The Ultimate Ranking of the Most Devastating Moves in Cobra Kai & The Karate Kid

Summary

Cobra Kai emphasizes character development and personal growth, but its action scenes are a major draw that instills nostalgia.

The show utilizes fight scenes to illustrate the growth of Johnny and Daniel by drawing parallels to their fights in Karate Kid. Cobra Kai showcases incredibly powerful and awe-inspiring karate techniques, displaying the formidable skill of its fighters.

In their high-intensity action sequences and inspiring training progressions, both Cobra Kai and Karate Kid showcase a plethora of unforgettable karate maneuvers. Let's delve into a compilation of the 10 most formidable moves from these beloved movies and TV show. While Cobra Kai places a strong emphasis on character development, exploring the challenges, redemption, and personal growth of both legacy and new-generation characters, its main allure undeniably stems from its gripping action scenes. The series ingeniously employs these fight sequences as a storytelling tool, not only showcasing the evolution of its protagonists' fighting abilities but also evoking a sense of nostalgia by incorporating thrilling references to their iconic battles from Karate Kid. Furthermore, Cobra Kai takes Karate Kid's action to new heights by featuring some of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring karate maneuvers ever witnessed on television. Among the countless moves displayed throughout the Karate Kid franchise, here is a comprehensive breakdown of some of the most remarkable ones.

10 Miguel's Backflip Takedown

During the climactic showdown in Cobra Kai season 3, Kyler Park initially gains the upper hand against Miguel. However, as Kyler aggressively lands punches on Miguel's ribs, Miguel experiences a vivid flashback of the challenges he faced after his season 2 injury, reminiscent of an anime scene. Fueled by these intense memories, Miguel finds the strength to retaliate against Kyler. Despite his determined effort, Miguel is once again brought down to the ground by Kyler's attack. Just when it seems like Kyler is about to triumph, Miguel surprises him with a powerful kick to the face, swiftly followed by an impressive backflip and punch combination. This astonishing ability to execute such moves, despite his previous back injury, showcases Miguel's exceptional fighting skills, solidifying his position as one of Cobra Kai's top fighters.

9 Hawk's Leg Sweep

Drawing inspiration from Hawk's transformation, Demetri decides to join the Cobra Kai dojo in season 2. However, Demetri's enthusiasm quickly fizzles when Kreese delivers a harsh blow on his very first day of training. This incident opens Demetri's eyes to the harsh reality that learning Cobra Kai karate may not have been the wisest choice. Consequently, he abandons the Cobra Kai dojo and aligns himself with Miyagi Do. In an act of retaliation, Demetri expresses his discontent by leaving a scathing review for Cobra Kai on Yelp. Unbeknownst to him, Hawk catches wind of this betrayal and, along with his fellow Cobra Kai buddies, confronts Demetri at a local comic book store. Despite attempting to stand up to his tormentors by boasting about his knowledge of Miyagi Do karate, Demetri's efforts prove futile as Hawk effortlessly brings him down with a forceful kick to the chest and a seamless leg sweep.

8 Johnny Lawrence & Sam's Flying Tornado Kick

After extensively training in Miyagi Do during her Cobra Kai journey, Sam decides to give Johnny Lawrence's methods a try. Guided by Sensei Johnny, she hones her offensive skills and soon realizes that Johnny's Eagle Fang karate style is a perfect fit for her. Demonstrating her newly acquired abilities, she boldly performs the flying tornado kick against Tory during the All Valley final in season 4. Proudly acknowledging his influence, Johnny informs Daniel that he taught her the very move. In Cobra Kai season 5, Johnny himself utilizes the flying tornado kick during an intense encounter with Miguel's father's men, effectively showcasing the move's power and effectiveness.

7 Robby's Wall Kick

In Cobra Kai season 5, Johnny takes on the responsibility of putting an end to the longstanding animosity between Miguel and Robby once and for all. In an attempt to help them release their pent-up anger and resolve their differences, Johnny proposes a full-fledged fight between them. Initially hesitant due to the outcome of their previous school showdown, Robby eventually unleashes his fury after being kicked in the face by Miguel. Engaging in a series of powerful punches, Robby employs the force of a wall to augment his downward kick aimed at Miguel's face. Although he ultimately loses the fight against Miguel, Robby successfully executes the wall kick, solidifying it as one of Cobra Kai's most formidable moves.

6 Mr. Miyagi's Beer Bottle Chop

Returning from a beach training session in the first Karate Kid movie, Daniel and Mr. Miyagi stumble upon a group of men enjoying their drinks, bottles leisurely resting on Mr. Miyagi's car. Polite initially, Mr. Miyagi politely requests them to remove their bottles and depart. However, met with mocking disdain, he swiftly displays his karate prowess by effortlessly karate-chopping the tops off the beer bottles. This demonstration not only showcases Mr. Miyagi's exceptional speed and accuracy, but also establishes his untouchable karate mastery, surpassing all other characters in the Karate Kid franchise.

5 Miguel's 540 Kick

4 Mr. Miyagi & Robby's Double-Leg Handstand Kick

Despite injuring his back while attempting the tornado kick in his semi-final match against Hawk in Cobra Kai season 4, Miguel showcases his resilience by delivering an impressive 540 kick to one of his previous opponents before his fall. This display of skill emphasizes that if it weren't for his unfortunate injury, Miguel could have potentially reached the tournament finals once again, emerging as the victorious champion.

Despite solely describing Mr. Miyagi's double-leg handstand kick to Robby, he flawlessly executes it during his ultimate All-Valley fight against Miguel in Cobra Kai season 1. Similar to how Danny masters Mr. Miyagi's crane kick through pure observation and practice, Robby demonstrates his innate karate talent by adopting another intricate move from Mr. Miyagi. This showcases the striking similarity between Robby and Daniel LaRusso, establishing Robby as the rightful "karate kid" of Cobra Kai.

3 Chozen's Pressure Points Technique

2 Terry's Silver Bullet

When Chozen first appears in Cobra Kai season 3, he initially harbors resentment towards Daniel and expresses surprise at the extent of Mr. Miyagi's teachings. However, within moments, he catches Daniel off guard by utilizing a lesser-known Miyagi Do maneuver to render Daniel's limbs numb. When Daniel inquires about the technique, Chozen proceeds to teach him the art of pressure points. This newfound skill proves invaluable to Daniel during the climactic finale of Cobra Kai season 3, enabling him to incapacitate Kreese and emerge victorious.

Terry Silver's notorious "Silver Bullet" technique is incredibly lethal, leaving opponents gasping for breath. While its ethicality in a professional brawl may be up for debate, this move specifically targets the solar plexus region, which contains an intricate network of nerves. As depicted in Cobra Kai season 5, a single punch to Hawk's solar plexus from Kenny was all it took to bring down the reigning All-Valley champion. The sheer brutality of this maneuver demonstrates that despite Terry Silver's appalling coaching methods and disregard for karate principles, he poses a formidable threat in a street fight.

1 Daniel LaRusso's Crane Kick

Daniel LaRusso's crane kick, learned from Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, is not only one of the most iconic moves in Cobra Kai but also ranks above others due to its enduring popularity. It played a pivotal role in Daniel's first All-Valley win against Johnny Lawrence and remained a powerful weapon when he used it to overpower Terry Silver in season 5 of Cobra Kai. Serving as a symbol of Daniel's transformation, the crane kick represents his journey from anger and self-destruction to a composed disciple of Mr. Miyagi in Cobra Kai, and from an outsider to a champion fighter in Karate Kid.