Martial arts sensei Mr. Miyagi was an essential figure in Daniel LaRusso's life, who imparted essential lessons that he carried forward Cobra Kai. Although audiences first saw Mr. Miyagi as a maintenance man at teenager Daniel's apartment complex, throughout The Karate Kid franchise, he was revealed to be a highly skilled fighter who practiced the peaceful methods of Miyagi-Do. Although many know Mr. Miyagi’s famous quote from “wax, wax”, this was just the beginning when it comes to the essential lessons from this wise old mentor.
Daniel LaRusso learned many lessons from Mr. Miyagi that he taught to his own Miyagi-Do students each season of Cobra Kai. While the more aggressive ideologies of rival senseis like Johnny Lawrence and John Kreese may have their merits, Mr. Miyagi's Nonviolent, Stoic Philosophy has been the most consistent aspect of the entire franchise in film and television. Although Mr. Miyagi actor Pat Morita had sadly passed away at the time Cobra Kai began, its legacy is great throughout the series.
10
Balance is the key to success
Miyagi believed that balance is essential
When Miyagi first took young Daniel LaRusso under his wing in The Karate Kidone of his most important lessons was about the importance of balance. Mr. Miyagi's words of wisdom extolled that balance was not only essential to success in martial arts, but was something he should strive to achieve in all aspects of his life. This was summed up in his quote: “Balance is fundamental. Good balance, good karate. All the best. Bad balance, better pack your bags and go home. To understand?”
It was clear from the start Cobra Kai that Daniel carried this lesson throughout his life and lived with a mantra of valuing the importance of balance. This was seen in the way Daniel balanced his relationship with his wife Amanda and two children, Samantha and Anthony; his work as the owner of a successful car dealership; and his new career as sensei of Miyagi-Do, a dojo named after the lessons learned from Mr.
9
Patience is a virtue
Miyagi taught Daniel the value of patience
Few quotes are more famous in the Miyagiverse than the phrase “wax, wax”, which was a simple idea that Mr. Miyagi used to teach Daniel LaRusso the importance of patience in The Karate Kid. Although Daniel was initially frustrated by his mentor's training methods, which saw him continually wax a series of classic sports cars, by the time it came to the final showdown, it was clear that he had learned important lessons in the martial arts.
When listening Mr. Miyagi's advice on the importance of patience and listening to the guidance of a wise mentor, he subconsciously acquired the fighting skills necessary to emerge victorious. This was certainly something that Daniel carried forward throughout his life, which was seen in the way he taught these same lessons to his new Miyagi-Do martial arts students back in the day. Cobra Kai.
8
Hard work pays off
Miyagi believed in hard work
Another important lesson that Miyagi taught Daniel LaRusso was based on the importance of hard work and that even if someone doesn't feel like they are on the right path to achieving their goals, if they work, they will get there in the end. Miyagi taught this to Daniel through his guidance of “paint the fence”, a lesson that at first seemed like his wise old leader was trying to get free assignments from his young student, but soon became essential to him overcoming opponents like Johnny Lawrence in the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Championship tournament.
Much like the famous ethos of “wax, wax”, the idea that continually painting a fence will teach students the hand movements and skills needed to be a great fighter had great merit. Daniel carried this idea forward in Miyagi-Do as he smiled knowingly when his new students, just like him before them, lamented that this work was useless. However, hard work has always paid off, and those who have taken the time to pay attention to this wise knowledge of Miyagi-Do have always benefited from this lesson.
7
Focus on defense rather than offense
Miyagi believed that violence should be a last resort
Although there were many differences between Mr. Miyagi's peaceful teachings and the aggressive tactics of the Cobra Kai dojo, the most essential of them was the focus on defense over offense. Miyagi taught Daniel that violence should always be used as a last resort and that to become a true martial arts master, he must focus on defense. This alternative approach gave Daniel an edge against his opponents, who often valued brute force over the intelligent calculation of a defense-based approach.
This central difference in the philosophies of struggle carried forward Cobra Kai and has been the most consistent source of conflict between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence. Although the duo were once enemies, they also found value in each other's opposing ideologies and found ways to work together. when Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do merged. Although Daniel occasionally adopted Johnny's more aggressive stance, he never lost sight of the defense-based practices he learned from Mr.
6
Respect for others is essential
Miyagi even showed respect for his enemies
Despite being a highly skilled fighter who managed to defeat John Kreese and the rest of Cobra Kai's students with ease in The Karate KidMr. Miyagi has always shown respect for others. As a sensei of great dignity, Mr. Miyagi never spoke ill of people and ensured a respectful air at all times. While Daniel LaRusso sometimes found it difficult to remain calm around his enemiesit became clear in Cobra Kai that he tried to deal with everyone he encountered, good or bad, with respect at all times.
