Ralph Macchio’s legendary Crane Kick karate kid The character returns several times in the franchise, even crossing into Cobra Kai. The long-running saga has been far from consistent in both its release schedule and quality. However, certain elements have stood the test of time and remain part of the formula today. Daniel LaRusso’s signature move is used relatively sparingly. This way, every time the kick returns to the spotlight, it feels much more like a major event than a common occurrence.
While every moment in Crane Kick has a lot of meaning, not all of them play up to each other. Certain factors enhance or detract from a Crane Kick in the franchise’s timeline. For example, much of it takes place during one of the tournaments in The karate kid movies and Cobra Kai. Alternatively, some Cobra Kai The characters have experienced the effect of personal altercations. After learning the move as part of Mr. Miyagi’s training in the first karate kid movie, the franchise has brought back Crane Kick time and time again and created some brilliant moments.
As one of the cornerstones of Miyago-do Karate, the Crane Kick is one of the most indefensible moves for the uninitiated. Only once did he fail to immediately end an on-screen conflict in the entire franchise. Even in the real world, the technique has become a cultural icon and has been referenced, parodied, and honored in many media. Although it is not a “real” martial arts technique, it is largely based on genuine forms of combat. As such, it is very credible as an authentic addition to karate kid science.
6 Johnny Lawrence’s (sort of) crane kick when training with Daniel
Cobra Kai season 4, episode 3, “Then Learn to Fly”
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There are several moments where Crane Kick is only referenced, or when the opening pose is shown. For example, Macchio’s character is revealed in Cobra Kai season 1 to adopt the Crane Kick stance when taking photos with customers at his car dealership. Johnny’s beginnings in Crane Kick in Cobra Kai Season 4, Episode 3, “Then Learn to Fly,” probably goes beyond mere spectacle. When training with Daniel during the episode, Johnny can be seen in the early stages of Crane Kick before Daniel leaves. It’s okay, but it would have been better if he had carried it out.
Given how haunted Johnny is by his loss at All-Valley, it’s likely that he’s since taught himself the Crane Kick in replays.
Since Johnny was the first on-screen recipient of Daniel’s Crane Kick, it would have been appropriate for him to have returned the favor so many years later. If Daniel hadn’t backed away in annoyance, it’s entirely possible that Johnny would have had the opportunity to do just that. Losing to Crane Kick in the original film is clearly still a major point of contention for Johnny, as shown during the early stages of Cobra Kai season 1. That said, his use of the technique outside of the context of an actual fight would have possibly detracted from the potential effectiveness of the moment.
5 Daniel’s failed crane kick against Chozen Toguchi
Karate Kid Part III (1989)
More recently, Yuji Okomoto’s character has become a loyal ally of Daniel LaRusso, but the beginning of their relationship was not so friendly. As one of the main antagonists of the second karate kid In the film, Chozen challenges Daniel to a fight that is intended to be fatal for at least one of the two young men. Given the success of the Crane Kick at the end of the first film, it would be reasonable to assume that Daniel could use the technique again to defeat Chozen. Unfortunately for Macchio’s character, Chozen is more than prepared and leaves the movement inert.
The fact that Daniel couldn’t replicate his success against Johnny in the first installment of the franchise meant he had to dig deeper.
This particular Crane Kick is the only one that is executed completely in the karate kid franchise that fails. Of course, if Daniel had managed to land the kick, it would have been an abrupt end to what was shaping up to be an excellent fight. Furthermore, it would have resulted in an ending that was too similar to the film that preceded it. The fact that Daniel couldn’t replicate his success against Johnny in the first installment of the franchise meant he had to dig deeper. It was a good sequence, but the kick itself was intentionally silly.
4 Miguel’s crane kick in the valley
Cobra Kai season 1, episode 10, “Mercy”
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Bringing Crane Kick back after the franchise had been dormant for so long was always destined to be a tricky job. There was no way Cobra Kai I would skip the move entirely, but it had to come at the right time. While the obvious choice might have been to save the shot for the All-Valley final in Cobra KaiIn the Season 1 finale, the writers made a conscious decision to introduce him a little earlier, when Miguel employs the Crane Kick against an unnamed character in one of the earlier rounds.
Related Every Time Miguel Fought Robby in Cobra Kai
Miguel and Robby have carried their rivalry in Cobra Kai from start to finish, although the nature has changed with each fight (and victory).
Cobra Kai does a great job of not establishing a new main character to replace Daniel, and giving Miguel or Robbie the Crane Kick in the finale would have undone the careful balancing act. Instead, the writers allow the iconic move to have its moment by allowing Johnny’s student to use it in full view of his former rival. The moment passes in an instant, but it has a lot of meaning without dominating the events. It’s a creative solution to kick recovery, even if it’s pretty basic from a visual perspective.
