In Ameri-Do-Te, I am the weapon.

Even when I'm naked I'm still fully armed.

 

All Martial Arts are Effective

from Master Z's Facebook page 

I admit I get fed up of hearing others put down certain arts and judge them on certain martial artists. I’ve heard Kung-Fu is not good for real combat. Listen, Kung-Fu is and was the fighting art of China. It is the father of Karate and has a history of thousands of years. There is history, yes… real history of Kung-Fu warriors who fought life and death in a daily basis. Not in a cage or a ring… I mean other warriors trying to defame and even kill them. This holds true to all classical arts though. There’s history of fighters from each art who lived their art and became heroes from their life. This holds true to every martial art system. To say that Krav Maga is bullshit is downright idiotic. If we’re talking the real Israeli Krav Maga as has been taught by the IDF for decades… we’re talking about what one of the toughest militaries in the world uses as their primary hand to hand combat system. Now, if it gets watered down to make it family friendly in today’s schools, that’s a different story. But a kick to the groin and a wedge hand the throat can be quite deadly in any situation. 

How about hearing that grappling is ineffective in the street. I’m pretty sure a grappler is wise enough to realize that knowing how to strike is necessary. Relying on just ground fighting wouldn’t be so wise in a street situation. Just as not knowing how to grapple in a cage fight would be ridiculous. Situations differ and depending on your environment for real combat is what one will need to train in.  On a one to one fight, grappling skills is a great advantage. In a street situation, striking and kicking… and possibly running is primary. To say that a certain martial art is not effective based on a person or a group of people who are under skilled is unjust. You can take a skilled fighter and train them with skills from any martial art… specially the arts that others call ineffective, and they will apply those skills effectively. We see that in the cage with fighters who use techniques from Kung-Fu, Karate, and other arts. It’s never the art that’s ineffective it’s the person applying them. I truly believe that a warrior athlete can train in any art form and be able to use it effectively. Proving that it’s not the art, but the artist. 

Stay positive, respectful, and admire one another for the discipline and commitment. As martial artists we’re all in the same journey of personal betterment. 

Strong & Inspired. 

Ninja Scroll - anime review and analysis

 (jcablog.com 9-30-21)

Once upon a time, there were eight supernatural warriors. So powerful where they, that their doings caught the eye of the Shogun of the Dark. Under his House of Toyotomi, the eight were ordered to overthrow the Tokugawa government and take control of Japan. The supernatural octet became known as the «Eight Devils of Kimon». 

One time, their immortal leader tried to double-cross his comrade, but lost his head to his opponent’s blade. It only fueled his lust for power and revenge. If the vagrant ninja named Jubei ever crossed his path again, the devils’ fury would unleash like the crushing of a thousand waves.

Introducing Ninja Scroll

Next to Akira and Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll might be the most influential anime film in history, to American and European audiences that is. In Japan, the film never had the same impact, but its allure to outsiders made it a phenomenon, nonetheless.

Few animes showcase ninja mythology as ferocious as Ninja Scroll. Its mysterious characters, action-packed narrative, and cheeky dialogue was quickly acclaimed, but its infamy grew from the blood-dripping, skull-crushing tirade of brutality. 

Another factor that contributed to its international success was the universally appealing story based on power struggles. Director Kawajiri once said that the concept would work in many settings, he just happened to set it in feudal Japan.

Ninja Scroll’s appeal to non-Japanese viewers might stem from its aligning with western romanticizing of ninja mythology. This might also explain the lack of interest in Japan, as the Japanese image of the ninja tends to be more grounded in reality. 

Another explanation for the lack of interest in Japan, is that Ninja Scroll flung throwing stars in the face of the conformist ways that Japanese society is built on. But we’ll get back to that in the analysis chapter. 

The lore might be blown out of proportions, but there is more to Ninja Scroll than meets the eye. Even tough embellished, the historical accuracy isn’t too far off. The names, clans, locations, and settings are reality-based, which adds an interesting layer of depth to the ultra-violence.

