TheKarate Kidfranchise began with the 1984 movie of the same name, but Netflix’s seriesCobra Kaiis arguably its most popular release. The show used the originalKarate Kidfilm as the basis for many of its most important characters and scenes. And in one such scene, the franchise admitted a harsh truth about its chief protagonist, Daniel LaRusso.
Cobra Kaireignited the rivalry between LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, his main opponent in 1984’sThe Karate Kid. The pair went from being teenage competitors to middle-aged senseis of rival karate dojos. They fronted thecast ofCobra Kaiduring every season of the show, and the evolution of their relationship served as one of its key story arcs.
In one moment immediately before theCobraKaiseries finale, Johnny reflected on his own ability as a fighter compared to Daniel’s, in a conversation with his protégé, Miguel Diaz, recalling that when he and Daniel LaRusso first fought each other, he was a much stronger martial artist than Daniel — and as tough as it may be to admit, Johnny’s totally right.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Acknowledged That Daniel Should Not Have Won Against Johnny In 1984
Johnny Lawrence’s Assertion That He Was A Much Better Fighter Rang True
This statement from Johnny Lawrence in the penultimate episode ofCobra Kai, in which he says he should have “destroyed” Daniel, amounts to theKarate Kidfranchise acknowledging for the first time thathe should have beaten Daniel LaRusso in its original movie. It’s a dramatic admission, given that Daniel was the central hero whose story launched the franchise.
At the same time, it’s worth remembering thatCobra Kaiinstead placed Johnny Lawrence, not Daniel LaRusso, at the heart of its story.Johnny and Miguel’s decision to leave Daniel’s Miyagi-do dojowas pivotal to the finale of the series. Lawrence achieved redemption not by playing second fiddle to LaRusso, but by standing on his own two feet.
In this context, it’s unsurprising that we heard Johnny suggesting he was superior to Daniel as a fighter in 1984, sinceCobra Kaiwas presenting things from his point of view more than anyone else’s. Nevertheless, he was only corroboratingwhat many fans of the franchise had already concluded on watchingThe Karate Kid.
Johnny Lawrence might have been Daniel LaRusso’s main antagonist in the original movie, but he undoubtedly possessed the skillset as a martial artist to defeat the movie’s hero.Daniel beat Johnny through sheer courage and determination, in a result that gave audiences rooting forThe Karate Kid’s title character what they wanted.
Johnny Lawrence Knows The Exact Reason He Lost To Daniel LaRusso
He Was Fighting For The Wrong Reasons, Unlike Daniel
In his conversation with Miguel in the 14th episode of Cobra Kai season 6, Johnny went into detail abouthow Daniel beat him inThe Karate Kid, 40 years earlier. As well as Daniel’s bravery, Johnny chalked his defeat down to having the wrong motivation for beating his opponent.
He explained this mistake to Miguel, saying that he was “too hellbent on revenge for all the s**t [Daniel] pulled,” whereas Daniel was fighting to “honor everything he’d learned.” In other words, Daniel was coming to the fight with a positive mindset.
BecauseJohnny was motivated by personal revenge as opposed to being the best fighterhe could be, his performance during the fight was undermined by the negative emotions he felt towards Daniel. The final knockout blow Daniel landed while Johnny was ahead in the fight came as a result of Johnny’s overeagerness to avenge himself.
Johnny’s sensei, John Kreese, pushed him to show his opponent no mercyby focusing his line of attack on Daniel’s injured leg. It was actually this brutal approach that led Daniel to use the crane kick that knocked Johnny down, when he dropped his defenses by attacking too zealously.
Daniel won the fight becauseJohnny let emotion take over, and wasn’t acting with a clear headin the heat of battle. What’s more, the vengeful spirit with which he fought meant that he didn’t direct his energy primarily to winning the fight, but to hurting his opponent. By contrast, Daniel was focused solely on the job at hand.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Made Daniel And Johnny’s Karate Kid Fight Even Better
It Made Daniel An Even Greater Underdog & Added New Meaning To His Victory
The idea thatJohnny Lawrence was a better fighter than Daniel LaRussoactually makes their climactic fight inThe Karate Kideven better. Johnny’s retrospective appraisal of his own superiority over Daniel as a fighter at the time reinforced the sense that Daniel was a true underdog who defied the odds to beat his stronger, more skillful opponent.
It alsounderlined one of the most fundamental lessons that Daniel LaRusso learnt from Mr. Miyagithroughout theKarate Kidfranchise. Miyagi taught that karate isn’t simply about fighting moves or aggression. So much of the martial art is about maintaining a balanced and focused mentality, a lesson which could be extended to all aspects of life.
While Daniel LaRusso learnt during the course ofCobra Kaithat there was more than one right way to approach karate, the foundational tenets of Mr. Miyagi’s teachings remained as true as they ever were. In his advice to Miguel before theCobra Kaiseries finale,Johnny Lawrence showed that he’d taken these teachings onboard, too.
In this way, the series managed to add new layers to the climactic scene ofThe Karate Kid, four decades after the fact. Little did Johnny and Daniel realize when they were facing off in 1984 that they’d become good friends, all those years later.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
The Karate Kid
Released in 1984, The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso on his unexpected journey to becoming a Karate expert under the tutelage of a martial arts master. Recently relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles, Daniel and his mother are trying to adapt to their new home. Unfortunately, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When his handyman, Mr. Miyagi, saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him his Karate to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.
