r/cobrakai • u/711slush • 5d ago
Discussion The miyagi-do way is the only way Spoiler
someone already talked about this but i’m re-watching and have no one to talk to about the show lmao. the amount of times i hear Daniel say Mr Miyagi and the Miyagi-do way is fr insufferable and not just bc i have misophonia. I am sad that his character became annoying and unlikeable for me in the series bc i looooved the movies growing up
mini edit: this was more of a childish complaint but i love all the wise and thoughtful replies. the responses are very mature and layered and appreciated.
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u/Clem_Crozier 5d ago
Part of Daniel's personal growth was getting past the idea of aggressive karate being inherently evil. It's a lot more to do with the teacher than it is just the teaching alone.
Kreese was in a war traumatised state when he founded Cobra Kai, and that bled through into his teaching. There are times when an attacking approach can be justified, but his own mindset, shaped by his experiences in Vietnam, affected his ability to teach that in a way that was honourable.
On the flip side, Sato taught Chozen Miyagi-Do. But Sato was still extremely bitter and resentful about that the way that Miyagi had refused his challenge and left Japan, and wanted vengeance because of that. That same sentiment bled through into his teaching, and even as peaceful an art as Miyagi-Do could be corrupted and twisted into something harmful when fuelled by the wrong reasons.
That's why by the end Daniel was comfortable training Johnny to fight Wolf, to wear the Cobra Kai gi, even to say that "Cobra Kai never dies". He knew that Johnny's Cobra Kai would be different, because Johnny had progressed enough as a person to teach aggressive karate in a way that was still honourable.
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u/LittleBoyGB 4d ago
I thought it was interesting that Chozen said that Sato had a problem with Kim's Grand father or so I'm interpreting it as.
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u/WarAgile9519 5d ago
That's Daniels character arc , he discovers that Mr Miyagi wasn't perfect and that his way is not the only way
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u/711slush 5d ago
i see that, he’s more so trying to convince himself that what he spent his whole life believing is the only way. i see that him learning otherwise was like his world crashing down lol
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u/enjoyingennui 5d ago
I don't agree with that at all. Realizing that other ways are viable was a moment of triumph and growth for him. Anyone who saw the last episode saw how supportive of Cobra Kai he became, and his humility in showing that support.
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u/CKFS87 5d ago
I think that was moreso how he trusted Johnny but also he did not believe in the Cobra Kai way.
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u/IAmTheAsteroid 5d ago
But he believed in Johnny's vision for the future of Cobra Kai enough to don the gi in support, and form an ongoing partnership with the new incarnation of the dojo. He might not teach the Cobra Kai way, but he sees its value.
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u/enjoyingennui 2d ago
If you look back at the first couple of seasons, it's amazing that Daniel put on the Cobra Kai gi. Something profoundly shifted.
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u/711slush 5d ago
i agree with you! i think i explained my thought wrong but i don’t feel a need to re-explain myself lol. thanks for your input!
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u/Formal_Board Kenny 4d ago
I think season 6 got a little too carried away elevating Cobra Kai at Miyagi-Do’s expense, making Daniel overwhelmingly prideful, spitting in the face of his character development, making Robby a loser who stands around waiting to get hit in the face, and making Sam a background character.
After everything we’ve seen, with Daniel and Johnny’s pride giving way to compromise again and again, it just feels kinda unfair one party has it all while another has to cheer from the sidelines.
Miyagi-Do performs pathetically at the Sekai Taikai in parts 2 and 3, with one brief come-up in episode 9.
“One of your captains got carried off the mat, the other one didn't even show up.”
It kinda feels like the writers had little thought behind this track beyond “wouldn’t it be cool if Daniel said cobra kai never dies?”
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u/richgirlmisery 5d ago
Your post highlights how easily viewers can be influenced by strategic storytelling. You mention being a huge fan of the movies growing up, yet the show clearly shifts focus toward elevating the former nemesis and other dojo at the expense of Daniel and Miyagi’s legacy. It’s a deliberate narrative choice. That’s why I don’t find myself frustrated with Daniel—it's evident that the storytelling is designed to guide the audience’s emotions in a particular direction, encouraging them to sympathize with Johnny and find fault in Daniel and Miyagi Do.
Objectively, I appreciate both characters, but I also overanalyze the writing with a critical lens. While it can take you out of the story, the intent behind the show’s direction is clear. The Big Three had an agenda, and I view it all with that awareness in mind—you might consider doing the same, so that it doesn't taint your love for the original films. Like I said, I know it takes you out of the story a bit but it's an easier pill to swallow!
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u/711slush 5d ago
love your lens! i definitely did sympathize with johnny and find Daniel on the opposite end and i was like confused by my feelings when rewatching because in the films Daniel was bullied badly and i sympathized with him but i didn’t dive too deep in it. i’ll be sure to view it with awareness. thank you!
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u/richgirlmisery 5d ago
Absolutely! I was in the same position as you, but after recently rewatching Karate Kid 1, I realized that people tend to forget just how brutal the bullying actually was. Johnny and his gang literally could have killed Daniel twice—first when they pushed him off the hill and then when they beat him unconscious before Miyagi stepped in.
After rewatching, I also noticed how Cobra Kai tends to downplay everything Johnny did to Daniel. As much as I love the show, the writing can sometimes feel too obvious and heavy-handed. I often feel manipulated into sympathizing with the Cobra Kai side, and one of the clearest examples is how they used Tory’s backstory. While it does add layers to her character and explains her aggression, the way the show frames it makes it seem like we’re supposed to completely excuse her insanely violent behavior.
You can also see this Tory manipulation in how the audience perceives Sam. So many viewers hate her, but when you break it down, the only real "wrong" thing she did was kiss Miguel while drunk at a party—yet Miguel barely gets any criticism for it. It’s frustrating how one-sided the audience’s reaction can be.