But Ninja Scroll is not about depth, it’s about illuminating the mysticism of the ninja, and this is where it shines. The drawings, dialogue, and action set a new standard for what adult anime could be. It was sleek and imaginative, with fight choreography that made martial art-fantasies come true.

Cold Blooded Facts About Ninja Scroll

Ninja Scroll was written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, one of the four co-founders of Madhouse Inc. It was released abroad in 1995 (1993 in Japan), and it quickly became one of the most popular animes outside of Japan. Six months after its North American release, it had sold more than 70.000 copies.

Kawajiri made his breakthrough in 1987 with a horror anime film called Wicked City. The success of Wicked City let him fulfill a lifelong dream, to make a film about Ninjas. Kawajiri had been fascinated by Ninja lore since childhood. Therefore, he wanted to make an anime that would intrigue ninja-fans, even though the earning potential might be limited. 

As soon as it was released, Ninja Scroll was labeled an anime classic abroad. Today, it’s noted as one of the most influential animes in history. Among the filmmakers that took inspiration from Ninja Scroll are The Wachowskis when they made the fight sequences for The Matrix.

Scull-Crushing Before Substance - The Ninja Scroll Story

As many critics have pointed out, the story in Ninja Scroll is rather simple. But there is something about the balance in the storytelling that aligns well with the atmosphere. In fact, the interweaving of plot, fantasy-action, and historical anecdotes is quite elegant. 

According to Kawajiri, the ninja artistry is the highlight of the film. He wanted to bring the art of the shadow warriors to life with an easy understandable story, even for non-Japanese viewers with no prior knowledge of Japanese history.

By orders of the Shogun of the Dark, the Eight Devils of Kimon were to seize a shipload of gold. The treasure would be used to further the cause of the Dark Lord, but the Devils’ headman had other plans. 

Meanwhile, Jubei found himself face to face with the hardest demon of them all. His name was Tessai, and his stone-body was immune to cuts, slashes, or even bullets. Seemingly unbeatable, if not for an unsuspected weakness.

Before long, Jubei was introduced to the Eight Devils, one after the other. One had the power of serpentine seduction, another could clone himself. In the forest, a blind swordsman with keen ears was waiting. 

In short, the story is about three factions who are all fighting to take/keep control of Japan. Both The Shogun of the Dark and the chief of The Eight Devils have their eye on the throne, while the ruling Tokugawa Clan want to keep it.

Amid this power struggle, we meet the lowly warrior Jubei, whose arch enemy happens to be the leader of The Eight Devils. Jubei therefore ends up fighting for Tokugawa. In between all of this, there are some personal stories of love and revenge, but for the most part, breakneck action is the backbone of Ninja Scroll.

Ninja Scroll's Strength and Weakness

Prioritizing atmosphere and visuals before substance is arguably the reason why Ninja Scroll became an instant cult hit in the first place. After all, the main attraction is the creative character design, the playful brutality, and the astonishing fight choreography. 

It is not the power struggle or the love story that will keep you glued to the screen; it is the question of who or what will attack next. What demonic devilry can possibly top the fresh hell that just passed before our eyes? To be honest, nothing tops the first half hour of the film, but the level of amazement never drops beyond jaw-dropping, even so.

Alex Fitch over at Electric Sheep Magazine argues that focus on individual compositions and episodic buildup was a wise choice from Kawajiri, since animation was his specialty. Much like Jubei, Kawajiri took advantage of his strength and overcame his shortcomings. 

As exciting as the action is, however, the balance between fast paced ninja warfare and personal struggles is an important element. The romance between Jubei and Kagero adds some much-needed humanity to the protagonist. 

If there is one thing that holds Ninja Scroll back, it is the underdeveloped side characters. Small displays of emotional turmoil help us connect with Jubei, but Kagero and Dakuan are kept at arm’s length throughout. Some might argue that the hidden back-stories and emotions add to the atmosphere of mystery, but it also limits the depth.

In other words, Ninja Scroll leaves a lot up to our imagination, which might be an acquired taste. Luckily, it counters the lack of depth with never-ending excitement. The Devils are relentless. Their victims can never catch their breath. Just like the audience, they are constantly kept on their toes, wondering what monstrous madness will come next.

