Tropedia

  • Before making a single edit, Tropedia EXPECTS our site policy and manual of style to be followed. Failure to do so may result in deletion of contributions and blocks of users who refuse to learn to do so. Our policies can be reviewed here.
  • All images MUST now have proper attribution, those who neglect to assign at least the "fair use" licensing to an image may have it deleted. All new pages should use the preloadable templates feature on the edit page to add the appropriate basic page markup. Pages that don't do this will be subject to deletion, with or without explanation.
  • All new trope pages will be made with the "Trope Workshop" found on the "Troper Tools" menu and worked on until they have at least three examples. The Trope workshop specific templates can then be removed and it will be regarded as a regular trope page after being moved to the Main namespace. THIS SHOULD BE WORKING NOW, REPORT ANY ISSUES TO Janna2000, SelfCloak or RRabbit42. DON'T MAKE PAGES MANUALLY UNLESS A TEMPLATE IS BROKEN, AND REPORT IT THAT IS THE CASE. PAGES WILL BE DELETED OTHERWISE IF THEY ARE MISSING BASIC MARKUP.

READ MORE

Tropedia
Advertisement
Farm-Fresh balanceYMMVTransmit blueRadarWikEd fancyquotesQuotes • (Emoticon happyFunnyHeartHeartwarmingSilk award star gold 3Awesome) • RefridgeratorFridgeGroupCharactersScript editFanfic RecsSkull0Nightmare FuelRsz 1rsz 2rsz 1shout-out iconShout OutMagnifierPlotGota iconoTear JerkerBug-silkHeadscratchersHelpTriviaWMGFilmRoll-smallRecapRainbowHo YayPhoto linkImage LinksNyan-Cat-OriginalMemesHaiku-wide-iconHaikuLaconicLibrary science symbol SourceSetting
Some or all of these characters need descriptions. A list of tropes is not a description.

Original series

Daniel LaRusso

Cquote1

Played by: Ralph Macchio (1984-89)

Cquote2


  • Asskicking Pose: The Crane Technique
  • Arch Enemy: Johnny. Even thirty years after the All Valley they still can't get along.
  • Brick Break: The ice-breaking scene in Part II
  • Benevolent Boss: To those at his car dealership. His kindness to his employees leads to Robby's Heel Face Turn.
  • Determinator
  • Dented Iron While this movie makes no mistake that Daniel gets beaten and bruised with each fight. He still doesn't back down no matter how many hits are inflicted upon him.
  • Finishing Move: The Crane Technique, the Drum Technique.
  • Forgot About His Powers: Daniel suffers greatly from this trope in Part III, almost to Too Dumb to Live's levels at moments.
    • Although if you bother to pay attention a lot of it is stupidity that started in Part II, so at least it's consistent.
    • Even in the first movie after having his ass kicked by Johnny Daniel starts openly antagonizing him knowing full well Johnny can whip him.
  • Heroic BSOD: During the tournament final in Part III, when Barnes has him so intimidated that he's ready to forfeit the match.
  • I Have the High Ground: Daniel stands on elevated structures while practicing his Finishing Move in both of the first two movies.
  • Intergenerational Friendship: With Mr. Miyagi, of course.
  • I Surrender, Suckers: Right before giving Chozen a punch in the nuts in Part II.
  • Kung Fu Kid
  • Kick the Dog: Deliberately manipulating Johnny's landlord into raising his rent out of spite.
  • Hachimaki: Given to him by Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid.
  • Put on a Bus: In the fourth movie.
  • Reluctant Warrior
  • Restart At Level One
  • Sword Over Head: At the climax of Part II, when he has Chozen at his mercy and asks him, "Live or die, man."
  • The So-Called Coward: Chozen and his goons repeatedly call Daniel a coward throughout Part II because of his reluctance to fight them. But when a typhoon hits the village, Daniel risks his life to save several villagers, while Chozen cowers in the shelter and refuses to do anything. Sato is so respectively impressed and disgusted with them that he volunteers to help Daniel.
  • Training from Hell: Especially what Terry Silver puts him through in Part III, which is more like torture disguised as training.
  • World of Cardboard Speech: He gives one of these to Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid after having his knee taken out by Bobby.

