Daniel LaRusso Reveals Why He’s the Perfect Sensei for the New Karate Kid

In the forthcoming film titled “Karate Kid: Legends“, we can expect the return of Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, who appeared in the 2010 remake, and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso following the conclusion of “Cobra Kai” in February. This exciting crossover promises a blend of fun, nostalgia, and high-octane action. Moreover, it’s set to address a longstanding issue that has persisted in the “Karate Kid” series for nearly 15 years.

In the latest installment of “Karate Kid: Legends,” a new character, Li Fong (portrayed by Ben Wang), makes an appearance. Originally trained in kung fu, Li migrates to New York City following a defeat at the hands of a local karate champion. He decides to participate in a high-profile karate competition as a means of redemption. Although Mr. Han offers his guidance, he recognizes that Li would benefit from additional help. This is why he enlists the aid of Daniel LaRusso, understanding that the young prodigy requires more than just kung fu skills to excel in the upcoming tournament. With a rich background under karate master Mr. Miyagi (who’s rumored to be featuring in a “Cobra Kai” prequel series), and years of experience blending styles on “Cobra Kai,” Daniel is an ideal mentor for Li and a valuable ally for Mr. Han.

Li Fong Will Need To Learn Two Different Styles In Karate Kid: Legends

Li Needs To Combine Kung Fu and Karate

Even though Li Fong is an experienced fighter upon his arrival in New York City, his abilities fall short when faced against Connor Day, the city’s reigning karate champion. To have a fighting chance in the upcoming event known as “The Five Boroughs“, Mr. Han realizes that Li can’t solely depend on his kung fu training: he needs to learn Miyagi-Do from Daniel LaRusso, the original Karate Kid.

Although Daniel and a character believed to be linked to Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid: Legends are both proficient martial artists, it is only by blending their distinct techniques that Li stands a chance at winning an elite tournament like The Five Boroughs. What Li lacks in his skillset are the defensive strategies fundamental to Miyagi-Do. By incorporating these methods with the ancient practices of Mr. Han’s kung fu, they will be crucial in Li’s competition against Connor for the karate championship title.

Daniel LaRusso Knows All About Combining Styles After Cobra Kai

Daniel Frequently Teamed Up With Johnny In The Series

It’s fortunate for Li that Daniel LaRusso isn’t unfamiliar with collaborating with other martial artists and merging styles. Over the course of six seasons on Cobra Kai, Daniel frequently teamed up with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), and at one point, they even shared the role of instructor at Johnny’s second dojo, “Eagle Fang Karate“. Together, they combined the defensive basis of Miyagi-Do with the offensive tactics of Cobra Kai, resulting in a unique style that leverages the strengths of both philosophies to excel in tournaments.

The tale of “Karate Kid: Legends” is scheduled to unfold three years after the end of “Cobra Kai”. With Johnny now at peace, it seems that Daniel has probably invested more effort and focus into exploring Miyagi-Do in greater depth. Initially reluctant to teach Li as a student in the movie’s preview, Daniel eventually warms up to the idea, possibly recognizing some of his own qualities in the promising youngster.

Karate Kid: Legends Is Finally Making Up For The Remake’s Weird Kung Fu Decision

The 2010 Remake Focused On Kung Fu, Not Karate

After a span of 15 years, the Karate Kid series is addressing the perplexing decision from the 2010 Karate Kid remake’s plot inconsistency. While the film was generally well-appreciated, a common point of contention focused on the movie’s title, as Mr. Han taught Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) kung fu instead of karate. The new series titled Karate Kid: Legends rectifies this issue by depicting Mr. Han enlisting Daniel LaRusso to expand upon Li Fong’s kung fu knowledge with the defensive techniques of Miyagi-Do karate.

This decision resolves the issue both from a branding standpoint and a storytelling perspective. By making this selection, the 2010 version of The Karate Kid is no longer primarily recognized for its misleading title; instead, it’s now seen as an origin story set within a broader universe. Although we’re yet to learn about Dre Parker’s fate beyond the events of The Karate Kid, there’s a chance he might appear in a future spinoff series or even make a guest appearance in Karate Kid: Legends. Ultimately, it’s satisfying that this longstanding inconsistency has been addressed and the universes of the original films, Cobra Kai, and the 2010 remake have finally been connected.

2025-04-25 01:57