Cobra Kai continued many of the old rivalries and villainous partnerships of the Karate Kid franchise by frequently pitting these characters against one another. While the Netflix spinoff series featured a variety of new characters, a handful came straight from the original 1980s films. Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, Chozen Toguchi, John Kreese, Terry Silver, and more are even better fighters in Cobra Kai than they had been in The Karate Kid, so their fights were naturally that much more exciting.
Of course, not every legacy fight in Cobra Kai was created equal. Original Karate Kid characters fought in nearly every one of the show’s six seasons, and some were full of that specific flavor of drama and flair, others fell a bit flat. Some fights were packed with exciting choreography and artistic filming and editing techniques, while others were over almost before they started. So, how do these Cobra Kai fights between Karate Kid characters rank, said and done?
17
John Kreese vs. Terry Silver (Round 1)
Season 6, Part 2
Johny Kreese and Terry Silver’s long Karate Kid history naturally makes their fights in Cobra Kai intriguing. However, the one featured in season 6, part 2 didn’t give audiences much to get excited about. Kreese is beyond his prime by this time in the story, while Silver’s size and strength make him a dangerous opponent regardless. For precisely this reason, Kreese brought a knife to the fight, but he dropped it before reaching Silver. This fact meant that Silver made simple work of Kreese, who was only spared because Johnny Lawrence stepped in at the right moment.
16
Chozen Toguchi vs. Mike Barnes
Season 5
Chozen Toguchi and Mike Barnes were villains of The Karate Kid Part 2 and The Karate Kid Part 3, respectively, but they never had anything to do with one another in the film franchise. Still, seeing these two face off in Cobra Kai season 5 was a great deal of fun. The fight was brief and took a more comedic angle than a dramatic one. It’s for this that Chozen and Barnes’ fight can’t rank higher. Still, seeing Chozen come to Daniel’s rescue after mistakenly believing that Barnes was on the attack was undeniably entertaining.
15
Johnny Lawrence vs. Terry Silver (Round 2)
Season 6, Part 2
Since Terry Silver joined up with Kreese in The Karate Kid Part 3, Johnny had no experience with the man before he appeared as a villain in Cobra Kai. Of course, it didn’t take long before things grew personal between them. Back in Cobra Kai season 4, Silver ambushed Johnny at the Cobra Kai dojo, kicking him in the face upon entering the building. While their rematch in Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 was short, it was satisfying because it allowed Johnny to get even. Just as Silver was about to finish off Kreese, Johnny jumped in and delivered a surprise kick to the face.
14
Johnny Lawrence vs. Daniel LaRusso (Round 2)
Season 3
Cobra Kai season 2 saw one of Johnny and Daniel’s early alliances, but it didn’t last long. They had come together to hunt down Robby Keene but quickly realized they had differing methods. The old Karate Kid rivals fought back to back against a gang in an auto garage, but when Johnny became too violent, Daniel stepped in to stop him. The result was a brief fight that ultimately ended in a draw. It’s always great to see these two face off, but this one was a bit anticlimactic compared to their other fights.
13
Johnny Lawrence vs. Daniel LaRusso (Round 1)
Season 2
This fight was excellent in that Cobra Kai included brief clips of their fight from The Karate Kid as a contrast.
Cobra Kai season 2 came with the big moment during which Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso faced off with one another for the first time since their 1984 All-Valley match. Ironically, Daniel was the hothead this time, barging into Johnny’s apartment and demanding to see his daughter. Johnny attempted to help Daniel calm down, but things quickly became intense. This fight was excellent in that Cobra Kai included brief clips of their fight from The Karate Kid as a contrast. However, the fact that they were interrupted before they could finish put a damper on things.
12
Johnny Lawrence vs. John Kreese (Round 1)
Season 2
Cobra Kai season 2 also saw the return of John Kreese for the first time since the Karate Kid franchise, and Johnny wasn’t particularly thrilled. The last time the student and sensei had seen each other was when the latter placed the former in a choke hold after his 1984 All-Valley loss. Cobra Kai reminded audiences of this through flashbacks to the scene in The Karate Kid Part II, which certainly cranked up the tension for the on-screen fight. This moment could have featured more interesting choreography, but it was a solid fight between Karate Kid alums.
11
Daniel LaRusso vs. Terry Silver (Round 1)
Season 5
The first time Daniel LaRusso and Terry Silver fought in Cobra Kai was packed with references to their old Karate Kid Part III dynamic. In this film, Daniel is temporarily Silver’s Cobra Kai student, and this is a detail that the villain attempts to use against Daniel in Cobra Kai season 5. He clearly got under Daniel’s skin, and while the original karate kid demonstrated some powerful moves (resulting in bloody knuckles), he lacked the calm balance that Miyagi-Do is typically known for. In the end, Daniel was left beaten and humiliated.
10
Daniel LaRusso vs. Dennis de Guzman
Season 6, Part 2
Dennis de Guzman was a minor villain in The Karate Kid Part III who had served as one of Terry Silver’s lackeys. Cobra Kai revealed that these two were still in cahoots, since Guzman was hired to kidnap Daniel during the Sekai Taikai tournament. This ultimately led to a fight between Daniel and Guzman, and though our hero didn’t remember the villain from decades past, this was still a rather fun fight. It was another chance for Daniel to pull out his classic crane-kick technique, which naturally earned him a few additional points in his fight with Guzman.