Mr. Miyagi

Cquote1

Played by: Pat Morita

Cquote2


  • Badass: Kicks at least a couple of asses per movie.
  • Berserk Button: While Miyagi is a calm, nice and even patient man, there are a few things that would set him off.
    • The first is the obvious. Don't say racial slurs or mock him racially. Two Drunken idiots, lost their beer bottles for that via Karate chop.
    • Don't hurt kids, especially Daniel and Julie. Miyagi fought off the Cobra Kai single-handily for ganging up on Daniel too many times. Kreese on top of pushing his first button, by calling him a Slope got humiliated by Miyagi for hurting Johnny. Chosen and his gang also learn it the hard way not to mess with Daniel in front of him. Kreese (again) and Silver make get beat up and covered in paint for their trouble. Two strangers harassing Julie are used as people puppets by Miyagi. Finally Dugan gets his for hurting Julie's boyfriend, Eric.
  • Cool Old Guy
  • Deadpan Snarker: He doesn't speak often, but when he does it's usually this.
Cquote1

Daniel: You think you could break a log like that?
Miyagi: Don't know. Never been attacked by a tree.

Cquote2

Johnny Lawrence

Cquote1

Played by: William Zapka (1984-86)

Cquote2


  • Beauty Is Bad
  • Defeat Means Friendship: Though he doesn't appear again after he gets berated by Kreese for losing at the beginning of Part II.
  • Even Evil Has Standards:
    • He had reservations about sweeping Daniel's leg despite it being perfectly legal and the fact he hates the guy.
    • Johnny considers the kids who cyberbullied Aisha cowards.
    • While he thinks it's okay to harass a woman until she agrees to date you he also thinks that if she doesn't want to do anything physical the guy should back off.
    • Again despite his feud with Daniel he was horrified that his students vandalized Miyagi Do and stole Miyagi's medal of honor. He was determined to find out which students were responsible so he could punish him.
  • Evil Is Petty Even thirty years after the tournament Johnny is holding a grudge against Daniel. He even extends these feelings to Daniel's family as he tries to convince Miguel not to date Sam because he's bitter Daniel "stole his girl" even though Ali wasn't with him when Daniel turned up in town.
  • A Father to His Men: Johnny cares about his students. He is infuriated when Cobra Kai give Hawk a Traumatic Haircut.
  • Freudian Excuse: Johnny's stepdad was abusive and he was bullied as a child. He also was subjected to abuse from Kreese.
  • Jerk Jock
  • Manchild: Very much so. An example would be his annoyance at Miguel and Daniel bonding.
  • No Good Deed Goes Unpunished :
    • Johnny's attempts to help Kreese back on his feet backfire spectacularly when Kreese manipulates his students into doing his bidding and steals the dojo from under Johnny.
    • Johnny's rescue of Miguel reignites his feud with Daniel, contributing to Daniel's belief that Johnny hasn't changed.
  • Never My Fault: Johnny feels victimized by Daniel and ignores all the brutal things he did to him without much provocation. Even when Ali gets them to reconcile Johnny downplays his actions, saying "a small part of it may have been my fault".
  • Pet the Dog
    • Much of Johnny's relationship with Miguel such as helping him with his recovery and arranging for him to get into a Dee Snider concert.
    • Johnny offers words of comfort to both Aisha and Bert when they lose their matches in the All Valley.
  • Ungrateful Bastard: Johnny complains about Miyagi beating him and his friends up(Which he only did to stop Johnny's violent beatdown of Daniel), apparently forgetting that it was Miyagi who saved his life from Kreese.

