You likely watched The Karate Kid Part II when it was released in 1986 and fantasized about jetting to Okinawa to learn karate (and perhaps to fall in love with a local lad or lass).
You might have been somewhat less enthusiastic about The Karate Kid Part III (1989, with Terry Silver: “A man can’t stand, he can’t fight!”) and The Next Karate Kid (1994, with Hilary Swank assuming the role of the student in need of Mr. Miyagi’s morality), but still you watched — and in all likelihood reminisced about your formative years in the arts.
Then came the black hole, the period when seemingly no martial arts movie could capture the philosophical side of our passion — you know, the reason we all train for life. Fortunately, that black hole collapsed in on itself when YouTube announced in 2018 that it was resurrecting the Karate Kid storyline in the form of a series called Cobra Kai.
We all waited with bated breath for Cobra Kai to debut, and when it did, we were pleased with the direction it took, with more philosophy, better fights and deeper characters — including the bully Johnny Lawrence, who now has a sympathy-inducing back story, and Daniel LaRusso, who seems to have grown into an often-annoying adult. Even though many of us didn’t have a subscription to YouTube Red, we devoured the first season when it was made available for free.
But afterward, we said to ourselves, “That was great, but I don’t need another subscription to a streaming service. I already get Netflix. Besides, I don’t have a lot of free time — I’d rather be training!” So we let it go. And then YouTube revealed that Season 3 of Cobra Kai was not happening. Bummer!
Well, as they say, when one door closes, another opens. Soon after YouTube announced the demise of Cobra Kai, Netflix, which many of us already have a subscription to, said it was picking up the series and ordering Season 3. Even better, Netflix made Seasons 1 and 2 available on its service. Contrary to the Cobra Kai creed, Netflix showed mercy on all the Karate Kid fans who never had a chance to binge the first two seasons. Which we did immediately. At that point, it became clear …
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10 YEARS OF TRAVEL, PART 2
THIS MULTIPART COLUMN WAS WRITTEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 10 TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS LAUNCH AND ITS ASSIGNMENT TO A WRITER NAMED ANTONIO GRACEFFO, THE MARTIAL ARTIST WHO HAS BECOME BLACK BELT’S ROVING REPORTER IN ASIA. IT PRESENTS MORE OF THE AUTHOR’S CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S MARTIAL ARTS.
4 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR DOJO AND YOUR LIFE
These four ways to improve your dojo and your life are all about attitude. As such, they will elevate the mood in your school and make learning more enjoyable. First up: Make "yes" your favourite word.
KEYBOARD WARRIORS
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, A PLETHORA OF VIDEOS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAINING WHILE IN LOCKDOWN OR NEAR LOCKDOWN. THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR ALL PRACTICING MARTIAL ARTISTS BECAUSE EVERYONE SUDDENLY HAS ACCESS TO NOTABLE FIGHTERS AND TRAINERS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE TO THE MASSES.
KUNG FU HIP HOP, DA MARTIAL ELEMENTS AND MARCO JOHNSON
BEING ONE OF THE TOP MARTIAL ARTISTS IN THE WORLD SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ANY PRACTITIONER OF KUNG FU, KARATE OR TAEKWONDO. YET THAT ALONE ISN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH TO BRING SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS AND TOURNAMENT VENUES.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING “COBRA KAI”
Because I’m somewhat familiar with the Black Belt demographic, I can safely say there’s a good chance you’re a lot like me. You probably grew up in the martial arts, and when The Karate Kid came out in 1984, you loved every minute of it.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE KATA?
IF YOU’RE A STUDENT OF JAPANESE OR OKINAWAN KARATE, YOU’VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE FIRST OF THE FIVE HEIAN OR PINAN KATA.
SELF-DEFENSE READINESS TEST
PREPARATION IS NO GUARANTEE OF SURVIVAL, BUT FEW DOUBT THAT THE ODDS OF PREVAILING IN ANY STRESSFUL SITUATION INCREASE FOR THE PREPARED PERSON.
PAPER TIGERS
MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE PROMISES TO CREATE A NEW GENRE!
UNESCO'S INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF MARTIAL ARTS
It’s a martial arts gem that’s not yet well known. It’s an international organization that’s trying to bridge the gap between styles, techniques and countries. In addition to striving to do all this, it’s a group that’s emphasizing the positive values the martial arts teach.
The Sabaki Revolution
As Seen Through the Evolution of Enshin Karate’s Rules, Concepts and Techniques
INTEL REPLACES ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER A ROCKY STRETCH
Intel is replacing its CEO after only two years in what had been a rough stretch for the chipmaker.
Grove to grove
CAROLINE KIRKLAND WALKER & RYAN DANIEL REED OCTOBER 3, 2020 • JACKSON
Brain Spanner
Bryce Wylde, author of Brainspanners: What Have You Done for Your Brain Today?, discusses his prescription for Alzheimer’s prevention.
Beyond Organic: Buy Regenerative!
Improving soil health is an overlooked key for nutrient-dense food and a healthier planet. We can support farming that has this focus through the products we purchase.
Who are we?
In a year full of complete and absolute uncertainty, our New York Giants have provided us with much of the same, leaving us feeling like we are riding on a never-ending roller coaster loaded with peaks and valleys.
Prom King
With a huge Netflix deal and the power to green-light just about anything, Ryan Murphy has become the ultimate insider. And his work is suffering.
Tame the Cost of Pet Care
If you’ve added a dog or cat to your family, consider pet insurance to manage routine and unexpected veterinary bills.
‘It's fun to learn positive things once in a while'
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has had his hands full trying to keep the Raiders in the playoff hunt and he’s found plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their chances. Gruden talked to reporters about some of the team’s players who will be key down the stretch, including kicker Daniel Carlson who quietly has put together a very solid season.
Daunting December
The Giants provided November thrills and took the division lead into December.
FLORIAN KRAMMER
“SCIENCE IS NOT A JOB. IT’S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A HOBBY AND A PASSION.”