The Karate Kid movies and Cobra Kai are both defined by their fighting sequences, be they in tournaments or somewhere that does not involve scoring points. From 1984's The Karate Kid to Cobra Kai season 5, unlikely heroes defeated more experienced opponents, rivals settled their differences on the mat, and unexpected crossovers led to memorable fights. Though Cobra Kai’s fight sequences are generally considered an improvement compared to those of the Karate Kid films, some of the best fights in the franchise actually come from the movies.
Cobra Kai season 1 may have been a more direct sequel to The Karate Kid, but later Cobra Kai seasons incorporated elements from all the Daniel LaRusso Karate Kid movies. From Kreese to Mike Barnes, all the villains Daniel once faced returned in Cobra Kai in some capacity, leading to rematches and surprising team-ups. These six best fights in the Karate Kid and Cobra Kai universe, ranked from worst to best, consider not just the technical aspects, but also the story and the character moments involved.
6 Chozen vs. Silver (Cobra Kai Season 5)
Perhaps what made the Chozen vs. Terry Silver fight in Cobra Kai season 5’s finale so good was how unlikely the chances of it even happening truly were. Before Cobra Kai came along, the idea that The Karate Kid Part II’s Chozen would fight Terry Silver from The Karate Kid Part III to help save Daniel LaRusso was almost inconceivable. Cobra Kai season 5 embraced the absurdity of its world, resulting in fights like Chozen vs. Silver that pandered to nostalgia while also delivering a thrilling action sequence. Chozen vs. Terry Silver was also quite different from other Cobra Kai and Karate Kid fights due to the involvement of weapons.
5 Robby vs. Hawk (Cobra Kai Season 4)
While Cobra Kai fight results are usually more unpredictable when there is no tournament involved, it cannot be denied that the Robby vs. Hawk battle at the All Valley was one of the best fights of the show. Tanner Buchanan and Jacob Bertrand did most of their stunts, resulting in a fluid fighting scene with very few editing cuts, leaving most of the moves clear for the audience to see. Although Robby fighting Hawk in Cobra Kai was not necessarily a realistic karate tournament contest, it worked perfectly for the world of Cobra Kai. With creative moves and the All Valley title at stake, Robby vs. Hawk was a Cobra Kai season 4 highlight.
4 Daniel vs. Chozen (The Karate Kid Part II)
Cobra Kai’s more serious tone compared to the Karate Kid movies has led to a few battles in which the opponents were genuinely fighting to the death - Kreese vs. Johnny, for example. Decades before Cobra Kai, however, The Karate Kid Part II had already featured the first high-stakes fight of the franchise with Daniel vs. Chozen. As Mr. Miyagi put it, facing Chozen would not be like fighting in a tournament. Chozen, who by then was the villain, was ready to kill Daniel - something that they now joke about in Cobra Kai. Given its intensity and mortal stakes, Daniel battling Chozen is one of the best fights in the franchise.
The Karate Kid Part II’s final fight had a difficult challenge in surpassing the already iconic Daniel vs. Johnny fight from the end The Karate Kid. While The Karate Kid Part II did not live up to the first movie's legacy, the Daniel vs. Chozen fight provided a solid conclusion nonetheless. Seeing Daniel’s crane kick fail set the tone for the rest of the fight, as LaRusso’s signature move would not work against the new, more skillful opponent. The results of Daniel’s training with Mr. Miyagi were also translated expertly into the fight, not to mention LaRusso’s iconic nose grab.
3 Johnny & Daniel vs. Kreese (Cobra Kai Season 3)
The Cobra Kai season 3 finale is arguably one of the best episodes in the whole show and a highlight of the Karate Kid timeline. In many ways, Cobra Kai season 3’s finale was a conclusion to the story of The Karate Kid, as it put the fates of Daniel, Johnny, and Kreese at stake. Kreese was the real villain of The Karate Kid, something that was confirmed at the beginning of The Karate Kid Part II, and he was back causing trouble for Johnny and Daniel in Cobra Kai. Those three decades of history were brought together in an emotional fight that also intercalated with Kreese’s flashbacks.
Almost four different fights were happening at the same time during the end of Cobra Kai season 3’s finale - but with Kreese and Johnny at the center of the maelstrom. Johnny initially fought Kreese by himself, then had to briefly fight against Robby, and was later saved by Daniel. Seeing Johnny give up on Kreese, as well as Daniel unleashing all his anger toward the Cobra Kai sensei, raised the stakes for Cobra Kai, and had it not been for Miguel and Sam, Daniel would have killed Kreese. Largely due to the decades of history between the characters, Johnny and Daniel vs. Kreese is one of Cobra Kai’s best moments.
2 The School Fight (Cobra Kai Season 2)
Maybe the best Cobra Kai episode, the Cobra Kai season 2 finale was when the show evolved into more than just a Karate Kid sequel. Whereas the Cobra Kai season 1 finale ended with a Miguel vs. Robby All Valley tournament fight mirroring the original Daniel vs. Johnny climax, Cobra Kai season 2’s finale ditched the tournament formula and focused mostly on its original characters. Daniel and Johnny were not the heart of the episode, and an entire season of conflict between Daniel’s students and the Cobra Kai students culminated in a “karate war.” Between Tory vs. Sam and Miguel and Robby seeing who was the better fighter, Cobra Kai’s school fight could not have been better.
A highly choreographed fight sequence that involved several individual combatants, Cobra Kai’s viral school fight contributed to the show’s popularity. While Johnny and Daniel’s feud only really lands for those who are familiar with the Karate Kid characters, the school fight was a culmination of Cobra Kai’s original storylines. It cemented rivalries, especially Sam and Tory’s, and sealed the fates of Miguel and Robby forever. Robby kicking Miguel off the stairs remains Cobra Kai’s biggest cliffhanger, and the consequences of the school fight are still felt as of season 5. Three seasons later, Cobra Kai’s school fight remains the show’s best.
1 Daniel vs. Johnny (The Karate Kid)
Cobra Kai would obviously not exist without The Karate Kid’s popularity, and The Karate Kid would not be as iconic as it is without the Daniel and Johnny fight at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. The Karate Kid’s formula was not that different from other tournament-focused movies, with all characters and storylines converging into one final fight. However, Daniel’s journey from underdog to finalist added to the personal rivalry between the “Karate Kid” and Johnny Lawrence, and helped set The Karate Kid apart from similar movies. Daniel had learned from Mr. Miyagi, Johnny would no longer accept losing to Daniel, and now they were meeting on the mat.
An intense, well-choreographed fight, Daniel vs. Johnny at the All Valley showcased Johnny’s skills while also highlighting how effective Daniel’s training had been. Johnny was by far the more experienced fighter - Johnny had won the All Valley Karate Tournament twice - but Daniel had proved throughout the tournament that he had a chance of winning. The question of whether Daniel would be able to fight after his leg got hurt, plus Kreese asking Johnny to hit Daniel’s leg, only raised the stakes for the instant-classic fight. Last, but certainly not least, Daniel’s crane kick, the most famous move in the Karate Kid and Cobra Kai universe, was used for the first time here.