3 Dre Parker’s turn on the crane kick at the Kung Fu tournament
The Karate Kid (2010)
When the Jackie Chan film was released in 2010, it was initially intended to be a remake of the original. karate kid. It continued like this for many years, but with another film due out in 2025, Chan’s project has been integrated into the main timeline. The result is that the events of the 2010 production now occur in the same world as the others. karate kid movies and Cobra Kai. So, Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker’s Crane Kick at the end of the remake also counts towards the franchise’s main tally, and it’s executed brilliantly.
Although it is carried out with much more style, it is clear that Dre is using a very similar kick to the one that originated in the first one.
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With Jackie Chan on board, the fight choreography was always destined to improve. Every conflict is slick and well-shot, including Dre’s final fight at the Kung Fu tournament. Although it is carried out with much more style, it is clear that Dre is using a very similar kick to the one that originated in the first one. karate kid movie. However, it is unclear how Dre knows the kick, as it is part of Miyagi-do karate. Not only does Chan’s Mr. Han teach Dre Kung Fu instead of karate, but he also has no known in-universe connection to Mr. Miyagi.
2 Daniel’s defeat of Terry Silver
Cobra Kai season 5, episode 10, “Snakehead”
After returning to the franchise in Cobra Kai Season 4 for the first time since 1989. The Karate Kid Part IIIThomas Ian Griffith effortlessly returned to the role of Terry Silver. After becoming arguably an even more nefarious leader of the titular dojo than Kreese, Silver’s villainous arc continued brilliantly despite his long absence. So when Daniel finally took him down at the end of Cobra Kai season 4, was a catharsis for Macchio’s character, as well as for long-time fans of the karate kid saga. Doing it with Crane Kick was the icing on the cake.
Silver’s confrontation with Daniel begins with the former vowing to take down Miyagi-do, making Griffiths’ character’s fall to Crane Kick all the more satisfying.
Silver’s confrontation with Daniel begins with the former vowing to take down Miyagi-do, making Griffiths’ character’s fall to Crane Kick all the more satisfying. Along with the fact that Daniel uses his old sensei’s “sensei.”Mercury method“From the third film, the fight itself is a brilliant way to end the toxic fight between the two men. Daniel could have refrained from using the Crane Kick at this point. Fortunately, he didn’t, and the scene shows birth the second best use of the technique in the entire franchise.
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Karate Kid franchise launch timeline |
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Movie/TV show |
Year |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|
The karate kid |
1984 |
90% |
|
The Karate Kid Part II |
1986 |
47% |
|
The Karate Kid Part III |
1989 |
15% |
|
The next karate kid |
1994 |
7% |
|
The karate kid |
2010 |
66% |
|
Cobra Kai |
2018-2025 |
92% |
Terry Silver is probably the greatest of the karate kid franchise villains defeated by Crane Kick. While an argument could be made for Johnny Lawrence taking that honor at the end of the first film, the compelling and popular theory that Johnny Lawrence was never the bad guy makes it difficult to see William Zabka’s character as a true antagonist, especially considering its changes. loyalties in Cobra Kai.
1 Daniel’s victory over Johnny in the All-Valley final
The Karate Kid (1984)
It would be disingenuous to award the title of Best Crane Kick to any moment other than the end of the first. karate kid movie. It is the first time that the kick has been executed in its entirety and the emotion of the scene helped generate a saga that is still active today. The fact that Daniel is injured while performing the maneuver makes it even better, as it demonstrates his immense strength, a trait that is just as strong at the moment of Cobra Kai.
2:38 
Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi’s Final Performance Wasn’t Karate Kid 4 (It’s Not Even Close)
Many believe that Pat Morita stopped playing Mr. Miyagi after 1994’s The Next Karate Kid, but the actor continued playing the cinematic sensei.
Without this Crane Kick, it could be said that it would have felt incredibly inorganic to Cobra Kai for this to happen, as Johnny’s frustration at losing the All-Valley is due, in large part, to his fall on the play. It’s clear that Johnny still hasn’t forgotten the defeat. Although the two men have since formed an uneasy alliance bordering on friendship, resentment still bubbles beneath the surface. Because the scene itself is so brilliant, along with the complex emotions it instills, this use of Crane Kick is the best of all. karate kid franchise – including Cobra Kai.
The karate kid
The Karate Kid is an action-martial arts drama franchise created by Robert Mark Kamen and began with the first film of the same name released in 1984. The series focuses on teenagers who cannot adapt to their new surroundings while dealing with persistent bullies. until a retired martial arts master finds them and trains them to defend themselves.
Created by Robert Mark Kamen First movie The Karate Kid First TV show Cobra Kai Cast Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki “Pat” Morita, Martin Kove, William Zabka, Randee Heller, Ron Thomas, Elisabeth Shue, Xolo Mariduena, Mary Mouser, Jaden Smith, Wenwen Han, Taraji P. Henson, Jackie Chan Character(s) Daniel LaRusso, Mr. Miyagi, John Kreese, Johnny Lawrence, Ali Mills, Lucille LaRusso, Bobby Brown, Dre Parker, Mr. Han, Meiying, Sherry Parker