Plot
Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moves with his mother (Randee
Heller) from Newark, New Jersey to Reseda, a neighborhood in
the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.
Their apartment's handyman is an eccentric but kindly and
humble Okinawan immigrant named Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).
Daniel befriends Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), a pretty high
school cheerleader, at the same time angering her arrogant
ex-boyfriend, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Johnny is the
best student at the Cobra Kai dojo, where he is taught an
unethical, vicious form of martial arts. Daniel knows a little
karate from books and a few classes at the YMCA, but Johnny
easily defeats him in their first encounter. Thereafter,
Johnny and his gang of Cobra Kai students torment Daniel at
every opportunity.
When Miyagi witnesses the gang giving Daniel a particularly
savage beating, he intervenes and single-handedly defeats all
five Cobra Kai with ease. Awed, Daniel asks Miyagi to be his
teacher. Miyagi refuses, but agrees to go with Daniel to the
Cobra Kai dojo in order to resolve the conflict. They confront
the sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), an ex-Special Forces
Vietnam Veteran who sneers at the concepts of mercy and
restraint. Kreese and Miyagi agree to a match between Johnny
and Daniel in two months' time at the "All Valley Karate
Tournament," where the Cobra Kai students can fight Daniel on
equal terms. Miyagi also requests that the bullying stop while
Daniel trains. Kreese orders his students to leave Daniel
alone, but under the condition that if Daniel does not show up
for the tournament, the harassment will resume and Miyagi
himself will also become a target. Miyagi becomes Daniel's
teacher and, slowly, a surrogate father figure. He begins
Daniel's training by having him perform laborious chores such
as waxing cars, sanding a wooden floor, refinishing a fence,
and painting Miyagi's house. Each chore is accompanied with a
specific movement, such as clockwise/counter-clockwise hand
motions. Daniel eventually feels frustrated, believing he has
learned nothing of karate. When he expresses his frustration,
Miyagi reveals that Daniel has been learning defensive blocks
through muscle memory learned by performing the chores.
As Daniel's training continues more overtly, his bond with
Miyagi becomes closer. He learns that Miyagi lost his wife and
son in childbirth at Manzanar internment camp while he was
serving overseas with the United States Army during World War
II. The loss of his family and Daniel's loss of his father
further strengthens the father-son surrogacy. Daniel also
discovers that the outwardly peaceful and serene Miyagi was a
recipient of the Medal of Honor for heroism against German
forces in Europe. Through the teaching, Daniel learns not only
karate but also important life lessons such as the importance
of balance, reflected by the belief that martial arts training
is as much about training the spirit as the body. Daniel
applies the life lessons that Miyagi has taught him to
strengthen his relationship with Ali.
At the tournament, Daniel surprises everyone by reaching the
semi-finals. Johnny advances to the finals, scoring three
unanswered points against a highly skilled opponent. Kreese
instructs Bobby Brown, one of his more compassionate students
and the least vicious of Daniel's tormentors, to disable
Daniel with an illegal attack to the knee. Bobby reluctantly
does so, severely injuring Daniel and getting disqualified in
the process. As Daniel writhes in pain on the ground, Bobby
profusely apologizes before he is pulled away. Daniel is taken
to the locker room and checked out, with the physician
determining that he cannot continue. Although Miyagi assures
him he has already proven himself, Daniel believes that if he
does not continue, his tormentors will have gotten the best of
him. He persuades Miyagi to use a pain suppression technique
to allow him to finish the tournament. As Johnny is about to
be declared the winner by default, Daniel hobbles into the
ring. The Championship match is a seasaw battle, as neither
Johnny or Daniel are able to break through either one's
defenses. At one point Daniel is knocked to the ground but
takes Johnny down with him and delivers a chop to the back of
the head, giving Johnny a nose bleed. The match is paused for
Johnny to be looked at by Kreese.
Kreese directs Johnny to repeat unethical moves to achieve
victory, such as foot sweeps to Daniel's injured leg, and
rabbit punches. Johnny looks horrified at the order but
reluctantly agrees after Kreese's intimidation. Despite the
moves, Daniel gets up each time. At last, Daniel and Johnny
are tied, with the next point deciding victory. Daniel, barely
able to stand, assumes the "Crane" stance, a technique he
observed Miyagi performing on the beach during his training.
The referee signals to begin, and Johnny lunges in. Daniel
jumps and delivers a front kick to Johnny's chin, winning the
tournament. Johnny, having gained newfound respect for his
adversary, takes Daniel's trophy from the Master of Ceremonies
and presents it to Daniel himself, sincerely proclaiming
"You're all right, LaRusso! Good match!" Miyagi looks on
proudly as Daniel celebrates his victory.
Post Comment |
