The Karate Kidmovies never would have been the same without the franchise’s main guide, Mr. Miyagi,played by Pat Morita, leading the way and teaching Daniel LaRusso everything he knows about karate, self-defense, and the importance of balance. Known for his wise, inspiring, and occasionally funny ways,Mr. Miyagi was a very untraditional teacher, encouraging Daniel to do household chores before showing him how the significance of those movements would create a sense of muscle memory in self-defense techniques. Throughout the series, Mr. Miyagi has many direct and roundabout pieces of advice or insightful comments about life, happiness, and how balance is the key to a good life.
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The bond between Mr. Miyagi and Daniel is the key to understanding the heart ofTheKarate Kid.However, many of Mr. Miyagi’s pieces of advice, as well as the significance of Miyagi-Do Karate, did not end with his adventures with Daniel. Instead, as Daniel grew up, he took Mr. Miyagi’s pieces of advice to heart and taught his children the same lessons. Although Mr. Miyagi does not appear inCobra Kai’spresent-day storyline, the series does use flashbacks and voice clips of his role inThe Karate Kid, amplifying his significance in the present, as Daniel works hard to incorporate Mr. Miyagi’s lessons and advice to his students. As it turned out, Mr. Miyagi’s presence in the series remained steady.
“Wax On, Wax Off”
When Mr. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel how to defend himself, he begins by, strangely, asking Daniel to wash cars and windows and paint fences. Daniel is understandably confused, not understanding what cleaning has to do with self-defense, but trusts his teacher enough to listen. Only after Mr. Miyagi shows Daniel his muscle memory from using the techniques repeatedly does Daniel understand how they would be used as karate self-defense tactics.
“Wax On, Wax Off” Is the Franchise’s Biggest Quote
“Wax On, Wax Off” became a calling card forThe Karate Kidand Mr. Miyagi in general. If any quote became affiliated with the franchise, it was this one. Mr. Miyagi’s lessons pay off as Daniel grasps how the motion techniques of moving his arms in such a specific way would help him defend himself if he were to be attacked. InCobra Kai,Daniel uses Mr. Miyagi’s same teachings on Robby, enjoying someone else stepping into his shoes and doing chores before understanding what those motions will truly do for self-defense skills.
“Man Who Catch Fly with Chopstick, Accomplish Anything”
Sometimes, learning and training also meant bonding. For Mr. Miyagi and Daniel, their relationship may have started due to karate training together, but it was also the smaller moments that helped grow their friendship and relationship as teacher and student. Mr. Miyagi encourages Daniel to trap a fly with chopsticks rather than a fly swatter.
Believe in the Impossible
It seems like a nearly impossible task. Chopsticks are far too small to be easily able to capture a fly. But, doing so also gives hope and faith in doing anything, which is always a good message. Believe in yourself to be able to do anything. Daniel can accomplish any karate move or any life obstacle in his way if he has the patience, focus, and will to catch a fly with a pair of chopsticks in comparison to widely aiming for a fly with a fly swatter.
“First Learn Stand, Then Learn Fly”
For as much as Daniel may learn to be patient throughoutThe Karate Kidtrilogy, he is ultimately very impatient to learn more in-depth karate moves, especially at the beginning of his training. He wants to know how to throw a real punch and feel confident when standing up to his bullies. But, Mr. Miyagi remains firm that Daniel must understand the basics before learning the more complicated moves.
The Foundation Prepares Daniel for the Crane Kick
Daniel’s crane kick at the conclusion ofThe Karate Kidis ultimately one of the most iconic moments of the franchise, but he would not have been able to pull it off without knowing the basics. Mr. Miyagi’s insistence that Daniel understands the basics and the importance of balance ended up having a significant impact on all three of Daniel’s big fights in each of the movies. But, it is the crane kick that ends up being the most important, as he pulls it out, believing he would be on the losing side of his fight with Johnny Lawrence.
“Never Put Passion Before Principle. Even if Win, You Lose”
The thing about emotion is that it is easy to overthrow logic. Feel passionate enough about something, and ignoring the part of your brain that tells you not to do something becomes easier. Mr. Miyagi understood that staying in control of your emotions and keeping your eye on the principle is integral to life.
Daniel Passes This Knowledge Down to Robby
Nearly all of Mr. Miyagi’s lessons become something that Daniel passes down to one of the teenagers inCobra Kai. The series never shies away from Mr. Miyagi’s lessons and teachings, and instead thrives on remembering them and leaning into the film’s history. Robby, in plenty of ways, is similar to Daniel as a teenager. Quick to anger and willing to jump at the fight, Daniel has to recall Mr. Miyagi’s advice towards Robby and try to tell Robby to rely on his mind at its most balanced, rather than leaning into his anger.
“It’s Ok to Lose to Opponent. It’s Never Okay to Lose to Fear”
InThe Karate Kid: Part 3,Daniel is challenged like never before. John Kreese and Terry Silver have teamed up to bring down Daniel and Mr. Miyagi after they had defeated Johnny Lawrence and Cobra Kai in the previous All-Valley Tournament. In revenge, they bring in Mike Barnes, the dangerous bad boy of karate with seemingly no moral code, to take down Daniel and publicly humiliate him.
Mr. Miyagi Encourages Daniel to Stand Up Again
In the heat of the fight, Mike is unwilling to show mercy and basically beats Daniel to a pulp, far harder than Johnny or Chozen had done in previous battles. Daniel, terrified, becomes briefly paralyzed in fear, having been beaten so badly. But, there is still a chance for him to come back and win. Mr. Miyagi refuses to allow Daniel to bend his will to fear, as he knows that fear is a far greater opponent than another person.
