We just recently came across something really exciting for those of you who are fans of the original Karate Kid movie released in 1984. It’s a web series on YouTube called Cobra Kai.
The series begins 34 years after the famous 1984 Karate Tournament with a focus on Johnny Lawrence (Danny Larusso’s opponent in the last round of the tournament). He’s down and out and working as a contractor while living in a run down apartment. He loses his job and then decides to re-open the Cobra Kai dojo to train a new generation of high school misfits.
Along the way, he meets Danny Larusso again who is now a very successful car dealership owner. The saying “the more things change, the more things stay the same” is true for describing the relationship 34 years later between Danny and Johnny. There’s still the same animosity and competitiveness between them.
Overall, it’s a great series and pays homage throughout the original Karate Kid movie but it’s not in any way corny or off putting. It makes you chuckle and smile several times throughout series. And, it introduces us to a number of next generation karate kids whose stories are fun to watch as well.
Season 1 includes 10 episodes and the first two episodes can be watched free of charge on YouTube. If you like it and want to watch the rest of the episodes, you’ll have to get a Premium membership but it’s approximately the same monthly cost as a Netflix membership.
And, if you enjoy season 1 as much as we did, you will be happy to learn that season 2 is set to be released the 3rd week of April.
If the Karate Kid movie and web series Cobra Kai has inspired you to learn martial arts in Waterloo, drop by or contact us for a free class.