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The fabled Crane Kick from Ralph Macchio’sKarate Kidcharacter total back several times in the enfranchisement , plump as far as get over over intoCobra Kai . The long - melt down saga has been far from coherent in both its release timeline and its quality . However , certain element have stood the test of prison term and continue to be part of the expression in the forward-looking twenty-four hours . Daniel LaRusso ’s signature move is used relatively meagrely . This direction , any time the recoil is add back into the limelight , it feels much more like an important event rather than a common occurrence .
Althougheach Crane Kick moment hold a band of substance , they are n’t all as good as each other . Certain factor improve or detract from the dignity of a Crane Kick in the franchise timeline . For case , it for the most part takes place during one of thetournaments inThe Karate Kidmovies andCobra Kai . or else , someCobra Kaicharactershave experienced the kick in personal altercations . After learning the move as part ofMr . Miyagi ’s training in the firstKarate Kidmovie , the franchise has institute back the Crane Kick over and over again - and it has create some brilliant moments .
As one of the cornerstones of Miyago - do Karate , the Crane Kick is one of the most indefensible movesfor the uninitiated . It ’s only ever fail to immediately end an onscreen conflict once across the integral dealership . Even in the genuine world , the proficiency has become a cultural icon and has been reference , parodied , and paid homage to in many form of media . Although it ’s not a " actual " soldierlike arts technique , it is heavily based on genuine form of combat . As such , it ’s very believable as an bona fide gain toKarate Kidlore .
6Johnny Lawrence’s (Kind-Of) Crane Kick When Training With Daniel
Cobra Kai season 4, episode 3, “Then Learn Fly”
There are several moments when the Crane Kick is only referenced , or when the starting affectation is shown . For instance , Macchio ’s case is revealed inCobra Kaiseason 1 to adopt the Crane Kick posture when taking pictures with client at his car dealership . Johnny ’s beginnings of the Crane Kick inCobra Kaiseason 4 , instalment 3 , " Then Learn Fly , " probably go beyond simple showmanship . When rail with Daniel during the episode , Johnny can be seen in the early stages of the Crane Kick before Daniel walks away . It ’s cool , but it would ’ve been better if he ’d carry it out .
Given how haunted Johnny is by his All - Valley defeat , he has likely since taught himself the Crane Kick from replays .
Because Johnny was the first onscreen recipient role of Daniel ’s Crane Kick , it would have been meet if he ’d returned the favor so many years later . If Daniel had n’t back aside in annoyance , it ’s very possible that Johnny would have had the chance to do just that . Losing to the Crane Kick in the original moving picture is distinctly still a vast point of contention for Johnny , as shown during the early stages ofCobra Kaiseason 1 . That being suppose , his enjoyment of the proficiency outside the context of use of an literal fight would arguably have detracted from the moment ’s potential efficacy .
5Daniel’s Failed Crane Kick Against Chozen Toguchi
The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
More lately , Yuji Okomoto ’s character has become a loyal friend to Daniel LaRusso , but the beginning of their human relationship was n’t quite so well-disposed . As one of the principal antagonist of the secondKarate Kidmovie , Chozen challenge Daniel to a fight that is intended to be fatal for at least one of the two young men . Given the success of the Crane Kick at the end of the first motion-picture show , it would be reasonable to take over that Daniel could utilize the technique again to defeat Chozen . alas for Macchio ’s character , Chozen is more than prepared and furnish the move inert .
Daniel ’s loser to replicate his success against Johnny from the franchise ’s first instalment meant he had to dig deeply .
This special Crane Kick is the only one that ’s fully executed in theKarate Kidfranchise that neglect . grant , if Daniel had bring home the bacon in landing the squawk , it would have institute something of an precipitous conclusion to what was shaping up to be an fantabulous fight . to boot , it would have resulted in a close that would have been far too standardised to that of the moving-picture show that preceded it . Daniel ’s failure to replicate his winner against Johnny from the franchise ’s first installment meant he had to fag deeper . It was a good sequence , but the kicking itself was intentionally game .
4Miguel’s Crane Kick In The All-Valley
Cobra Kai season 1, episode 10, “Mercy”
take back the Crane Kick after the franchise had been dormant for so long was always doom to be a tricky job . There was no way thatCobra Kaiwould completely omit the move , but it had to come at the right time . While the obvious choice might have been to save the kicking for the final exam of the All - Valley inCobra Kai ’s season 1 finis , the writers made the conscious determination to introduce it a little before that whenMiguel utilise the Crane Kick against a nameless characterin one of the earlier rounds .
Miguel and Robby have carried their rivalry in Cobra Kai from set out to end , though the nature of it has exchange with each fight ( and triumph ) .
Cobra Kaidoes a enceinte job of not establish a new main character to take over from Daniel , and dedicate Miguel or Robbie the Crane Kick in the net would have undo the careful balancing turn . Instead , the author admit the iconic move to have its moment by appropriate Johnny ’s student to use itin full view of his one-time competitor . The moment is over in a flashing , but it has a tonne of meaning without dominating events . It ’s a originative answer to wreak back the bang , even if it is quite basic from a optical perspective .