Mr. Miyagi’s encouragement grants Daniel the courage he needs to stand back up and win the fight. Years later, this advice would be a key point for Daniel to help his daughter, Sam, when she undergoes paralyzing fear following a dangerous fight with Tory. To help Sam get her bearings back, Daniel brings Sam back to the gym floor, where he had nearly given into fear, and uses Mr. Miyagi’s advice to remind Sam not to give into that same worry.
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“Rule #1: Karate for Defense Only. Rule #2: First Learn Rule #1”
InThe Karate Kid: Part 2, Daniel and Mr. Miyagi travel to Okinawa, and this is where Daniel understands the Miyagi-Do rules of karate. Although Daniel already knew Mr. Miyagi’s beliefs in self-defense, seeing the two rules laid out directly, helps to better grasp exactly what type of system Miyagi-Do truly works with. It also shows an intriguing difference between Daniel and Chozen, who were both taught a similar style of karate.
The Rules Define Mr. Miyagi’s Thoughts on Karate
While the rules are significant inThe Karate Kid: Part 2, they truly tease how he would feel about things inThe Karate Kid: Part 3, when Daniel initially shows interest in defending his title as the All-Valley Under 18 Champion. Karate is for self-defense, not for the sake of causing fights. As a teenager, Daniel was hot-headed and nearly always ready to jump into a fight. As an adult, he has grown to understand the two rules far better, and mostly spent time teaching his students through Mr. Miyagi’s two rules.
When Daniel and Johnny attempt to understand each other’s styles, Daniel explains that the best way to avoid a fight is to not be there, something that fits into only using karate for self-defense. The two rules do appear inCobra Kai, and it is something Daniel must question for himself when he recognizes the true danger that Cobra Kai poses under the leadership of John Kreese and Terry Silver.
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“No Matter Who’s Stronger. Matter Who’s Smarter.”
Strength may matter in karate. But, ultimately, the person fighting strategically may be able to outwit and win against someone using only brute strength. Daniel does not have to be stronger than Johnny, Chozen, or Mike to fight smarter than them. Mr. Miyagi’s advice encourages the brain to be just as powerful a tool as one’s hands or feet.
Strength of the Mind Is Just as Important
While being able to throw a punch or a good kick may win you the trophy or help you escape a bad situation, it is the ability to know when to fight or how to fight a specific opponent that can help avoid the fight entirely or succeed in winning it. Mr. Miyagi does not appear that he would be physically stronger than John Kreese or Terry Silver.
But, when he fights each of them,he easily beats them both. Daniel is physically smaller than all of his opponents. Yet, because he understands how to fight and defend himself the best way he can, he also is able to outsmart his opponents enough to take them down.
“One Day, You Do Own Way.”
Although Mr. Miyagi is the main teacher inThe Karate Kidmovies, ultimately, he understands that when Daniel grows up, he will make decisions about his own way of doing karate, rather than just blindly following Mr. Miyagi’s methods. Seeing as everyone is different, ultimately, Daniel would find his own way in the world in comparison to his teacher.
Mr. Miyagi’s Advice Comes to Fruition in Cobra Kai
InThe Karate Kid: Part 3, frustrated with Mr. Miyagi’s defense-only strategy, Daniel allows Terry Silver to teach him, only to recognize the dangerous and personality-altering effects that Cobra Kai’s teachings have on him. InCobra Kai, Daniel fights hard against the resurrection of Cobra Kai, due to how its teaching style turns perfectly nice kids into dangerous bullies.
However, when Daniel and Johnny join forces, merging Miyagi-Do with Eagle Fang, it begins an intriguing transition as the mainly offensive dojo and the mainly defensive dojo must trade strategies and learn each other’s style in a way that they transform their individual dojos into one working unit. Allowing offense into the main strategy had always been against Mr. Miyagi’s perception. But, Daniel and Johnny found a balance in their teachings to create a new type of style that utilizes the best of what they both know.
“Don’t Know. Never Been Attacked by Tree”
It Teases The Rivalry Between Mr. Miyagi and Sato
The Karate Kid: Part 2gives more information about Mr. Miyagi’s upbringing and the issues he faces with Sato. In this case, although Mr. Miyagi is not involved in the film’s final fight, the movie does tease that he and Sato are supposed to have one final battle. Instead, that role ends up going to Daniel and Chozen. Still, Mr. Miyagi and Sato’s thoughts on karate and how it works in life are vastly different, and it definitely shows when they meet again in person.
“If Come from Inside You, Always the Right One”
Initially, this advice is about Daniel’s concerns about cutting bonsai trees. Having never done it before, Daniel is worried about messing it up and making the tree look bad. Mr. Miyagi’s advice is simply meant to be encouraging to Daniel in the moment. Visualize the design he has in his mind, and keep it there as he makes the cuts, and ultimately, the tree will look as it should.
This Advice Is About More Than Trees
Although there is a literal element to Mr. Miyagi’s advice here, it is actually far deeper than that. The statement could also be read as Mr. Miyagi stating that any decision Daniel makes, as long as it comes from within him, and he believes in it, is the right one. Mr. Miyagi and Daniel grow to learn more about each other inThe Karate Kid, such as Daniel’s hotheadedness not preventing him from being willing to learn Mr. Miyagi’s techniques while Daniel discovers more about what Mr. Miyagi’s life in Okinawa was like.
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