Warning: SPOILERS for Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 2Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 2 introduces Zara Malik (Rayna Vallandingham), a new villain and Miyagi-Do opponent. Zara is a member of the Iron Dragons, one of 16 international teams competing in the Sekai Taikai tournament in Barcelona. Zara is a new kind of teenage antagonist joining the cast of Cobra Kai Season 6, and Rayna Vallandingham is impactful and fun to watch in every scene she’s in.
The Iron Dragons of Bangkok, Thailand are the most formidable team in the world. Cobra Kai Season 6 Sekai Taikai tournament. Led by Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan), Zara Malik shares the honor of being team captain with the ominous Axel Kovacevic (Patrick Lewus). Sekai Taikai is a mix of boys and girls, but there is no gender division. Male and female Sekai Taikai teenagers fight each other equally, and Zara proves to be a difficult challenge for the Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai members.
Zara Malik is played by Rayna Vallandingham, a real-life martial arts champion
Rayna Vallandingham brings authenticity to Cobra Kai fight scenes
Zara Malik is so effective in Cobra Kai season 6, part 2, because Rayna Vallandingham is a real-life world martial arts champion. Vallandingham, 21-year-old American, is the youngest martial artist to win 13 world championships. A 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Rayna was just 8 years old when she became the youngest fighter to win four world titles, accumulating another 6 world championships the following year. Vallandingham is also a model brand ambassador and actor starring as Letcicia in director Phillip Ree’s film Disadvantaged.
Cobra KaiThe cast learned karate for their roles, but Rayna Vallandingham comes from an elite martial arts background. Rayna’s real-life skills add undeniable authenticity to her Cobra Kai fight scenes as Zaya Malik. Zara is also a social media influencer who is being sponsored by brands to compete in Sekai Taikai. Vallandingham easily and convincingly puts on the air of a brand ambassador with millions of followers, as she is not far removed from her everyday life.
Zara Malik is great in Cobra Kai against Tory and Robby
Zara is the teenage villain needed for Cobra Kai
Zara Malik is a particularly effective and entertaining foil to Tory Nichols (Peyton List) and Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan) in Cobra Kai season 6. Tory immediately underestimates Zara because of her size and pays for it. Malik has speed and technique that simply surpasses the best of Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do, and she also brings an evil learned from Wolf, her sensei. Zara and Axel lead the Iron Dragons to dominant Sekai Taikai performances, with Malik even viciously punching Tory in Cobra Kai Season 6, episode 10 wild brawl.
Hopefully Rayna Vallandingham will be back for the final episodes of Cobra Kai 6th season.
Off the mat, however, Zara Malik is conniving and uses her sex appeal to full advantage. Zara has her eye on Robby and tries to separate him and Tory. Zara also callously dismisses Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser) and Devon Lee (Oona O’Brien), two native Californians who secretly feel inadequate about not being as world-traveled as Zara and the Iron Dragons. Hopefully Rayna Vallandingham will be back for the final episodes of Cobra Kai Season 6, as she has unfinished business with Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai.