While fans are anxiously awaiting the debut of Cobra Kai season 4, the choice to go in a new direction with production means the next installment of the Karate Kid spin-off series could be a very different show. Cobra Kai continues the story of rivals Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso from the classic '80s movie The Karate Kid. Like the rest of the Miyagi-Verse titles, martial arts fight sequences are a major aspect of Cobra Kai — but with the show's longtime stunt coordinators, Hiro Koda and Jahnel Curfman, no longer involved, those sequences are likely to change.
Cobra Kai is a huge hit for Netflix, thanks in part to its immensely entertaining fight sequences. Since the series premiere established that down-on-his-luck Johnny still had some fight left in him, martial arts choreography has been a key element of the show's formula. From everyday training at the dojo to epic showdowns — like the unforgettable high school brawl in the Cobra Kai season 2 finale — martial arts stunts are a common element throughout the series.
The approach to stunt choreography in Cobra Kai is set to change: in an interview with EW about their work on the show, Koda and Curfman revealed that they are no longer the stunt coordinators. The husband-and-wife team told EW that they had "started prepping season 4," but then production "decided to go in a different direction" — with a source indicating this was due to scheduling conflicts. The two were unable to comment much further about what this means for the series going forward, but it does suggest that the style of the fight scenes may be different in Cobra Kai season 4.
Hand-to-hand action is common in many TV shows, but the unique style found in Cobra Kai is a key aspect of its charm. The show offers believable drama as a source of the interpersonal conflicts — like jealousy over a love interest — that is amplified by exhilarating, yet believable, action sequences. This accomplished not just through exciting choreography but through the show's seamless transitions between actors and stunt doubles. Koda and Curfman helped teach the actors the difficult karate moves, then collaborated with the production team to find strategies to substitute in stunt doubles when necessary. In fact, Curfman not only trained Mary Mouser (who plays Sam) but was also Peyton List's (Tory) stunt double, meaning that she and Mouser are onscreen together in several of the Sam and Tory fights.
The action in Cobra Kai is grounded yet exciting; unlike a lot of other shows, Cobra Kai doesn't rely on fantasy or gore. The show has serious moments, but overall the tone is light and fun. Some critics argued the violence in Cobra Kai season 3 went too far; regardless, the show has resisted going too dark or too over-the-top with its fights. While there may be the occasional bloody lip or broken arm, Cobra Kai has thus far carefully balanced its fantastic elements with realism and consequences. Given how involved Curfman and Koda have been in shaping that lighthearted yet thrilling tone — particularly in the show's Karate sequences — their absence will certainly be felt in Cobra Kai season 4.