Producing an Anime for the Ages

As mentioned, Kawajiri started out as an animator. After high school he got hired by Osamu Tezuka’s anime studio called Mushi Production. After four years at Mushi, Kawajiri moved on and formed Madhouse. There, he made a name for himself, making anime classics such as Memories, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and Metropolis.

In the 80s, Kawajiri was promoted to film director. His definitive breakthrough came with the horror-anime film Wicked City (1987). Thereafter, he was given free reigns to make whatever he wanted, which eventually led to the production of Ninja Scroll. Kawajiri’s main ambition was to make a ninja film that would excite and entertain its audience.

The freedom to make the film as he pleased was a blessing in disguise, though, since his ambitions demanded very intricate artwork. Ninja Scroll was made in a time before digital animation, and many of Kawajiri’s ideas posed significant challenges for the animators. 

According to Kawajiri, the biggest production challenge was to weave the growing emotions between Jubei and Kagero into such a brutal story. This aspect of the film turned out minute, which somehow matches the minimal lines of the animation. The drawing of the fast-paced action is not overtly detailed, but instead enhanced by clever use of color.

The fights are often crosscut with ultrafast sword slinging and explosive gushing of blood. The violence is somewhat toned down by the use of shadows, while strong red, blue, or yellow coloring ad a distinct atmosphere to many scenes. The use of color aids the storytelling nicely and gives Ninja Scroll an original touch. 

Today, the hand drawn artistry of the animators evokes nostalgia and provides that classic feel that many old school anime fans crave. But Kawajiri was not against using digital technology. To him, digital animation was just another tool. It wouldn’t change the fact that anime storytelling demands creative ideas and passion to succeed.

Between the Throwing Stars - Ninja Scroll Analysis

Bill Benzon (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) argues that the use of color in Ninja Scroll ties into an overarching theme of purity and pollution. He defends this argument by pointing at several examples of such dichotomies throughout the film. 

His first example brings up two sex scenes early in the story. One is a violation, the other is apparently done with consent. The rape is drawn in cold shades of blue, the legitimate sex is drawn in warm shades of brown.

Furthermore, Benzon argues that the contrast between purity and pollution runs in Kagero’s veins, since her blood has become toxic from taste-checking foods for poison. Her venom is the antidote to Jubei’s poisoning, but his purity makes him refuse to take advantage of her.

Also, the fight to seize the boatload of gold is ultimately a matter of purity and pollution, since the Shogun of the Dark plans to use the gold to buy Spanish weapons. In other words, Jubei is fighting to prevent foreign pollution of Japan.

An interesting interpretation of the aforementioned violation is presented by Kylan Mitchell (University of Western Ontario). He argues that such rape scenes in Japanese films criticize the modern female ideal in Japan. According to Mitchell, this ideal is ultimately repressing, which is why scenes of violation can be interpreted as an embrace of «free sexuality».

Moreover, Mitchell argues that the abundance of ultra-violent films and anime in Japan might be the result of Japanese detachment from tradition, as the values of modern Japan are modeled by and after America and Europe. 

Self-sacrifice, Mitchell continues, is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Extreme fetishism and sadomasochism can therefore be seen as a prolongation of ritual suicide (seppuku), kamikaze fighters, a repetitive pattern of self-debilitating warfare, and a general affinity for pain.

Living in current day Japan, however, I see little signs of a general affinity for pain. In fact, there are few places where people indulge in pleasures like Japan. Not to mention the fact, that Japanese people seem to visit the doctor for the tiniest of ailments. At least, it seems so from my standpoint, as a Scandinavian residing in Tokyo.

Long working hours, housewife/office worker conventions, little individual freedom, and harsh hierarchies in all walks of life might indicate an affinity for pain. However, these things don’t appear to turn on Japanese people, at least not what I have seen.

Neither do Japanese people seem to wish for such conditions, just like Jubei didn’t appear to long for bloodshed. The Devils might want it, though, but they seem more like a metaphor for the obstacles that life seems to throw at us all, rather than something we chose to inflict on ourselves. 

