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“Strike First, Strike Hard. No Mercy” The Rise and Pitfalls of Cobra Kai Gemma Burman
In 2018, after an absence of 29 years, Daniel LaRusso returned to our screens in Netflix’s Cobra Kai (originally a YouTube Original), bringing back to life the Karate-influenced Karate Kid film franchise that entertained young people and the like around the world, in the '80s and early ’90s. After recently suffering from what could only be described as “Covid-like” symptoms, the new dreaded trend of the 2020s, it left me sofa-bound for a few days and with some time to kill. After avoiding this popular show for 4 years, due to its cheesy marketing and questionable (American “comedy”) acting, I thought, ‘Hey, let’s see what all the fuss is about’.
Within just a few days I had consumed all four seasons (40 episodes) and although I’d describe the show as watchable, I felt shocked, bewildered, and aggravated by the cavalier use of martial arts and lack of restraint instilled upon the students.
I was left thinking…how many young people will attempt to roundhouse their way out of minor disputes or fights over their school crush after watching this show?
Within this article, we’re going to break down the inaccurate portrayals of this thing we call Martial Arts with the thing they call an Action-ComedyDrama.
In the scientific journal, “Video analysis of head blows leading to concussion in competition Taekwondo” Brain Injury by Joe O. Koh, E. Jane Watkinson, and Yong-Jin Yoon in 2004 — Results found that, ‘Head blows, and concussions were most evident when the attacker was situated in a closed stance and received a single roundhouse kick.’ Concluding, ‘frequency of head blows, and concussions are high in Taekwondo. Development of blocking skills, safety education, rigorous enforcement of the competition rules, and improvement of headgear are recommended.’ Furthermore, a study by the University of Toronto documented that, ‘a mixed martial arts fighter suffers a traumatic brain injury in almost a third of professional bouts.’
Image source: UCSfm.com.br
This is likely why during the Olympics you see opponents competing under a layer of pads with the objective of landing a strike on their opponent. Unlike the scenes that play out in Cobra Kai, a Taekwondo competition can be like watching a round of Slapsies, especially in comparison to a ferocious UFC fight that the public has come to associate with mixed martial arts. An all-out battle between two sides glorified by pre-fight spats, flashy marketing “Title Fight Grand Prix,” and spectacle weigh-ins, all before it’s “SHOWTIME”!
Lee Trunks from Combined Defensive Arts (Cheltenham), which focuses on kickboxing and self-defence, explains, ‘We always explain why the head is so important to protect, and therefore why we need to be careful in sparring. We always wear head guards and the correct sparring kit. We encourage light strikes to the head, and all sparring is closely monitored and supervised.’
For non-martial art folks (the average unsuspecting citizen) this is what has driven Cobra Kai’s depiction of martial arts to be something that resembles a WWE slap down rather than a demonstration of respect, discipline, skill, and measured response that is taught in most martial arts schools (for the sake of this article I will be referring to them as clubs to avoid confusion). An amateur UFC spectator has no understanding of what it physically takes to undertake such a battle, grapple with a fierce opponent, receive the blows, push through suffering, rise to the challenge, and recover from injuries. But they love to debate technique and strategy nonetheless over a few beers with their mates.
Personally, I love to watch two consenting opponents come together in a ring to use their years of training, skill, and stamina to dominate their opponent. The keyword here is “consenting”. I’m not sure a school playground is a place for this display of brutality, especially left in the hands of adolescent hormonal teenagers.
If you’ve seen Cobra Kai, you will be used to seeing fights break out over minor quarrels, blows to the head become commonplace, and are even encouraged by Cobra Kai’s sensei John Kreese. “Finish him” might as well be the name of the show. Always ending in lights out for at least one character.
When asked if she noticed any problems with the way martial arts was portrayed in the show, Amanda Wilding, a JKD instructor from Warriors within Martial Arts (Belper), responded, ‘Yes, the way they used their martial arts to start fights. I didn't agree with the fact that every argument they had resulted in fighting, or that both clubs were so opposed to each other’s disciplines. Outside of the dojo, martial arts should only be used for selfprotection.’ And that the show, ‘Portrays martial arts in a bad way!’ However, she also goes on to say that she ‘Loves the programme.’
After a fight breaks out at school between two girls (Sam and Tori) over an impromptu kiss between Sam and Tori’s boyfriend, Miguel, who just happens to be Sam’s ex-boyfriend...the drama. The whole school soon plummets into one big WWE showdown in a tag team-style match of ego and conquest for dominance. The result? Miguel ends up in the hospital with critical injuries, Sam receives an injury from an improvised weapon, a teacher is knocked out, among other acts of violence being committed by easily a dozen more students.