John Kreese

Cquote1

Played by: Martin Kove (1984-89)

Cquote2


  • Arrogant Kung Fu Guy
  • Breakout Villain: Technically the only villain to appear in all three movies, although his scene in the second one was actually footage cut from the first.
  • Disproportionate Retribution: Kreese literally breaks Demeitri's nose out of annoyance.
  • Drill Sergeant Nasty: He's a Vietnam veteran who demands military precision from his students. Lose your focus for one second, and it's sixty push-ups on your knuckles.
  • Et Tu, Brute?: He did not take Terry's betrayal all too well at the end of Cobra Kai Season 4.
  • Evil Is Petty: Kreese screws with Terry's head by bringing up their traumatizing experiences in the war just because Terry annoyed him by telling their students he had a weakness.
  • Even Evil Has Standards: In season 4, seeing Silver dishing out a Curb Stomp Battle on Johnny forced him to hold his war buddy back. Kreese wants to settle the score on the tournament rather than letting Terry get his hands dirty.
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones:
    • Kreese was upset when his mother committed suicide and regretted not being able to help her.
    • He was a Parental Substitute to Johnny. While not a particularly good one he had a soft spot for him. Kreese attempts multiple times to make peace with Johnny and calls off Terry's beating on him. It's also his regret about his treatment of Johnny that triggers a Heel Realization.
    • Kreese fell in love with a woman named Betsy after protecting her from her abusive boyfriend David. They began dating after this and his desire to be reunited with her is what kept him going through the war. After learning about her death he was devastated.
    • He has a genuine friendship with Terry, having risked his life for him in the war. Though by Cobra Kai Kreese appears to only see him as a pawn to manipulate. Luckily for Terry, he's fed up of Kreese's guilt tripping and has him framed for the beatdown of Stingray.
    • During the war Kreese was also fond of his other war buddy Ponytail. He was upset by his death and Kreese keeps a photo of him in his office many years after he died.
  • Evil Counterpart: To Miyagi.
  • False Friend: Kreese fakes being a changed man and reconciles with Johnny so he can steal his dojo from under him and poison the minds of his students.
  • Kick the Dog
    • He nearly kills Johnny over losing a karate tournament. Even Daniel and Miyagi are shocked by this in spite of their past with Johnny.
    • Kreese really enjoys rubbing Miyagi's death in Daniel's face.
  • Manipulative Bastard: Kreese manages to paint his students as victims and manipulates the authorities into having a restraining order placed on Amanda.
  • Ordered to Cheat: He instructs Bobby to take out Daniel's knee, even though doing so will result in Bobby's disqualification. Then Johnny also uses "unethical" moves that target the injured knee.
  • Pet the Dog:
    • A minor one but he does force his students to leave Daniel alone as he trains for the tournament.
    • After Tory loses her job Kreese intercedes with Amanda on her behalf and asks her to back off. This actually leads to Tory becoming a better person.
    • In the finale of Cobra Kai season 4 he decides he doesn't want Tory to end up like Johnny and allows her to fight clean. Terry claims this is the first time he had a moment of sympathy for anyone.
  • Second Place Is for Losers: "Defeat does not exist in this dojo!"

Sato

Cquote1

Played by: Danny Kamekona (1986)

Cquote2


Chozen

Cquote1

Played by: Yuji Okumoto

Cquote2


  • Arrogant Kung Fu Guy
  • Death Seeker: Becomes one after Sato disowns him.
  • Easily Forgiven: Daniel is rather to quick to get past Chozen's attempted murder of him.
  • Honor Before Reason: Played with. Subverted because he thinks being caught cheating and being rightfully shamed by the villagers he cheats out of their hard earned money, is an insult to his honor. Yet played straight during the final fight, where he decides to fight Daniel unarmed in equal combat even though he originally was holding Kumiko at knife point.
  • Heel Face Turn: Chozen eventually realised the error of his ways and accepted everything that happened to him was his own fault.
  • Jerkass: Which goes to murderous extremes.
  • Throwing Down the Gauntlet: He takes Kumiko hostage and threatens to cut her throat unless Daniel fights him.

