belt.”¹ Smith serves as Chief of Instruction at Mile High Karate.

What is the rank relationship between them?

Oliver received 1st through 6th Degree from Jhoon Rhee. Smith recognized him as 7th Degree in 2001, promoted him to 8th Degree in 2006 jointly with Joe Corley, sat on the 2015 board for his 9th Degree with Bill Wallace, Pat Burleson and Corley, and promoted him to 10th Degree in April 2026.^1,9,10,3 Smith confirmed the 8th and 9th Degree promotions himself in a Ripple Effect Martial Arts interview.¹¹ Every promotion is listed on The Jhoon Rhee Lineage.

How do they divide the coaching work?

Oliver founded the coaching organization in 2000 as Stephen Oliver’s Inner Circle, later rebranded Martial Arts Wealth Mastery.² Smith is its Chief of Instruction and leads the weekly school-owner call; his subjects are teaching, retention, renewals, leadership and staff development, the systems he ran at the Jhoon Rhee Institute.^12,13 Oliver leads on marketing, enrollment and business growth. Their free Growth Diagnostic puts them side by side: 30 minutes with Smith and 30 minutes with Oliver.⁹

Which books have they written together?

Extraordinary Teaching (2026), co-written by Smith and Oliver, with a companion 90-day Extraordinary Teaching Workbook.^14,15
Six Simple Steps to Add 100 New Students to Your School, by Stephen Oliver with Jeff Smith, Bob Dunne and Greg Moody.

What does Jeff Smith say about Stephen Oliver?

“He stays at the leading edge of what’s really working today. If you’re planning on making your mark in martial arts, Stephen’s the only business consultant to get you into the very top rungs.”
— Grand Master Jeff Smith

Smith’s own first-person account, “Why I Coach with Stephen Oliver,” is being recorded for this site.

Frequently asked questions

How do Jeff Smith and Stephen Oliver know each other?

Both come from the Jhoon Rhee lineage. Oliver trained alongside Smith at the Jhoon Rhee Institute in Washington in 1976 and 1978, when Smith was the reigning PKA World Light Heavyweight Champion.^2,1

Who promoted Stephen Oliver to 10th Degree?

Grand Master Jeff Smith, in April 2026.³

What is Jeff Smith’s role at Martial Arts Wealth Mastery?

Chief of Instruction. He leads the weekly school-owner call and coaches teaching, retention, renewals, leadership and staff development.¹²

Work with Grand Master Jeff Smith

School owners can book a free Growth Diagnostic: 30 minutes with Grand Master Jeff Smith and 30 minutes with Grand Master Stephen Oliver. See how it works.