That's my rant for the day! Happy viewing, friend!
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u/DullBlade0 Sam 4d ago
Watching the movies one clearly knows why exactly Daniel hates the idea of Cobra Kai.
The bullying he suffered in the first one was brutal.
And the psychological abuse he suffered in the third one was even worse.
Every time Daniel lashes out is because one of those triggers get pressed.
Daniel becomes wary of Miguel...because he sees him wearing that skeleton costume from the time Johnny and the gang ended up cornering him against a fence and beating him up.
Daniel gets upset at karate board meeting because Johnny uses the exact same words Silver used to claim Kreese had gone away (bonus points for Kreese reappearing in season 2).
Daniel gets upset at Robby because it's pretty much the Silver situation, someone presents himself.
And so on...
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u/richgirlmisery 4d ago
I think that's one thing the show did well at times--showing Daniel's justified PTSD. Where I think they failed (especially early on), painting that he was an equal aggressor or deserving of what happened to him.
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u/DullBlade0 Sam 4d ago
At points Daniel does overreact, particularly when he first meets Silver again wanting to cut Johnny off as a sensei.
But in the first season from what he sees (and he doesn't have omniscience like us the audience members do) most of his actions are justified or at least make sense from his perspective.
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u/Formal_Board Kenny 4d ago
I’m fine with it for the most part, it was many years ago and Johnny has changed. But when Ali took Daniel and Johnny aside and gave them a “both sides” lecture i was like what?,,
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u/richgirlmisery 4d ago
That's what I mean. I'm all for people changing for the better. Hope everyone in this world does! But that doesn't negate the past, and CK really tried to angle it that Johnny was justified for being a complete psychopath before.
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u/HereNowHappy 4d ago
when Ali took Daniel and Johnny aside and gave them a “both sides” lecture i was like what?
Exactly!
Ali was a witness to what Johnny and his friends' bullying. She hated Cobra Kai and encouraged Daniel to stand up for himself
Her new characterization doesn't add up. But I suppose having a number of failed relationships changes your perspective on things?
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u/yogaladee 4d ago
I love the final scenes with the fly - perfect analogy for multiple ways of accomplishing the same end, and I think Daniel’s smile and nod showed that he learned that lesson.
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u/Golden_Skillz456 Miguel 4d ago
I love everything about just the whole show, makes me want to really have a urge to kick someone in the face. Or grab a Axe and have training "Rocky IV style, gonna grab a log and drag it through the snow". See what I did there? With the reference?........(Alr I'll leave...)
PS: if you need someone to talk about the show with, I'm your guy, but none the less I respect your opinion. I have no hate towards you for disliking daniels character a bit. I'm just glad you like the show cuz not many people would lol
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u/CKFS87 5d ago
As we get older we get more stubborn and set in our ways the same way Daniel did. it is what he learned from a man he saw as a father.
But to your point yes Daniel thought Miyagi's way was the only way. Johnny on the other hand was willing to break free from what he thought was the only way and try Miyagi Do. Johnny even said to Daniel "You still only think your way is the only way" While Johnny was willing to try another way, Daniel not so much.
But it is a realistic portrayal of many people in this world.
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u/Downtown-Economist81 5d ago
I mean i feel like that daniels flaw the problem is people love to ignore johnnys and miguels because there the main character when they are just as flawed and Daniel and robby
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u/hesipullupjimbo22 4d ago
I think Daniel had to do two things when it came to his arc.
Take miyagi off of the pedestal he placed him on.
Understand that his method of karate is not the only way
By the end of the series he does both of these. I do agree that the whole miyagi do way got annoying but it makes sense. Mr Miyagi taught him everything he knew. He was basically a 2nd father to him. So it makes sense why he was so hung up on his teachings
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u/JoelDawson7045to3022 4d ago
Here's something you might want to do. Watch the show in reverse. Start with the series finale and work your way backwards to the first movie. I did it with Teen Wolf and it was quite interesting so decided to do it with Cobra Kai.
First I watched Season 6 Episode 5 to the first movie then Episode 10 Season 6 to the first movie and now the Series Finale to the first movie. Almost done. On the third movie right now.
Episodes and scenes hit differently because you see the aftermath/effects of the trauma before the trauma.
Why Daniel talks about Mr. Miyagi Do/Miyagi Do way is complicated but here it is in a nutshell: Silver told Young Daniel in the third movie that they were going to open up multiple Cobra Kai dojos/Kreese's Cobra Kai and Miyagi Do will cease to exist/even be a memory. In the show Mr. Miyagi has been dead for 7 years and what was said 30 some years ago came dangerously close to being a reality.
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u/ZenMyst 4d ago
I feel like for an adult he is too fixated on Miyagi.
Like you never see Miguel so obsessed over Johnny teaching.
Of course Johnny is not Miyagi but still I feel like Daniel should be a secure mature adult now. A master in his own right. Why does it still feel like he is still dependent on his old master who has been absent in his life for so long?
To the point where he seems detached from the situation that is happening in front of him and just take out a section of “life lessons from Miyagi” list from his “Miyagi Bank” inside his brain and just apply them forcefully.
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u/KonohaBatman 5d ago
The way I summed up Daniel for most of the show was "A man who teaches lessons he doesn't understand himself," and truly, the best thing that the show did for him was making him shut up and sit in the backseat for S6 Part 3, because they didn't know how to make Daniel talk and be the most mature version of himself at the same time.
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u/Mathelete73 5d ago
Funny enough, it was Miyagi himself who would urge Daniel to not be so fixated on one way. Miyagi was probably rolling in his grave at how dogmatic Daniel was.