All 6 uses of Daniel’s Crane Kick Move in Cobra Kai and Karate Kid movies, ranked

Ralph Macchio’s legendary crane kick Karate Kid Character comes back several times in the franchise, as far as crossing into Cobra Kai. The long-running saga has been far from consistent in its release timeline and quality. However, some elements have stood the test of time and continue to be part of the formula in the modern day. Daniel LaRusso’s signature move is used relatively sparingly. This way, every time the bridge is brought back into the limelight, it feels much more like an important event rather than an ordinary adventure.

Although Every crane kick moment holds a lot of meaningThey are not all as good as each other. Certain factors enhance or detract from the gravitas of a crane kick in the franchise timeline. For example, it largely took place during one of the tournaments in The Karate Kid Movies and Cobra Kai. Alternatively, some Cobra Kai Characters experienced the bridge in personal alterations. After learning the move as part of Mr. Miyagi’s training in the first Karate Kid Movie, the franchise has brought the crane kick over and over again – and it has created some brilliant moments.

As one of the cornerstones of Miyago-do Karate, The crane kick is one of the most indefensible moves For the uninitiated. It has only ever failed to directly end an onscreen conflict once throughout the entire franchise. Even in the real world, the technique has become a cultural icon and has been referenced, parodied and paid homage to in many forms of media. Although it is not a “real” martial art technique, it is heavily based on authentic forms of combat. As such, it is very believable as an authentic addition to Karate Kid Study.

6

Johnny Lawrence’s (sort of) crane kick when training with Daniel

Cobra Key Season 4, Episode 3, “Then Learn to Fly”

There are several moments when the crane kick is only referenced, or when the starting pose is shown. For example, Macchio’s character is revealed in Cobra Kai Season 1 to adopt the crane kick stance when taking pictures with customers at his car dealership. Johnny’s start of the crane kick in Cobra Kai Season 4, Episode 3, “Then Learn to Fly,” probably goes beyond mere showmanship. When training with Daniel during the episode, Johnny can be seen in the early stages of the crane kick before Daniel leaves. It’s cool, but it would be better if he carried it out.

Given that Johnny was the first onscreen recipient of Daniel’s crane kick, it would have been fitting if he returned the favor so many years later. If Daniel had not backed away in annoyance, it is very possible that Johnny would have had the opportunity to do so. Losing to the crane kick in the original movie is clearly still a huge point of contention for JohnnyAs shown in the earlier stages of Cobra Kai Season 1. That being said, his use of the technique outside the context of an actual fight would arguably have detracted from the moment’s potential effectiveness.

5

Daniel’s Failed Crane Kick Against Chozen Toguchi

The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

More recently, Yuji Okomoto’s character became a loyal ally to Daniel LaRusso, but the beginning of their relationship was not so friendly. As one of the main antagonists of the second Karate Kid In the movie, Chozen challenges Daniel to a fight that is intended to be fatal for at least one of the two young men. Given the success of the Crane Kick at the end of the first movie, it would be reasonable to assume that Daniel could use the technique again to defeat Chozen. Unfortunately for Macchio’s character, Chozen is more than prepared and renders the move inert.

This particular crane kick is the only one that is fully executed in the Karate Kid Franchise that fails. True, if Daniel had succeeded in landing the bridge, it would have brought something of an abrupt end to what was shaping up to be an excellent fight. Additionally, it would have resulted in a finale that would have been far too similar to the movie that preceded it. Daniel’s failure to replicate his success against Johnny from the first installment of the franchise meant he had to dig deeper. It was a good sequence, but the kick itself was intentionally lame.

4

Miguel’s crane kick into the All-Valley

Cobra Key Season 1, Episode 10, “Mercy”

Bringing back Crane Kick after the franchise was dormant for so long was always bound to be a tricky task. There is no way that Cobra Kai Would have left the move entirely, but it had to come at the right time. Although the obvious choice could have been to save the bridge for the final of the all-valley in Cobra KaiSeason 1 finale, the writers made the conscious decision to introduce it a little before when Miguel uses the crane kick against a character’s name In one of the earlier rounds.

