COBRA KAI NEVER DIES!

HIII-YAHH!!! 

A craze for karate will be generational, with the famous The Karate Kid film series widely loved in the 1980s & 1990s along with the recent popularity of the Netflix series Cobra Kai. Unknown to most, the Cobra Kai series is part of The Karate Kid franchise, and is the official sequel to the film series. Both series are beautifully constructed with a focus on relationships and culture. Similarly to The Karate Kid being well-appreciated by youths in the 1980s & 1990s, Cobra Kai has positively impacted adolescents in recent years. 

The original Karate Kid film follows the story of Daniel LaRusso, a teenager from New Jersey trying to adjust to his new life in Southern California. Daniel LaRusso was a bullied teenager, who faced many challenges growing up poor and picked on by schoolmates from the Cobra Kai karate dojo. He befriends a repairman named Mr. Miyagi, who teaches him karate to defend against his bullies. Lessons from Mr. Miyagi has given Daniel a sense of identity and self-confidence, which allows him to overcome his bullying problem by settling disputes at the All-Valley Karate Tournament.

Cobra Kai the series continues the story with a contrasting perspective by following the story of Johnny Lawrence and Miguel Diaz. Johnny Lawrence is the main antagonist in the film series, as he was Daniel’s main bully. The series kicks off with Johnny wanting a better life by reconnecting with his karate days and opening a Cobra Kai dojo. After seeing a local teenager, Miguel Diaz, get picked on by athletes, Johnny helps him by demonstrating offensive karate techniques on the bullies. Miguel takes an interest in the karate skills Johnny is willing to teach him at his Cobra Kai dojo, where the complex story of his karate journey begins. 

The franchise displays a deep, emotional bond shared between sensei and student in both series. This focus on the importance of teachings from the senseis expands outside of karate for their students, which has translated into the franchise’s audiences’ lives. For example, a student here at Rosemead High School shares how they have learned how to regulate themselves emotionally from watching Cobra Kai, “It’s taught me that my anger is mine, but I am not my anger.” Another local youth from Pasadena City College communicates the impact the franchise has had for them, “Cobra Kai was how my mom and I bonded. She grew up in the 80s loving the The Karate Kid movies. [...] Before Cobra Kai, we didn’t speak much about anything that wasn’t related to school. I’m grateful for it, allowing me to share something special with my mom.”

The widely shared love for the franchise has been passed from generation to generation and will transcend more with its influential lessons on building confidence, compassion, and emotional regulation. 

Cobra Kai never dies!