Terry Silver

Cquote1

Played by: Thomas Ian Griffith (1989)

Cquote2


Ali

Cquote1

Played by: Elisabeth Shue (1984)

Cquote2


Kumiko

Cquote1

Played by: Tamlyn Tomika (1986)

Cquote2


  • Asian Gal with White Guy: She's surrounded by Asian men she doesn't show the slightest bit of interest in, but as soon as Daniel shows up at the front door... Then again, the other suitor with a chance was Chozen of all people.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: She is very nice to Daniel and Miyagi and the kids she teaches OBon Dance to. However hurt someone she likes and she won't hesitate to hurt you. When Chozen challenges Daniel to a fight to the death, Kumiko tries to strangle him. He punches her, but she was able to pull him a good distance before.
  • The Chick
  • Disposable Love Interest: Daniel mentions in Part III that she chose to take a job with a dance company in Tokyo instead of coming back to the United States with him. He seems less bitter about it than Ali though, possibly because he knew how much she wanted to be a traditional dancer as opposed to just dumping him for another guy, therefore he knows she's following her dream.
  • Plucky Girl: She gets points for trying to help Daniel against Chozen, despite knowing how dangerous it is.
  • Shallow Love Interest
  • Yamato Nadeshiko: Emphasized by her wearing a kimono and being good performing the Japanese tea ceremony.

Jessica Andrews

Cquote1

Played by: Robin Lively (1989)

Cquote2


Julie Pierce

Cquote1

Played by: Hilary Swank (1994)

Cquote2


Yukie-san

Cquote1

Played by: Nobu McCarthy (1986)

Cquote2


  • Christmas Cake: By her own decision, since she chose to remain a spinster than becoming a prize wife to Sato
  • Mama Bear: A blink if you miss moment, but when Chosen grabs Kumiko as leverage to challenge Daniel to a fight. Yukie is the first to try to run across the bridge and try to grab Kumiko away from him. Had he not threaten to cut Kumiko's throat with a knife, Yukie would have gotten her away.
  • New Old Flame
  • Parental Substitute: To Kumiko, her orphaned niece
  • Shipper on Deck: The morning after She and Miyagi consummate their love during the tea Ceremony, they both watch Daniel and Kumiko drive off. She smiles in approval just seeing them happy together.
  • Yamato Nadeshiko

2010 Revival

See its character page here.

Cobra Kai TV Series

Robby Keene

  • Becoming the Mask: Initially uses Daniel to get back at Johhny but becomes loyal to him after Daniel treats him with kindness.
  • Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: While he resents Johnny he seems to respect his mother Shannon despite her also being a pretty terrible parent.
  • Even Evil Has Standards: He expresses disagreement with Cobra Kai's attack on the Larusso home.
  • Freudian Excuse: Johhny wasn't around much and his mother was an addict.
  • I Gave My Word: Robby was willing to honor his deal that he would leave Cobra Kai if one of the students got a hit on him. He only decides to stay when Tory gives him permission.
  • Heel Face Turn After realising he helped to corrupt Kenny he goes to his father and expresses remorse for his actions. Johnny immediately forgives him.
  • Face Heel Turn: After putting Miguel in hospital he is infulenced by Kreese and Tory to embrace the teachings of Cobra Kai.
  • Never My Fault Whenever he does anything wrong he blames it on Johnny's poor parenting and thinks his stay in prison is Daniel's fault even though Daniel got his setenced lowered by calling the cops.
  • Pet the Dog:
    • He shows compassion for a fellow inmate who's being bullid by Shawn.
    • In Season 4 he takes a boy named Kenny who's being bullied under his wing and appeals to his hated father on the boy's behalf.
    • Robby comes to Anthony's aid when Kenny attacks him.
  • Took a Level In Kindness Thanks to Daniel.
  • Villainous Friendship In seasons 3 and 4 while he has become a bad guy he's genuinely friendly with Tory.

Miguel Diaz

  • Like a Son to Me: Johnny is a father figure to him and surprisingly good at it.
  • No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Offering mercy to Robby results in him getting crippled.
  • Only Sane Man: In the first season 4 episode he is the one who persuades Johnny to make peace with Daniel.
  • Morality Pet:
    • Hawk's friendshp with him is one of his main redeeming qualities.
    • Johnny's Hidden Heart of Gold of gold shines through when it comes to his relationship with Miguel.

