I Finally Watched The Karate Kid—And It Solved A Surprising Problem In My Life

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CAUTION: The following content might subtly reveal a few details about The Karate Kid. Proceed with care if you haven’t watched the movie yet.

It’s unfortunate to acknowledge that I haven’t watched many must-see movies completely, including “The Karate Kid”, which was one of them until recently. However, I deeply regret not watching the 1984 coming-of-age drama earlier, as I believe it’s almost flawless and is now accessible with a Netflix subscription.

In the ’80s classic movie I loved, I didn’t anticipate discovering a valuable lesson that was remarkably timely in my current life. Though The Karate Kid has undoubtedly instilled self-confidence and prompted martial arts study for countless viewers, its impact on me was unique—it motivated me to find a solution for my new dog’s behavior issues. Let me elaborate by sharing the lesson I gleaned from the film.

The Karate Kid Taught Me About Discipline And Patience

In discussing John G. Avildsen’s “The Karate Kid,” it’s clear that this film is indeed a sports movie for many, possibly even my personal favorite in the genre. Yet, I believe that much of its fanbase concurs with Mr. Miyagi (the esteemed Pat Morita), who emphasized that karate, and by extension the movie itself, is not primarily about combat but rather a narrative of self-development centered on two essential traits: dedication and perseverance.

Miyagi’s unique coaching methods (like his “wax on, wax off” approach) helped Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) understand the importance of sticking to routines – whether they be physical workouts or professional tasks – and having the perseverance to let these practices develop over time to achieve a goal. This struck a chord with me because I struggle with patience, which has hindered my ability to adhere to certain disciplines – like training my new dog, a habit that was impeding my efforts with him.

The Film’s Lesson Helped Me Train My New Dog

Approximately two weeks prior to watching The Karate Kid, my wife and I brought home a Beagle/Basset Hound blend we named Indy (after the famous Indiana Jones character). At first, our decision was met with great happiness, but soon we realized that Indy presented quite a few challenges. I won’t go into specifics, but suddenly, he began exhibiting certain behaviors that had me growing increasingly desperate to change them… I must confess, my desperation became somewhat extreme.

After watching an underdog sports movie, I acknowledged that I hadn’t been following the training advice I had gathered to improve my situation and patiently guide Indy, as I often grew frustrated with him instead. The next day, I implemented these lessons and finally achieved the progress I had been working towards. It felt just as rewarding as Daniel’s triumphant crane kick in defeating Johnny Lawrence at the end of that ’80s movie.

Based on the impact the movie “The Karate Kid” has had on me, it seems fair that I delve deeper into the series, excluding perhaps “Part III”. However, rumors of a great storyline in “Karate Kid: Legends” have piqued my interest, so I might as well give “Cobra Kai”, a show on Netflix that people rave about, a try. Who knows what additional life lessons I might pick up from these?

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2025-07-07 01:09