Then again, I did choose to write film reviews in poverty over a well-paid job in advertisement… Perhaps the path to freedom starts by accepting its price, which often is pain, in some form or other…

A final take on the meaning of Ninja Scroll, is the evident dichotomy between the group and the individual. Collectivism, or groupism, has strong roots in Japanese society. It is often viewed as a virtue, whilst individualism is seen as a sign of selfishness.

In Ninja Scroll, the groups are, for all intents and purposes, the images of evil. Jubei might fight for a group, but his individual moral compass clearly comes off as superior to that of the ruling groups and their demonic factions. As such, Ninja Scroll appears to throw more than a few punches at Japanese collectivism. 

Ninja Inspirations and Influences

During planning and production, the animation team took inspiration from Japanese period dramas set in the 1700s. As such, Ninja Scroll references a handful of Japanese classics, such as Yojimbo (the clock tower), Zatoichi (Utsutsu the blind swordsman), and Lady Snowblood (Kagero’s headdress costume). 

When the setting was established, Kawajiri allowed himself to work freely within its framework. And he didn’t shy away from looking to Hollywood for inspiration. The Sting and Mission Impossible, for instance, inspired the con-games and one-upmanship in Ninja Scroll. 

At the time of its release, adult anime started to gain considerable traction in the US. Usually, these films had wildly explicit content, and Ninja Scroll was no exception. It was a production of its time, following in the footsteps of animes like Fist of the North Star, Wicked City and Urotsukidōji. 

After its release, the sudden impact of Ninja Scroll influenced many filmmakers abroad. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, and Daredevil are all noted for taking inspiration from Ninja Scroll. 

Even more noteworthy is the Wachowskis outspoken excitement about Ninja Scroll. Apparently, they recommended Ninja Scroll to the production team and actors when making the action scenes for The Matrix. Thereafter, Kawajiri expressed his gratitude by stating that he mostly took inspiration from the Wachowskis, not the other way around.

In 2009, however, the Wachowskis might have proven Kawajiri wrong when they produced the ultra-violent martial arts film Ninja Assassin. So far, it is probably the closest Hollywood ever came to making something like Ninja Scroll. It is no match for Kawajiri’s film, but as far as western ninja films go, it is probably the best you will find.

Final Verdict for Ninja Scroll

There is no denying the legacy of Ninja Scroll. As far as American- or European-made ninja films go, everything before Ninja Scroll was pretty pathetic. Some people might speak of American ninja classics, but those films only appeal to fanboys and b-film enthusiasts.

After Ninja Scroll, it still took a long while before any worthwhile ninja action would be made abroad. But Kawajiri still influenced filmmakers to make some of the best fight sequences to ever grace the silver screen. The echoes of Ninja Scroll chimed on through the ultra-violence and martial art excellence that was produced around the turn of the millennium.

Ninja Scroll was too violent to ever become mainstream, but its status as a cult classic is well-deserved. It isn’t the deepest of films, but sometimes all you want is to be entertained. Sometimes, all you need to relax is some skull-splitting, blood-gushing, face-bashing action, and no one does this better than Ninja Scroll in the realm of anime. 

https://www.jcablog.com/post/ninja-scroll-review-and-analysis

Tranquility in chaos

 

Original Cobra Kai's - artwork by letsbewater

 

The Return of Johnny - artwork by letsbewater

 

Joe Rogan Explains the Meaning Behind His Samurai Tattoo

Miyagi dojo - artwork by karlwashere on ArtStation

Available November 8th! Cobra Kai 2 - Dojos Rising

Eagle Fang, Cobra Kai, Miyagi-do – Which is your dojo? That choice begins your journey, but then it’s up to you to recruit the most powerful team as you master your fighting style and battle to solidify your dojo’s LEGACY as the All Valley Karate Grand Champion!

Select Your Dojo

Choose from Eagle Fang, Cobra Kai or Miyagi-do, and alongside your sensei, start training, recruiting and fighting to prove who’s the most powerful dojo and seal your destiny as the Grand Champion of the All Valley Tournament.