9
Daniel LaRusso vs. John Kreese
Season 3
Kreese proved himself too much for Johnny to handle in Cobra Kai season 3. However, Daniel turned up in the nick of time to help out. This was the only time these two ever faced off, and it quickly became apparent that Kreese was willing to put a definitive end to Mr. Miyagi’s student. After the two fell through the front window of Cobra Kai, Kreese grabbed a shard of glass and came at Daniel, who whipped out the Miyagi-Do nerve technique Chozen had just taught him. In a rather satisfying conclusion, Daniel rendered Kreese’s arms completely useless.
8
Johnny Lawrence vs. Terry Silver (Round 1)
Season 4
What made this all so impactful was that it was Johnny’s first chance to demonstrate the defensive moves he learned from Daniel.
Johnny’s first fight with Terry Silver in Cobra Kai season 4 was significant for a handful of reasons—especially in the way of Karate Kid nostalgia. Silver had lured Johnny to the original Cobra Kai dojo, where he mounted a surprise attack as John Kreese watched on (feeling morally conflicted). Johnny received a nasty kick to the head, which kept him from being at his best during the fight. However, what made this all so impactful was that it was Johnny’s first chance to demonstrate the defensive moves he learned from Daniel. Of course, Johnny wouldn’t win against Silver until he learned to balance defense and his Cobra Kai offense.
7
Johnny Lawrence vs. Daniel LaRusso (Round 3)
Season 4
Johnny and Daniel’s final fight in Cobra Kai came in season 4, when the duo became frustrated while trying to teach side by side. Their differing methods led them to argue constantly, and it was finally determined that they would settle things in a tournament-style match, first-to-three fight. This was essentially an official rematch for their 1984 All-Valley fight, so it was a great moment in the way of Karate Kid nostalgia. It wasn’t as dramatic as it could have been, but Johnny and Daniel simultaneously KOing each other was a great way to end their rivalry.
6
Johnny Lawrence vs. John Kreese (Round 2)
Season 3
Things entirely fell apart between Johnny and Kreese in Cobra Kai season 3, and the duo faced off with one another in a repeat of their previous season 2 fight. What made this match so impactful was how it was balanced with flashback scenes to Kreese’s big fight with Captain Turner during the Vietnam War. As this fight plays out, we really begin to understand who this Karate Kid villain is and how he got to be that way.
5
Daniel LaRusso vs. Chozen Toguchi
Season 3
Daniel was reunited with Karate Kid Part II villain Chozen Toguchi in Cobra Kai season 3. At first, it seemed that Chozen hadn’t changed. He agreed to teach Daniel Miyagi-Do secrets, but it seemed he had a subtle vendetta against his old rival. This appeared to be confirmed during their big fight in Japan, during which Chozen used the ancient nerve technique to render Daniel’s arms useless. Of course, just before delivering the final, deadly blow, Chozen instead honked Daniel’s nose and broke into laughter. It was a nostalgic recreation of their Karate Kid fight.
4
Johnny Lawrence vs. Mike Barnes
Season 6, Part 1
As two prior golden boys of Cobra Kai, it makes sense that they would get a badass fight in the Netflix spinoff series.
Johnny and Mike Barnes were villains of two separate Karate Kid movies. However, as two prior golden boys of Cobra Kai, it makes sense that they would get a badass fight in the Netflix spinoff series. This big moment came in Cobra Kai season 6, part 1, when Johnny confronted Barnes at his wood shop. The ensuing battle was all camp and over-the-top action, full of effective slow-motion moments, a whirring saw, and the sound of a shredding guitar in the background. Ultimately, this fight ranks high because it represented everything great about Cobra Kai.
3
John Kreese vs. Terry Silver (Round 2)
Season 6, Part 3
John Kreese didn’t stand a chance against Terry Silver in Cobra Kai season 6, part 2, and not much had changed by their rematch in part 3. However, Kreese planned for the fact that he wouldn’t be able to defeat Silver. When he saw his old partner talking to Johnny and his family, Kreese immediately knew that Silver would attempt to hurt the Lawrences. So, he went aboard Silver’s yacht, fought the man, and blew the whole boat sky high. The fight itself lacked flashy choreography, but the explosive end to these Cobra Kai characters’ earned their final conflict, several extra points.
2
Daniel LaRusso vs. Terry Silver (Round 2)
Season 5
Though Silver pretty easily beat Daniel earlier in Cobra Kai season 5, their rematch in the finale was far more interesting. The time had finally come for Daniel to put a stop to Silver and Cobra Kai, and he did it on the man’s own turf. Part of what was so great about this fight was that it reflected Silver’s fight with Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid Part III. Add in Daniel’s iconic crane kick, and this Cobra Kai fight couldn’t have gotten much better.
1
Chozen Toguchi vs. Terry Silver
Season 5
Before fighting Daniel in Cobra Kai season 5’s finale, Silver faced off with Chozen in what was easily the most dramatic and exciting fight of the series. These two Karate Kid villains turned up the heat with a weapons fight to the death. Silver used one of his many katanas, while Chozen claimed a pair of sai, and the ensuing match was pure danger and excitement. The fight choreography here was spectacular, and we were kept right on the edge of our seats. The excitement lasted to the very end too, since this epic Cobra Kai fight left Chozen dramatically fading away in a puddle of his own blood.
Cobra Kai
8/10
- Release Date
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2018 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix, YouTube Premium
- Showrunner
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Jon Hurwitz
- Directors
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Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, Joel Novoa, Jennifer Celotta, Steven K. Tsuchida, Sherwin Shilati, Marielle Woods, Steve Pink, Lin Oeding, Michael Grossman
- Writers
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Josh Heald, Ashley Darnall, Chris Rafferty, Bill Posley