When an actor takes on a physically demanding role in a film or TV show, they are often required to train intensely. This can include martial arts, gunplay, specific sports, combat sports, etc. Cobra KaiSo while nearly the entire cast got to show off their martial arts skills in fight scenes both in and outside of the dojo, fans are wondering: did any of the actors playing major characters have any prior training, or did they all have to rush through the basics of karate to make their roles more believable?
Of course, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Several Trained more than 30 years ago Karate kidBut fans are curious if either of them studied martial arts before landing these roles, and the answer may be surprising across the board: While some of the cast members have formal martial arts training, they might not be the actors most likely to have had prior skill.
Cobra Kai's returning cast is well trained
As mentioned above, the two lead adult actors, Macchio and Zabka, Cobra Kai When they were Karate kidMacchio underwent additional training when he reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso. The Karate Kid Part II.
Interestingly, Zabka had no training before landing the role of villain Johnny Lawrence, but continued his studies after the 1984 film. Zabka has gone on to earn a second-degree green belt.According to The Wrap, he claims that he still continues to do light training and sparring outside of presenting on the show.
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Martin Kove
Martin Kove, who plays John Kreese, is one of the veteran cast members who previously trained, according to Looper. Cobb holds a black belt in Okinawan karate.He told Kung Fu Kingdom that he studied under master Tuck Kubota while making the film in the '80s, as well as stunt coordinator Pat Johnson. Karate kid I appeared with Macchio, Zabka, and Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi, for three hours a day.
Sean Kanan
Sean Kanan reprises his role as Mike Burns. The Karate Kid Part 3 In seasons 5 and 6 Cobra Kaioriginally came to star in the film because of his background in karate. He studied both Shitoryu and Shotokan karate.According to Black Belt Magazine.
Of the returning cast members, who has had the most thorough training?
Of the actors in the original film, who has the most martial arts experience overall? Cobra Kai He has studied more extensively than anyone else, both before and after working in one or more fields. Karate kid movie Similarly Cobra Kai.
Yuji Okumoto
Yuji Okumoto (role of Nagayoshi Tokuchi) The Karate Kid Part 2, From the age of about 13, he studied Sento-ryu and Shotokan karate.According to the Ikigai Way martial arts blog, he said: “As a kid, I wasn't very big, so I decided I had to learn some kind of self-defense technique to protect myself.”
After taking some time off during his senior year of high school, he took up martial arts again, studying Shotokan and Judo in college. He studied under the renowned Sensei Hayward Nishioka, a two-time Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee and 10th degree black belt in Judo. He went on to study Kajukenbo, followed by Yau Kum Moon, Southern Style Kung Fu. In short, he is one of the few actors who actually knows how to fight and has studied a variety of martial arts.
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Thomas Ian Griffiths
Thomas Ian Griffiths Cobra Kai Season 5's villain, Terry Silver, may come as a surprise as he has the most martial arts experience of any of the main cast members. He started karate in high school and has been practicing karate every day since then.According to Rupp, this equates to more than 40 years of training. During this time, he Black belt in Taekwondo and Kempo Karate.
Ron Thomas
There is one supporting character worth mentioning here: Ron Thomas, who only appeared in a few episodes. Cobra Kaireprising his role as Bobby Brown Karate kid and The Karate Kid Part IIFans will remember, Karate kid, At Crease's urging, he landed a foul kick to LaRusso's knee, nearly putting the young fighter out of action. Thomas is a real-life teacherHeavy said he has been studying martial arts his entire adult life. He trained in a style of jiu-jitsu called Kodenkan and reportedly holds a sixth-degree black belt.He also previously coached the U.S. Sport Jiu-Jitsu team, and his students have gone on to become national and world champions.
Younger cast members have less experience
As for the young new cast members, most of them had no prior training, but a few had dabbled in martial arts before or after. Perhaps the young actors with the most martial arts experience are Jacob Bertrand (Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz) and Tanner Buchanan (Robbie Keene).
Jacob Bertrand
Bertrand began his karate training at the age of eight. I progressed to the purple beltHowever, according to The Wrap, he didn't continue training beyond that, but the experience did give him a baseline for training, which was coupled with other sports and training he continued to participate in, such as grappling and skateboarding.
Tanner Buchanan
On the other hand, Buchanan I learned taekwondo as a child.“The Wrap points out that he was a few black belts away from achieving that before quitting to focus on other interests. Cobra Kai, He had been training in Muay Thai for eight months. During filming of the series Designated Survivor.
Jeanne Decenzo
Gianni DeCenzo, who plays the nerdy Demetri Alexopoulos, didn't have much training before joining the cast, but like the other actors, he began training after landing the role. He and his father started taking Krav Maga classes.Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art. It is different from traditional karate, but it does include kicks and punches and is a great foundation to build on.
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Cobra Kai squandered the potential of a great character
Of the kids who became fierce fighters in Cobra Kai, only a handful received any training beforehand, and one of them found his potential was severely wasted.
Peyton List
Peyton List found it difficult to join the cast as she had no training before taking on the role of Tory, as she was a late addition to the cast. The rest of the cast had already been training for a while. She told Nicki Swift: She continued training outside of the show to improve her performance, including with a private trainer and kickboxing classes.List told PopSugar that she thinks “learning self-defense is so important,” adding, “I feel so much more confident since I started martial arts. If I have kids, I'd like them to take up martial arts.”
Mary Mouser
Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso) also had no prior training, but She started learning Muay Thai before she even started official Muay Thai. Cobra Kai Start training According to Shape, before the first season.
Xoro Maridueña
Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz) says He studied karate for about a year as a child.According to Sportskeeda, Maridueña has forgotten most of what he learned by the time he landed the role. Ironically, despite becoming one of the dojo's best fighters, Maridueña trained the least.
Cobra Kai continues with epic fight scenes
In the sixth and final season Cobra Kai The series concludes with the opening of the Takai World Championships in Barcelona, but fans can expect even more karate action in the second episode, which will be released in November 2024. This means that the actors will likely continue training to deliver the most convincing performances possible.
Whether they already knew karate or other martial arts or came in completely ignorant, the performances from the entire cast are a testament to how much each actor puts into their characters, learning all they can to add to the show's authenticity.
Still, knowing who has studied before, who has the most experience, and who has no experience at all, may bring new perspective and respect while watching an exciting fight scene.
stream Cobra Kai On Netflix.