In Cobra Kai, This was a very challenging endeavor, as the return of enemies like John Kreese and Terry Silver consistently pushed Daniel to his limits as they belittled and taunted him. Although Daniel sometimes lost his cool against those who frustrated him, he always remembered Mr. Miyagi's stoic composure and found a way to become calm again. In a world as cruel and conniving as the one we see in Cobra Kai, It's not easy to keep a cool head, but Daniel manages it most of the time.
5
Make sure you adapt to change
Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel to adapt to new circumstances
As Miyagi trained Daniel LaRusso in the ways of Miyagi-Do, one piece of wisdom he imparted was to ensure adaptation in the face of change. Throughout the original Karate Kid trilogy, Daniel faced many challenges, including his rivalry with Johnny Lawrence, new enemies on Okinawa, and Terry Silver's manipulative tactics. To overcome these difficulties, Daniel always needed to find new ways to adapt, and Mr. Miyagi was always available with a word of wisdom for each specific conflict.
While it's true that Mr. Miyagi was no longer around when we met Daniel again in Cobra Kaihe still consistently reflected on how Mr. Miyagi would have advised him. As Daniel found himself running a competing dojo to take on Cobra Kaihe consistently adapted by encouraging his students to abandon violence and adopt a peaceful approach. There were many moments throughout Cobra Kai when Daniel needed to summon Mr. Miyagi's spirit as he adapted to each new situation.
4
Control your emotions
Miyagi was a calm and collected martial artist.
While Cobra Kai dojo's aggressive tactics involve always being on the attack and allowing anger to take control, Mr. Miyagi had a very different ideology. One of the most essential lessons that Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel LaRusso was to control his emotions and ensure that he did not allow them to take control and cause him to lose focus. While passion, sadness, and even anger have their place in the practices of Miyagi-Do students, they must never entirely take control and must instead be shaped and controlled in ways that benefit the fighter.
Daniel certainly kept this idea in his heart Cobra Kai, how he always told his students to look deep within themselves and truly investigate their feelings. By focusing on more meditative training methods than other rival dojos, Daniel has endowed his students with a calm composure that is difficult to achieve. While students like Tory Nichols allowed her complex emotions following her mother's death to take over when she joined Kreese on Cobra Kai, Daniel's philosophy would have been to look within for a peaceful solution to internal conflict.
3
Family and tradition are more important than winning
Mr. Miyagi believed in the importance of family
Mr. Miyagi's tragic backstory helped inform his decision to become Daniel LaRusso's mentor, and in the process, the pair developed a father-son bond. As a World War II veteran whose wife and children died in a Japanese internment camp, Miyagi knew better than anyone that family and tradition were far more important than victory. This was something Mr. Miyagi continually told Daniel throughout the entire The Karate Kid trilogy, and his young student always knew he would never be blamed for losing as long as he tried his best.
In Cobra KaiDaniel taught his students that winning was never the overall goal of their training, as what they were trying to build through the practice of karate was a feeling of togetherness, a shared tradition, and a found family. Daniel valued his wife and children very muchbut just as Mr. Miyagi became a member of his family, his students were also welcomed into his life. Under Daniel's leadership, Miyagi-Do was much more than just a dojo, as it valued family and tradition over victory.
2
Avoid fighting whenever possible
Mr. Miyagi was a peaceful man
Miyagi-Do follows the philosophy that students should avoid fighting whenever possible and always seek a non-violent solution to problems before engaging in battle. This was seen in The Karate Kid as Miyagi taught Daniel LaRusso that the desire for revenge would only bring him more trouble. In The Karate KidMr. Miyagi said: “Daniel-san, you look like revenge. This way you start digging two graves”, which summarized the soul-destroying consequences of the unnecessary pursuit of violence.
Daniel's desire to avoid violence ran throughout his life. Cobra Kai as he sought to find non-violent ways to deal with his conflicts with the likes of Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese and Terry Silver. Although peace occasionally prevailed, it is also true that there were times when Daniel had no choice but to start fighting. However, on all of these occasions, Daniel was able to be proud that he followed Mr. Miyagi's advice and explored peace before using his martial arts skills against his adversaries.
1
Mentoring is a lifelong endeavor
Miyagi was always there to help Daniel
The beauty of Daniel LaRusso's mentorship of Mr. Miyagi was that it was much deeper than him being a simple karate teacher to a teenage student. Miyagi took his role in Daniel's life very seriously and truly became like a father to him throughout the world. The Karate Kid trilogy. By giving you guidance not only in martial arts but also in all aspects of life, Daniel's guidance from Mr. Miyagi lasted his entire life.
Although it was sad to learn that Mr. Miyagi had already passed away at that time Cobra Kai began, his spirit ran throughout the show as his legacy loomed large over Daniel. Guidance is a lifelong endeavor, and Daniel paid homage to this by developing the Miyagi-Do tradition with his own dojo. Mr. Miyagi was an essential mentor at every stage of Daniel's life and through his actions in Cobra Kai, Daniel is committed to supporting Miguel, Robby, Samantha and all other members of the dojo for the rest of his life.