More than 40 years ago, a film about a teenager taking up karate to defend himself from his bullies captured the world’s attention.
The Karate Kid debuted June 22, 1984, and was the start of a media franchise. It introduced Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his karate mentor, Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita), who guides Daniel in learning karate while also teaching many life lessons.
The main storyline started in the original film and continuing in Cobra Kai will conclude Thrusday with the release of the final five episodes. Part two ended on a major cliffhanger, and it’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen in these final episodes.
Here is a look back at the storied history of the karate kid universe, also known as the “Miyagi-verse.”
LaRusso films
The first film followed Daniel LaRusso’s move across the country from New Jersey to California. Daniel crosses paths with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), earning Johnny’s ire when Johnny sees Daniel interacting with Johnny’s ex-girlfriend, Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue).
Daniel and Johnny fight several times, with Johnny emerging as victor each time due to his karate training under John Kreese (Martin Kove). Eventually, Mr. Miyagi (the LaRusso’s maintenance man in their new apartment complex) intervenes in a fight, quickly dispatching Johnny and his friends. Daniel and Mr. Miyagi confront Kreese at his Cobra Kai dojo and agree to settle things on the mat at the upcoming All-Valley Under 18 karate championship.
Mr. Miyagi trains Daniel in karate using unorthodox methods, but Daniel quickly learns not all is as they seem. The film culminates at the tournament, where Daniel and Johnny square off in a climatic fight.
The Karate Kid II picks up immediately where its predecessor left off. Following a quick conclusion to the first film (with Mr. Miyagi taking Kreese down a peg), the film jumps ahead six months. Mr. Miyagi receives word that his father is gravely ill, and he returns home to Okinawa.
Miyagi reveals he left because he fell in love with Yukie (Nobu McCarthy). However, Miyagi’s best friend Sato (Danny Kamekona) was Yukie’s arranged husband. Miyagi wanted to break with tradition and marry Yukie despite the arrangement, angering Sato. Sato challenged Miyagi to a death fight; rather than fight his friend, Miyagi left Okinawa.
In Okinawa, Miyagi reunites with both Yukie and Sato, while Daniel meets Yukie’s niece, Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita). They also cross paths with Sato’s nephew, Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), who proves a far more dangerous foe to Daniel than Johnny. Miyagi’s father soon dies, but Sato is determined to fight Miyagi to “restore” his honor.
During a typhoon, Daniel and Miyagi rescue Sato from his collapsed dojo. Sato has a change of heart and disowns his nephew. At an O-bon festival, Chozen takes Kumiko hostage, and challenges Daniel to a fight to the death. Daniel holds his own and wins the fight, though spares Chozen.
The third film reintroduces Kreese as the villain and introduces his friend Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), who co-founded Cobra Kai. The two hatch a plan to get revenge on Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.
They hire karate bad boy Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan). Mike repeatedly tries to goad Daniel into entering another tournament. Daniel soon trains under Silver, who has an aggressive training style designed to hurt Daniel. The film, like the first, concludes with another All-Valley tournament, with Daniel again emerging victor.
Different karate kids
Ten years after the original film, the fourth film The Next Karate Kid, introduced a new student for Miyagi: Julie Pierce (Hillary Swank). Like Daniel, Julie has had a tough time, though she is dealing with the death of her parents rather than a bully.
Julie meets Miyagi, whose grandfather served with Miyagi during World War II. Miyagi trains Julie similar to Daniel, and she starts to find a balance with her life.
The fifth film stands as its own entry in the franchise. It stars Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, a kung fu master who is a maintenance man. Mr. Han meets Dre Parker (Jaden Smith), who moves from Detroit to Beijing and runs afoul of a bully similar to Daniel. Mr. Han teaches Dre the secrets of self-defense, which culminates in a tournament.
Cobra Kai
In 2018, Cobra Kai debuted as a YouTube original. The series picked up 34 years after the 1984 All-Valley championship and follows original antagonist Johnny. Johnny has fallen on hard times. After the loss of his job and witnessing teenager Miguel (Xolo Mariduena) suffer at the hands of bullies, Johnny restarts Cobra Kai. Johnny’s methods are similar to his old sensei’s, but toned down significantly.
Meanwhile, Daniel is a successful cars salesman, who uses his training from Miyagi partly as a selling point for his business. Daniel is married to Amanda (Courtney Henggeler) and has two children, Sam (Mary Mouser) and Anthony (Griffin Santopietro).
Daniel and Johnny cross paths again and the show’s drama largely centers on their opposing views of karate. Drama is also added when Johnny’s estranged son Robby (Tanner Buchanan) trains under Daniel, mainly in an attempt to annoy his father.
Cobra Kai continues the story of many of the characters introduced in the original films series. Other returning characters include John Kreese, Johnny’s Cobra Kai gang of Tommy, Bobby and Jimmy, Kumiko, Chozen, Terry Silver, Mike Barnes and Ali Mills.
Netflix’s Cobra Kai will conclude Thursday, Feb. 13 with the release of the final five episodes of season six.
Although Miyagi does not appear, he influences much of the story. His training and legacy live on through Daniel’s training of his karate students. Season six introduced new information about Miyagi, including that he once fought in the world’s biggest karate tournament. The final episodes should conclude that arc when released on Thursday.
Future
Although Cobra Kai comes to an end Thursday, there is at least one more entry in the franchise. Karate Kid: Legends is set to release on May 30.
Karate Kid: Legends stars Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, reprising their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han. This film brings together the original film trilogy and the 2010 remake in a shared universe. It takes place three years after the end of Cobra Kai. Ben Wang plays the titular role, a new character named Li Fong. Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight and Wyatt Oleff round out the cast.
Details are limited as of now, but perhaps the release of Cobra Kai will drop hints of what’s to come. And perhaps Columbia will release a trailer soon. Time will tell.
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