Exciting Game Modes

Jump into Story Mode and immerse yourself in an exciting new storyline that will have you fighting your way to the All Valley Tournament, or play Cobra Classics and relive epic moments from the show, and more! With 28 playable characters, you can play as your favorite characters from the show’s expansive roster and make use of their special abilities and skills along your path to victory!

Increase Your Powers to Win

Collect chi and coins to increase your skills. Recruit new dojo members and let their strength bolster your own as you build your dojo into a powerhouse. Jump into online Tournament mode and compete in the All Valley Tournament. Fight your way to secure your legacy as the ultimate champion.

https://playcobrakai.com/

Haiku and Samurai Death Poems

(from medium.com)

The haiku is one of the most recognizable poetry forms in the world. It consists of seventeen syllables arranged in three lines: five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables again. Many people, poetry enthusiasts and laypersons alike, know that haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. However, the history and cultural legacy of haiku are also important to consider. This applies even more when speaking about the Edo period — the era in which haiku became a revered form of poetry.

Haiku has its roots in the 13th century with an older form of poetry called renga. Renga was a much longer style of oral poetry that was often a hundred stanzas long, also composed syllabically. The opening lines of these poems were known as haikai or hokku. In the 16th century, these opening lines broke away to become short-form poems in and of themselves.

As a general rule, haiku describe a brief moment in time, usually with significant nature symbolism. These poems often incorporate provocative and colorful images and are meant to leave the reader with a sense of enlightenment. The ideal haiku can be read in a single breath and imparts great insight.

The haiku form was often used for death poems, which were written by samurai and other literate people just before their deaths. Here’s an example written by Matsuo Basho (1644–1694), famed 17th-century haiku poet:

On a journey, ill: My dream goes wandering Over withered fields.

Tabi ni yande Yume wa kareno o kakemeguru

Haiku will be one of the poetry forms featured in Tale of Ronin. The samurai class was expected to be educated and well-studied in literature and other scholarly pursuits, including poetry. Even the most destitute ronin players meet on the road may be able to compose a haiku on the spot.

https://medium.com/@taleofronin/haiku-and-samurai-death-poems-7ace71aa2288

Seiza sitting

 

This way of sitting is called “seiza” in Japan. This style of sitting is required for traditional Japanese events and formal ceremonies today. In fact, samurai and ninja generally did not sit this way long time ago. Because seiza does not allow you to move quickly. It means that it takes time to move to standing and attacking movements. However, to put it the other way around, Seiza indicates that there is no intention to attack. Therefore, it is said that subordinates began “seiza” in front of the shogun and high-ranking samurai from someday. Today, it has become a common way of sitting in formal situations in Japan.

However, seiza is difficult if you are not used to it. If you come to Japan, you don't have to force yourself to do seiza. Don't worry, it's not rude if you can't do seiza. 

Ronin: the Unemployed Samurai

from medium.com

The samurai is one of the most iconic figures in Japanese history, but the ronin is one of his only rivals. Ronin, meaning “wave man,” refers to masterless samurai who were no longer retainers serving a daimyo. Although warriors had served daimyo — and lost them — during most of Japanese history, ronin were especially prominent in the years between 1168 and 1868. Tale of Ronin takes place during the early Edo period, when it was very easy to become a ronin… and very difficult to become a retainer again.

During the Sengoku period, Japan had been in a state of near-constant warfare. This led many daimyo to gather large numbers of retainers for safety and conquest. However, the birth of the Edo period meant the end of that turbulent age. Daimyo no longer needed so many retainers, so being hired as a samurai became difficult. At the same time, the Tokugawa Bakufu reduced the territory of daimyo families and outright abolished many of them. This created a massive population of wandering ronin.