Amanda Larusso

  • Batter Up: Cited taking a baseball bat to her math tutor's car ("with her in it") as the reason for losing her graduation position.
  • Happily Married: With Daniel.
  • My God, What Have I Done? Confronts Tory (who is on the clock) at the sushi restaurant, which triggers the Disaster Dominoes with her employer.
  • Only Sane Man Often attempts to reason with Daniel when he's stubborn about his feud with Johnny.
  • The Southpaw: In line with her portrayer Courtney Henggeler, who is left-handed.
  • Sympathy for the Devil: In season 4 she sympathizes with Tory and attempts to help her even though Tory literally tried to kill her daughter.

Eli Moskowitz / Hawk

  • Berserk Button: Robby found this out the painful way at the first-season tournament when he mocked the guy's "stupid haircut." Got it In the Back!
  • Disproportionate Retribution: Ends his friendship with Demeitri and tries to asasault him on multiple occasions for giving Cobra Kai a bad Yelp review.
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Even at his most despicable he considers Miguel a friend. He immediately forgives him after their fight at Coyote Creek and is visibly upset when Robby puts him in hospital.
  • Jerkass Has a Point: He accurately points out that Miguel mainly wants to return Miyagi's medal of honor to impress Sam.
  • Manipulative Bastard: In season 3 he manages to paint himself as a victim to the school.
  • Reformed but Rejected: In season 4 despite having truly changed his ways everyone still looks down on him for his actions. Demeitri and Miguel are the only ones to accept him with open arms.
  • Traumatic Haircut: Season 4, when the Cobras pin him down and cut away his hair. It turns into an Important Haircut at the tournament.
  • Ungrateful Bastard:
    • He turns on Demeitri despite him being his Only Friend for years.
    • Hawk brutally beats up Nate for daring to start a fundraiser to help Miguel(His friend).
    • Hawk is quick to side with Kreese against Johnny even though it was Johnny's Tough Love that saved him from being an unpopular loser.

Sam Larusso

  • Arch Enemy: To Tory.
  • Daddy's Girl: She is very close with Daniel.
  • Fair-Weather Friend To Aisha in Season 1. She undergoes Character Development and is much more loyal to her friends later.
  • Still Got It: When dealing with a handsy Kyler, she realizes she hasn't forgotten everything her father taught her. Solidified in one of the last scenes of the first season when she works on a kata.
  • Stone Wall: Usually applicable to those built like Chris, Mitch, or even Aisha. Since she was raised primarily in the defensive form, she does not get fazed when she is hit with the first attack or multiple attacks in succession. Despite lacking the raw power to generate decisive blows of her own, she can redirect her opponent's moves to the point of inducing a fatal mistake.
  • Weak but Skilled: Not exactly a Pint-Sized Powerhouse, but getting Back in the Saddle certainly helped.

Anthony Larusso

  • The Bully: Becomes one in Season 4.
  • Freudian Excuse It is eventually revealed he feels left out of the family as he is the only one who can't remember Miyagi.
  • Heel Realization In season 4.
  • Jerkass Inconsiderate, disrespectful and spoilt.

Tory Nichols

  • Arch Enemy She develops a personal hatred for Sam after seeing her kiss Miguel at Moon's party.
  • Brutal Honesty She doesn't mince her words, especially when triggered (something Amanda found out the painful way at the restaurant where she works).
  • Becoming the Mask: She and Robby go to the prom together in order to spite Miguel and Sam but realise they genuinely like each other.
  • Character Development: Thanks to Amanda's infulence she develops a better sense of right and wrong, even refusing to cheat against Sam despite orders to do so from Terry.
  • Don't You Dare Pity Me! Amanda leaves some groceries on her doorstep and gets them dumped right at her feet on the showroom floor. "I don't need your sympathy!"
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones It is revealed Tory spends much time taking care of her sick mother and younger brother.
  • Glass Cannon: While she has the strength for quick powerful blows, her style is based mainly on short-term street fights. An alert and patient opponent (particularly one grounded in defense) can easily exploit her temper to finish her.
  • Hypocrite: She is infuriated Sam accuses her of stealing despite bragging about stealing Vodka.
  • Villainous Friendship Goes out of her way to befriend Robby in Season 3. Season 4 takes this to the next level.

