Two years ago, Youtube releases the Tv series Cobra Kai, that surprised the old fan of The Karate Kid and manage to attract new ones. Cobra Kai producers have led us expect new season releases on April, but it seems that the third season will be postponed due probably to the Corona virus… So karateka be patient! For those instead, that do not watched neither the movies nor the Tv series, check the brief resume of the entire franchise.
30 long years have passed since the last encounter between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. The funny thing is that in the reality have passed the same amount of years since Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprising their respective roles! It seems does not matter if they are in their fifties now, what happened in 1984 is forever in their mind. So watching the karate kids rivalry again after so long is just astonishing. But Cobra Kai is not only a remembrance of the past events of The Karate Kid: it is a brand new story of new kids approaching karate and old kids starting to teach karate. So let’s see what kind of karate teach the two Sensei LaRusso and Lawrence:
First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature rule, not mine…
The teachings and the philosophy of Miyagi Sensei are now part of Daniel LaRusso. The karate kid managed to use his Sensei knowledge in life, became a beloved father and a successful businessman. But after a long peaceful period of 30 years, the Cobra Kai is again in town. So LaRusso to bring balance to Reseda neighbourhood reopen Miyagi house and start to teach as Sensei. The teachings are exactly the same as Miyagi Sensei: repetitive and long exercises in order to stimulate the muscle memory and kata forms in order to find concentration and balance. Every student then will have to follow two important and simple rules of the dojo:
- Rule number 1: Karate is for defense only.
- Rule number 2: First learn rule number 1.
This philosophy will attract only a few people, first of all Robby Keene, a guy with a dark past, keen to redeem himself and bring balance to his life.
The best defense is more offense
There would be no Miyagi-Do Karate without Cobra Kai, and like the snake shedding its skin, the famous karate dojo of Los Angeles continues to renovate itself. The Cobra Kai ruled by John Kreese in the past, regains life after the closure thanks to Johnny Lawrence. Once the best student of the dojo, now the former Sensei and direct heir of the Kreese knowledge. If Miyagi-Do Karate is focused on defense, Cobra Kai is all about offense as their credo promotes:
- Strike First
- Strike Hard
- No Mercy
But if the vicious karate style of Kreese will never result successful in the end, Lawrence’s interpretation of the credo will be much more effective. Sensei Lawrence is teaching the same violent and full contact karate style of his master, but he is trying to direct this knowledge in an defensive and honorable way too. This new way is incarnated in Lawrence best student, Miguel Diaz.
Quiet!
The rivalry between LaRusso and Lawrence infected the two gyms as well, and a new generation of fighters are ready to take their place in the All-Valley Karate Tournament and beyond.
How this ends? The second season of Cobra Kai gives us some hints… But true question is: will it ends?