Ronin were still considered samurai by the Edo period’s standards, meaning that they could legally kill people and were permitted to carry swords. But they lacked the stability of a clan, a fief, and, most importantly, a lord to serve. In a time when the samurai code of Bushido was being made into a comprehensive system of ethics, ronin were left to wander across the land like waves. Although the ronin has been mythologized as a one-man army carving his way through impossible battles, actual ronin often didn’t fare well in the changing world. Many of them were poor, feared, and utterly alone.

https://medium.com/@taleofronin/ronin-the-unemployed-samurai-ec9240f7063

Daniel’s Crane Kick In Cobra Kai Season 5 Has A Deeper Meaning

by Ari Kagan on screenrant.com

The Cobra Kai season 5 finale saw Daniel LaRusso use his famous crane kick for the first time in decades, but there was a deeper meaning behind Daniel bringing the kick back than might be thought. Daniel's use of the crane kick against Cobra Kai sensei Terry Silver is one of the strongest callbacks to the Karate Kid films and manages to be one of the show's best payoffs. The usage of the crane kick was the perfect way to conclude one of the greatest fights in the franchise.

When Daniel LaRusso used the crane kick against Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid, it was a conclusion to their original rivalry. With it being used to defeat Silver decades later in Cobra Kai, it put an end to Silver's schemes for now and saw the Cobra Kai students turning on their sensei. Terry Silvers's Cobra Kai plan failed, and he was then sent to prison with "a litany of charges" against him. While it's unknown what the future holds in store for Cobra Kai, season 5, episode 10 "Head of the Snake" feels like a perfect culmination and ending to the Karate Kid saga, even if it also sets up more storylines for season 6.

The crane kick may not be a move one could use in a real fight, but in the Miyagi-verse, it's one of the best that can be used against an enemy. Using the kick in The Karate Kid made LaRusso a well-known local figure in his community. When he gets trained by Terry Silver for his second tournament in The Karate Kid Part III, Silver mocks the fight move by saying Daniel can't "rely on that crane crap" and that Mike Barnes is a tougher opponent. He also mentions that Daniel using kata would be a waste of time and that it wouldn't win him the tournament. Of course, LaRusso proves him wrong by using kata against Barnes and defeating him in the tournament. This also helped him end Terry Silver's schemes in The Karate Kid III. After Silver puts Daniel through the wringer in season 5 of Cobra Kai, Daniel eventually fights back and uses the crane kick against his enemy. This not only calls back to Daniel's original crane kick, but it helps him prove to Silver that he could rely on the kick as well as using Silver's teachings against him. It's also a nice subtle reference to Miyagi knocking Silver into glass during their fight in The Karate Kid Part III.

One of the biggest highlights of the Karate Kid franchise is Daniel LaRusso using the crane kick for the first time in the original film. Ralph Macchio has stated on numerous occasions that he saw many people attempting the move after watching the film for the first time in theaters back in 1984. The Crane Kick may be an illegal move but it made the films and Cobra Kai more popular than they might have been otherwise. Part of this is thanks to Daryl Vidal, who invented the kick. Vidal appears in The Karate Kid as a tournament fighter, but he came up with the move knowing Daniel would have to fight on one leg. Additionally, he was Pat Morita's stand-in when Mr. Miyagi performed the kick on a stump on the beach.

The crane kick is arguably the greatest symbol of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai. There is various merchandise sold that depicts the crane kick, and Cobra Kai even has in-universe references as to how popular the move really is. Johnny Lawrence even attempted a counter to Daniel's crane kick in case he used it during their fight in season 4. It's a part of pop culture history and is one of the largest aspects of The Karate Kid's ever-lasting legacy. 

https://screenrant.com/cobra-kai-daniel-crane-kick-terry-silver-explained/?utm_campaign=Echobox-SR-FB-P&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3IZTC-buAIwtOrDTyD6b8H6ayT-cZ3yHF_JxljVz8JPR7XNlzQ-32k72E#Echobox=1663532886

Going to watch Ghost Dog tonight!

First day of autumn.

Its a tradition now to always watch Ghost Dog on the first day of autumn. If you've seen the film you'll know why.

If you haven't seen the film you should watch it to find out.

Its a great movie, for the most part. I never got the whole thing about the guy that speaks only French, all the scenes he is in kind of throw the movie off a bit in my opinion.

But otherwise fantastic. 