Demeitri

  • Badass Bookworm: Demeitri is initially rather useless at karate but with Daniel's encouragement his skills improve dramatically.
  • Hypocrite: Says he has trouble with personal space while inavding Kreese's personal space.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: While sarcastic and whiny Demeitri is a good guy. He is very quick to forgive Hawk despite Hawk breaking his arm.
  • Kick the Son of a Bitch: Humiliating Hawk by outing him as a bed wetter at Moon's party.
  • Morality Pet: His relationship with Yasmine brings out her better side.

Sid Weinberg

  • Abusive Parents: Constantly belittled Johnny as a child and continues to do so to him as an adult.
  • Grumpy Old Man: Sid seems to hate everyone.
  • I Gave My Word: One of his few redeeming traits. He told Laura he would look out for Johnny and honored that promise for almost twenty years. Even when he finally loses patience with Johnny he gives him a cheque big enough to pay for the revival of Cobra Kai.
  • Kick the Dog; Sid refuses to fund Miguel's surgery despite having the money to do so and enjoys mocking Johnny about the situation.
  • Politically-Incorrect Villain: Sid has a derogatory view of women and clearly sees them as only sex objects.
  • Villain with Good Publicity: Averted. When Johnny threatens to disclose an incident between Sid and his secretary to the public Sid retorts he doesn't care about looking good and wouldn't have got rich if he did.

Shawn Payne

  • The Bully: Shawn makes Robby's stay in prison a living hell and is shown picking on other inmates as well.
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones: In season 4 he is shown to have a close relationship with his younger brother Kenny. He got sent to prison for protecting his brother in the first place and directs him to Robby to help with his bullying problem
  • Honor Among Thieves: Shawn and Robby cover for each other after their fight.
  • Villainous Friendship: Despite the initial hostility he ends up on good terms with Robby.

Stingray

Armand Zarkarian

  • Cranky Landlord: Armand jacks the reent up just out of dislike for Johnny.
  • Dirty Coward: Armand quickly sells out Daniel and Amanda after Kreese makes quick work of his two nephews.
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Depite being a corrupt businessman he seems afffectionate to his son Roland.
  • Loophole Abuse: Armand takes advantage of the fact that Johnny never actually owned the dojo to make a deal with Kreese that allows him to get rid of his mist hated tennant.
  • Unwitting Pawn: Daniel uses him as a tool to get even with Johnny. Armand never even realises his manipulation.

Tom Cole

  • Bad Boss: Tom constantly misremembers Anoush's name and treats him as an erand boy.
  • Bullying a Dragon: Tom's constant proviaction of Daniel was a very bad idea.
  • Kick the Dog: Tom tries to get a rise out of Daniel by pointing out his student sent Miguel to hospital.

Captain Turner

  • Asshole Victim: Kreese murders him even though he didn't need to but given Turner's own abuse of Kreese it's hard to feel sorry for him.
  • Evil Mentor: Turner's teachings helped to corrupt Kreese and turn him into the monster he is.
  • Kick the Dog: Taunting Kreese over Betsy's death.
  • Politically-Incorrect Villain; Turner takes a dim view of hippies.

Anoush

  • Beleaguered Assistant: Is constantly treated like dirt by Tom.
  • Hidden Depths: Surprisingly Anoush gives Daniel some sound advice on how to handle Sam's dating life.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's a bit of a slimeball but he considers Daniel a friend and is loyal to him.
  • Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: Anoush quits his job and goes to work for Tom due to Daniel getting obesessed with Cobra Kai, causing Anoush to pick up a lot of the slack and get no extra pay to compensate. Though he ultimately comes back to Daniel as for all his flaws he never deliberately set out to mistreat him.




[[Category:Template:TOPLEVELPAGE]]

Advertisement