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
3Dre Parker’s Spin On The Crane Kick In The Kung Fu Tournament
The Karate Kid (2010)
When Jackie Chan ’s moving-picture show was released in 2010 , it was ab initio intended to be a remake of the originalKarate Kid . It remained that way for many years , but with another moving picture set to premiere in 2025,Chan ’s project has been desegregate into the master timeline . The result is thatthe result of the 2010 production now occur in the same man as the otherKarate KidmoviesandCobra Kai . Therefore , the Crane Kick from Jaden Smith ’s Dre Parker at the final stage of the once - remake also counts toward the dealership ’s principal reckoning - and it ’s fulfil brilliantly .
Although it ’s conduct out with much more flair , it ’s clear-cut that Dre is using a very like kick to the one that start in the very firstKarate Kidmovie .
With Jackie Chan on board , the fight choreography was always destined to improve . Each conflict is crafty and well - shot , admit Dre ’s last fight in the Kung Fu tourney . Although it ’s carry out with much more panache , it ’s clear that Dre is using a very similar kick to the one that arise in the very firstKarate Kidmovie . However , justhow Dre knows the charge is unclear , as it ’s a part of Miyagi - do karate . Not only does Chan ’s Mr. Han teach Dre Kung Fu instead of karate , but he also has no known in - universe connection to Mr. Miyagi .
The Karate Kid is an action/martial arts drama franchise created by Robert Mark Kamen and began with the first self-titled film released in 1984. The series focuses on teenagers who are unable to fit in with their new surroundings as they deal with persistent bullies until a retired martial arts master finds them and trains them to defend themselves.
2Daniel’s Defeat Of Terry Silver
Cobra Kai season 5, episode 10, “Head of the Snake”
After come back to the franchise inCobra Kaiseason 4 for the first clip since 1989’sThe Karate KidPart III , Thomas Ian Griffith come back effortlessly to the role of Terry Silver . After arguably becoming an even more villainous loss leader of the nominal dojo than Kreese , Silver ’s villain arc was continued brilliantly despite his lengthy absence . So , when Daniel eventually took him down at the ending ofCobra Kaiseason 4,it was catharsis for Macchio ’s character as well as long - standing fans of theKarate Kidsaga . Doing it with the Crane Kick was the icing on the patty .
Silver ’s faceoff with Daniel start with the former promising to end Miyagi - do , so it makes Griffiths ' character fall to the Crane Kick even more satisfying .
Silver ’s faceoff with Daniel begin with the former promising to end Miyagi - do , so it makes Griffiths ' character fall to the Crane Kick even more satisfying . Paired with the fact thatDaniel uses his former sensei ’s " Quicksilver Method"from the third motion picture , the conflict itself is a glorious way of bring an end to the toxic feud between the two humankind . Daniel could have refrained from using the Crane Kick in this minute . Thankfully , he did n’t , and the view give nativity to the secondly - ripe utilisation of the proficiency in the entire franchise .
The Karate Kid Franchise Release Timeline
Movie / TV Show
Year
Rotten Tomatoes Score
The Karate Kid
1984
90 %
The Karate Kid Part II
1986
47 %
The Karate Kid Part III
1989
15 %
The Next Karate fry
1994
7 %
2010
66 %
Cobra Kai
2018 - 2025
92 %
Terry Silver is plausibly the biggest of theKarate Kidfranchise villainstaken down by the Crane Kick . While an tilt could be made for Johnny Lawrence take that honor at the end of the first movie , the convincing and populartheory that Johnny Lawrence was never the bad guymakes it difficult to see William Zabka ’s fiber as a true antagonist - especially give his shifting fealty inCobra Kai .
1Daniel’s Victory Over Johnny In The All-Valley Final
The Karate Kid (1984)
It would be disingenuous to grant the rubric of Best Crane Kick to any other second than the one at the conclusion of the firstKarate Kidmovie . It ’s the first time the kick is fully executed and the excitement of the scene helped engender a saga that is still fighting today . The fact thatDaniel is spite while carry out the maneuvermakes it even well , as it show his immense fortitude - a trait that is just as solid by the time ofCobra Kai .
Many trust Pat Morita halt playing Mr. Miyagi after 1994 ’s The Next Karate Kid , but the actor carried on depict the cinematic sensei .
Without this Crane Kick , it would arguably have felt unbelievably inorganic forCobra Kaito happen at all , as Johnny ’s frustration at drop off the All - Valley stems , in bombastic part , from decrease to the move . It ’s clear that Johnny still has n’t draw a blank about the frustration . Although the two men have since formed an awkward alliance that borders on friendly relationship , the resentment still bubbles below the surface . Due to the view itself being so brilliant , pair with the complex emotion it instills , this habit of the Crane Kick is the best in all theKarate Kidfranchise - includingCobra Kai .
The Karate Kid is an legal action / martial art drama dealership created by Robert Mark Kamen and began with the first self - title film released in 1984 . The series concenter on teen who are unable to fit out in with their new surroundings as they deal with persistent bullies until a retired warlike arts master come up them and rail them to oppose themselves .
