Summary
- Kyler Park is a high school bully and wrestler in
Cobra Kai
with prior training, but his potential is wasted due to negative storylines and attitude. - Kyler’s wrestling background and training in two styles of karate make him a versatile fighter, but his arrogance and temper hinder his progress.
- Fans hope for Kyler’s redemption and personal growth, as his character has the potential for depth and connection to Johnny’s story.
The TV series “Cobra Kai” revolves around the long-standing feud between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), rekindled over three decades after their famous encounter at the All-Valley Karate Tournament in “The Karate Kid.” Simultaneously, the show highlights a new crop of talented students being molded into formidable fighters.
Some of the students appeared to grasp the martial art skillfully. A few had no previous training, with exceptions being Daniel’s daughter Sam (Mary Mouser) and Tory (Peyton List), who had kickboxing backgrounds before enrolling in the school. However, there was one more character who possessed this ability. Sadly, his potential was underutilized in favor of negative plotlines, allowing for greater development and exploration of his talents instead.
Who Is Kyler Park in Cobra Kai?
I’m a huge fan of “Cobra Kai,” and in this series, Kyler Park, played by Joe Seo, is reminiscent of the young Johnny from “The Karate Kid” in 1984. The turning point in their relationship unfolds when Kyler and his friends harass Miguel (Xolo Mariduena), and Miguel ends up accidentally touching my beloved 1992 Pontiac Firebird. When I encounter these boys, Kyler tries to belittle me, mocking my age. However, I prove him wrong and demonstrate my capabilities by getting into a fight with them.
Kyler shares the role of Sam’s romantic interest, reminiscent of Johnny and Ali’s (Elisabeth Shue) dynamic in the film. Just as in that storyline, Sam discovers that Kyler had physically harmed Miguel during a school Halloween party. This revelation mirrors Ali’s discovery of Johnny and his friends’ actions against Daniel. Unimpressed by this behavior, Sam ends their relationship.
When Kyler attempts to spread harmful rumors about Sam, Miguel intervenes on her behalf. Later, Kyler comes to recognize not only Miguel’s admirable qualities but also Sam’s assessment of Kyler’s true character. Unsurprisingly, Kyler harbors feelings of jealousy. These emotions intensify when Miguel trains with Johnny and showcases his remarkable martial arts skills during a midday cafeteria fight. However, this incident serves as a catalyst for Kyler: he becomes determined to learn karate himself. Eventually, Kyler aligns himself with John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Cobra Kai dojo. Impressively, before receiving any formal instruction, Kyler is able to subdue Mitch due to prior, unacknowledged training experience.
What Training Did Kyler Actually Have?
Prior to mastering karate, Kyler excelled in wrestling. Consequently, he was proficient in grappling maneuvers such as takedowns and chokes. Moreover, he possessed a considerable amount of natural strength. However, his sole physical disadvantage was the lack of training in karate techniques and an insufficient defense strategy. As a result, despite being a formidable fighter, he struggled against more seasoned opponents like Johnny, as well as Miguel and Hawk (Jacob Bertrand). For instance, he attempted to use wrestling moves to subdue Johnny, but Johnny employed karate techniques to free himself from Kyler’s grasp.
In Season 4, Kyler joined Miyagi-do and mastered its unique fighting style, becoming an exceptionally versatile fighter despite others not having trained in multiple styles yet. He showcased impressive strength, shattering five brick layers with his head, indicating vast potential to rank among the best. Regrettably, he was frequently overshadowed by peers like Kenny and Tory.
Kyler’s defeat was largely due to his problematic attitude and lack of self-control in the ring. Instead of honing his craft and employing strategic techniques, he relied excessively on brute force. Moreover, having grown accustomed to weaker opponents, he struggled when faced with more skilled adversaries.
Despite this, Kyler unfortunately missed out on the chance to prove himself worthy of participating in the Sekai Taikai Tournament. With his unique blend of natural power, wrestling experience, and proficiency in two types of karate, he had the potential to bring an intriguing dynamic to the competition, surpassing even the notable fighters Kenny and Devon (Oona O’Brien).
Kyler Got in His Own Way in Cobra Kai
Kyler’s arrogance and temper have hindered him since his younger years, similar to Johnny’s behavior in the past. This is why he missed out on opportunities that other kids in the dojo received. When Robby left “Cobra Kai” and Kyler took over as leader, he turned out to be a poor mentor for Kenny. He belittled him and acted haughty instead. However, his overconfidence was proven misplaced when Kenny defeated him during training sessions under Terry Silver’s guidance.
As a fan of the Cobra Kai series, I can’t help but reflect on the missed opportunities for training Kyler. Kreese and Silver may not have been the ideal mentors, but there were other candidates who could have brought out the best in him. Johnny, with his own troubled past, should have recognized the potential in Kyler and focused on shaping his attitude before teaching him karate techniques. It’s a shame that Daniel didn’t see Kyler’s hidden strengths and attempt to guide him toward becoming a better person before a skilled fighter.
As a dedicated gamer, I can confirm that Kyler’s return is a given based on the game trailer. I’m thrilled to see him team up with Demetri, Hawk, and Miguel once again. However, what truly excites me is the prospect of witnessing a more evolved version of Kyler. His journey towards personal growth is something fans are eagerly anticipating.
Kyler may have initiated the narrative, but he ultimately became merely a tool in the plotline. Sadly, his character had great potential, especially since he shared similarities with Johnny and was among the few students with prior experience. Let’s hope that Kyler receives some form of reclamation before the story concludes. Be sure to catch up on “Cobra Kai” which is now streaming on “Netflix”.
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2024-07-14 01:32