William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence has had a tumultuous history with Miyago-do karate since long beforeCobra Kaibegan, but the show has provided a subtle clue that suggests he will remain associated with the dojo when Netflix’sKarate Kidspinoff show concludes in 2025. Although Johnny appears to have fought his demons and joined forces with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso in training their students in the art of Miyagi-do, Zabka’s character’s allegiance with his on-again/off-again nemesis remains, at times, as uneasy as ever. However,Cobra Kaihas already teased the partnership is here to stay this time.
WithCobra Kaiending andKarate Kid: Legendsboasting a 2025 release date, the Netflix sequel show’s final run of episodes is setting up the franchise’s new era. Even thoughPat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi is dead, his style of combat still permeates the saga, creating and solving several of the conflicts between various characters. By theend ofCobra Kaiseason 6, part 2, tensions have escalated so much between Miyagi-do andthe other Sekai Taikai teamsthat the unthinkable has happened, soJohnny will need to remain loyal to his current dojonow more than ever.
Daniel Adding The Eagle To The Miyagi-Do Logo Quietly Confirms His Partnership With Johnny Will Last This Time Around
Daniel LaRusso has honored Johnny’s time as an Eagle Fang sensei
Cobra Kaiseason 6 opens up with the signature friction between Johnny and Daniel that makes the show so entertaining. The topic of disagreement revolves around Johnny’s accusation that Daniel doesn’t respect Eagle Fang karate, and is attempting to sweep aside the defunct dojo’s brief legacy in favor of Miyagi-do. As a peacemaking gesture,Daniel makes the huge decision to add an eagle to the iconic Miyagi-do logo, which for many years had simply depicted a bonsai tree against a backdrop of the sun.
Despite Johnny’s promise that he would leave Miyagi-do after the Sekai Taikai was over, that was always unlikely to happen.
The bird flying over the tree may seem like a minor addition, but it can’t have been an easy change for Daniel to make. From a certain perspective, adding the eagle could be seen as defacing the original logo.Removing the Eagle Fang iconography would undercut the significance of adding it at all, so it must remain in place for it to maintain the reveal’s poignancy. So, despite Johnny’s promise that he would leave Miyagi-do after the Sekai Taikai was over, that was always unlikely to happen. If Johnny walks away from his partnership with Daniel, the eagle means nothing.
Cobra Kai’s Sekai Taikai Has Made Sure To Give Daniel & Johnny More Common Enemies Than Ever Before
Miyagi-do has too many external villains for its senseis to turn on each other
Although Johnny and Daniel have had periods of collaboration throughoutCobra Kai, they’re quite often a small twist away from turning against each other again. In other words, they’ve spent about as much time as enemies or rivals as they have as allies.Cobra Kaiseason 6 has made sure to give them both plenty of figures to join forces against, meaning their squabbles and old arguments can be left in the past whilethe senseis remain united in the face of true threats to Miyagi-doand the dojo’s students.
The Iron Dragon Team In Cobra Kai Explained
Cobra Kai season 6’s part 2 adds a whole new dojo, Iron Dragons, to the mix, establishing that Miyagi Do and Cobra Kai are not the top contenders.
If Thomas Ian Griffith’s return as Terry Silver wasn’t enough to keep Daniel and Johnny together, the ongoing threat of Martin Kove as Sensei Kreese makes it even less likely that the Miyagi-do senseis can safely part ways. Not only that, but the introduction of Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf adds a third villain into the mix, meaningJohnny really cannot afford to leave Daniel open to so many threats. So, hopefully, Johnny and Daniel finishCobra Kaiseason 6 on the same team, because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.
Johnny will need to fill in as Miyagi-do’s main sensei while Daniel is in China
Actor William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in Netflix’s Cobra Kai.
2025’sKarate Kid: Legendshas been confirmed to be set three years after the upcomingCobra Kaifinale. The movie will be largely separate from the Netflix show but will feature the return of Macchio as Daniel LaRusso alongside Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 remake.Legendswill be set in Beijing, and if Miyagi-do is still operating as a practicing dojo,Daniel will obviously be unable to lead his students while he is in China. So, he’ll need a sensei to take over while he’s away, and Johnny is the perfect choice.
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It’s yet to be confirmed if Zabka will appear inKarate Kid: Legends, but those coordinating the franchise have been very clear about the limited number of crossovers fromCobra Kai. So, it’s perhaps unlikely that Johnny will feature in any meaningful way. That being said, it’s still exciting to think that Zabka’s character will be left in charge as Miyagi-do’s primary sensei, especially when it’s considered thatLegendsis set so long afterCobra Kai, and therefore, how much more familiar he will be with Mr. Miyagi’s style of karate.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