The consequences for such fights in the show are minor and soon recovered from, Robby (Miguel’s adversary and Sam’s boyfriend) goes to juvenile detention, albeit for a short spell; Tori ends up on probation, and Miguel soon fully recovers from what would be in the real-world, life-changing injuries. There is no long-lasting or meaningful consequence to these or other crimes in the series. Breaking and entering, vandalism, theft, GBH (grievous bodily harm), and the attacking of authority figures go unpunished.
There is no emphasis on measured response or consequences to the violence within any of the Dojo’s teachings within the show. The school decides to implement a “martial art free zone” with a “hugs not hits” policy, and Daniel LaRusso describing their stance as the “karate footloose” (a reference to the film from 1984 starring dancing rebel Kevin Bacon).
The emphasis on light-hearted comedy, parody, and absurdity is clear to most, but not all. After all, teenagers have been known to take part in some heinous crimes, one example is that of the “Reservoirs Dogs killing” in Merseyside (the 1999 killing of 15-year-old Michael Moss). A murder in which the teens involved demonstrated no correlation between their actions and the consequences. Displaying barbaric torturous behaviour, and once again, perpetrated over the affections of a girl.
But generally, tit for tat playground fights seem to be heading into a more violent territory, so what are the consequences that should be placed on these fictional but influential characters?
When asked about the consequences given to students who cross the line Lee Trunks of CDA goes on to say, ‘(It) depends on the individual case. If it is wilful injury dependant on the extent of injury it will be a stern warning, letter, and call to parents, or removal from the club.’
In recent years there has been an increase in violent crime in the UK, especially amongst young people keen to assert their dominance under the guise of “self-defence”. In 2019 a Home Office report titled “An Analysis of Indicators of Serious Violence” stated, ‘More than 17,500 boys aged 14 carry a knife or weapon in England and Wales’ and this figure has probably risen since.
It's long been a problem among immature members of the public that, “settling a score” is the more common reaction to adversity, adult or teenagers, some people are quick to violence. The perceived power it gives them makes up for the lack of control they have in other areas of their life. With teenagers running around equipped with lethal weapons and no alternative means of defending themselves, do shows like Cobra Kai help to instil the perception of low repercussion for violent activity, or is it just a show that entertains through the “thrill” of violence? We’ll leave that for the academics to argue.
As for the opinions of Martial Artists themselves, Rob Jarvis, JKD instructor from Ohana Martial Arts (Alfreton) when asked about the show, said, ‘I disagree with the show's opinion that you need to win to be masterful, when in fact, sometimes losing has greater benefits as it provides you with the opportunity to learn.’ Going on to explain, ‘I noticed that the instructor has a lot of sway and influence on how to manipulate the students to view things their way.’
Rob Phelps, a Japanese Jujitsu instructor from Leicester Jujitsu, added, ‘Stereotypically, I felt it mocked martial arts, so I only watched a few episodes. But it showed what the general public expect to see.’
It's also not clear if it is lucky or unlucky that there is no hard proof that Cobra Kai and other martial arts media encourage young people to seek out their local martial arts club.
On one hand, an uptake in enrolments would help young people to learn about alternatives to carrying a knife, instil self-respect and self-control, reducing the chance of young people developing habits and alliances that lead them to become teen murderers and violent criminals.
On the other hand, do martial arts clubs want to attract people on the basis that they watched a TV show and decided they want to transform into a tournament competitor in a matter of weeks as opposed to years?
I asked Rob Phelps from Leicester Jujitsu what aspects of the show he thought could be most beneficial to the martial arts industry, he believes that, ‘It puts martial arts in the public eye and raises the profile of the sport.’
An opposing view is that of Neil Kirkland, a Wing Chung, Karate, and Kickboxing instructor at Adaptive Martial Arts (Cambridge), who when asked the same question, simply responded, ‘Cancelling it’.
Is Cobra Kai a bad example of martial arts practice, with the potential for real-life consequences, or just a bit of fun action-packed entertainment? I’ll let you decide
As for me, I’ll say, "Wax on. Wax Off."
Now…let’s finish it.
About The Author:
International amateur journalist of mystery, born Generation X on the cusp of the Millennium, she grew up with a latch key and a fifth-generation Bosch mobile phone (the orange light up one...remember those?) Although having little martial arts experience, she's a masterful researcher and observer. Using those skills to pass judgment on this she knows little about, but through research becomes a master of knowledge. With the ability of a third-year mixed martial arts student with the mental strength of a 10th Dan, this writer has fought her way out of many metaphorical burning buildings, drawing on the knowledge she has gained from those who have mentored her.
Image source: https://btea.mobilephonemuseum.com/phone-detail/bosch-509e
Gaku Shi Juku Kendo Kai