Cobra Kai Does a great job of not establishing a new main character to take over from Daniel, and giving Miguel or Robbie the crane kick in the finale would have undone that careful balancing act. instead, The writers allow the iconic move to have its moment by allowing Johnny’s student to use it In full view of his old rival. The moment is over in a flash, but it has a ton of meaning without dominating events. It’s a creative solution to bring back the bridge, even if it’s quite basic from a visual perspective.

3

Dre Parker’s spin on the crane kick in the kung fu tournament

The Karate Kid (2010)

When Jackie Chan’s movie was released in 2010, it was initially intended to be a remake of the original Karate Kid. It remained so for many years, but with another movie set to premiere in 2025, Chan’s project has been integrated into the main timeline. The result is that The events of the 2010 production now occur in the same world as the others Karate Kid Movies And Cobra Kai. Therefore, the crane kick of Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker at the end of the once-remake also counts for the franchise’s main charge – and it is executed brilliantly.

With Jackie Chan on board, the action choreography is always bound to improve. Every conflict is slick and well-shot, including Dre’s final fight in the kung fu tournament. Although executed with much more flair, it’s clear that Dre uses a very similar bridge to the one that originated in the first Karate Kid Movie. But, just How Dre knows the bridge is unclearAs it is a part of Miyagi-do karate. Not only does Chan’s Mr. Han Dre learn kung fu instead of karate, but he also has no known in-universe connection to Mr. Miyagi.

2

Daniel’s defeat of Terry Silver

Cobra Key Season 5, Episode 10, “Head of the Serpent”

After coming back to the franchise in Cobra Kai Season 4 for the first time since 1989’s The Karate Kid Part IIIThomas Ian Griffith returned effortlessly to the role of Terry Silver. After arguably becoming an even more invisible leader of the titular dojo than Kreese, Silver’s villain arc continued brilliantly despite his long absence. So, when Daniel finally took him down at the end of Cobra Kai season 4, It was catharsis for Macchio’s character and long-standing fans of the Karate Kid Saga. Doing it with the crane kick was the icing on the cake.

Silver’s face off with Daniel begins with the former promising to end Miyagi-ton, so it makes Griffiths’ character falling to the crane kick even more satisfying. With the fact that Daniel uses his first sensei’sQuicksilver Method“ From the third movie, the fight itself is a brilliant way to bring an end to the toxic feud between the two men. Daniel could have refrained from using the crane kick at this point. Fortunately, he didn’t, and the scene gives birth to the second-best use of the technique in the entire franchise.

Terry Silver is probably the biggest of these Karate Kid Franchise villains taken down by the crane kick. While an argument could be made for Johnny Lawrence taking the honor at the end of the first movie, the convincing and popular theory that Johnny Lawrence was never the bad guy makes it hard to see William Zabka’s character as a true antagonist—especially because of his shifting. Loyalty in Cobra Kai.

1

Daniel’s victory over Johnny in the All-Valley Final

The Karate Kid (1984)

It would be disingenuous to award the title of best crane kick to any other moment than the one at the end of the first Karate Kid Movie. This is the first time that the bridge has been fully executed and the excitement of the scene helped spawn a saga that is still active today. The fact that Daniel was injured while performing the maneuver Makes it even better, as it shows his immense determination – a trait that is just as strong through the ages of Cobra Kai.

Without the crane kick, it would arguably feel incredibly inorganic too Cobra Kai To happen at all, as Johnny’s frustration at losing the All-Valley stems, in large part, from falling to the move. It is clear that Johnny still has not forgotten about the defeat. Although the two men have since formed an uneasy bond that borders on friendship, resentment still bubbles under the surface. Because the scene itself is so brilliant, paired with the complex emotions it instills, the use of the crane kick is the best of all Karate Kid Franchise – included Cobra Kai.