Cobra Kai Season 6 Should End the Series For Good

(by Brady Langmann esquire.com)

Back in 1986—a year that also saw the releases of Top Gun and Hoosiers—we laid our eyes on The Karate Kid II. And while all of you adults who still dress up as Young Johnny Lawrence for Halloween every year, just so you can scream at your kids, "You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you, little twerp?" will probably fight me on this, The Karate Kid II was infinitely more mediative than its predecessor. It damn near quadrupled the stakes of a silly karate tournament. I'll defend The Karate Kid II until the day I die. In fact, I think Ralph Macchio should've hung it up then and there.

We got The Karate Kid III instead. A coked-up Terry Silver, bonsai tree drama, a clearly too-old-to-be-playing-a-kid-anymore Macchio. The Karate Kid III turned out to be crusty backwash that wasn't remedied until the 2018 debut of Cobra Kai.

As I wrapped my Labor Day weekend binge of the new season of Cobra Kai, I got to thinking about The Karate Kid III. Not just because, with the introduction of Silver, Cobra Kai has been flooded with The Karate Kid III's regrettable lore. Hell, Mike Barnes is even back! No. Watching Season Five of Cobra Kai—which I enjoyed, for the most part—gave me a sinking feeling. Seeing Daniel LaRusso once again shitting his diaper and asking everyone else to clean it up, the kiddos switching sides again and again and again, and Johnny Lawrence reach his seventh coming-of-age, I couldn't help but think: Cobra Kai needs to stop while it's ahead. Or else we're going to see what Cobra Kai's version of The Karate Kid III is.

The problem is, that's not gonna happen. Cobra Kai's creative team Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg have long made known their plans to expand what they've dubbed the Miyagi-verse into a full dojo's worth of spinoffs. Those plans likely include more Cobra Kai. Season Six has all but been officially confirmed. Macchio already hinted that footage exists for future seasons. "There's stuff that they wrote in Season Three that didn't happen until Season Four, 'cause there wasn't any more room in Season Three," Macchio told ComicBook.com. "There's stuff that was in Season Five that we know we shot that is being held for the future if we get that green light, so there's more to come, we hope."

Macchio's comments are a little confusing, though. And Hurwitz quasi-contradicted them in a recent interview with Games Radar. "We have filmed nothing that’s in Season Six," he said. "There may have been some things filmed in Season Five that got cut out of the season. Some of those character or story moments may appear in a future season. But there were no actual scenes filmed for Season Six." Regardless, Schlossberg chimed in, "There’s no official response to [whether or not there will be a Season Six], except we have lots of ideas. There’s time and places to make official things, we’re not at that place right now." Yeah. More Cobra Kai is a safe bet.

Regardless, Cobra Kai's creators do have an endgame in sight. It's just a matter of when the series will reach that point. "We do have a place where it’s all going, but that doesn’t mean the world has to stop there," Hurwitz told Total Film. "We have lots of ideas of continuing [the universe] and keeping the Karate Kid vibes going through other stories and other shows and different formats for that."

Listen, do I really want Cobra Kai to end? No. But there's only so much teen angst, daddy drama, and Valley karate hijinks left to play out in the story Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg have set up. We still need the Mr. Miyagi origin story, at all costs. Maybe there's even an entirely new, LaRusso and Miyagi-less story to tell. Spoilers ahead, mind you, but Season Five sets up a perfect final run for Cobra Kai. Johnny has a baby, Kreese shows up as the big baddie one last time, and all the kids finish the fight on the sides they're supposed to be on. (Except for Kenny. Come to the good side!). As for Daniel LaRusso? Eh. I don't know. Maybe his wife really should leave him for good.

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a41125032/cobra-kai-season-6/

The Mastery Journey

The road to Mastery requires total effort in the face of challenges. A good example is the giant redwood trees. If you walk through a grove of these trees shortly after a rainstorm at sunset, you will experience a beauty that cannot be shared in words. It's only in quiet reflection that you become aware of the thousands of years that these trees have endured storms, fires, and floods. It is this same level of perseverance that gets a student to Mastery Level. The road to Martial Arts Mastery is filled with goals that initially seem impossible to reach. But those who endure will reap the rewards of Kung-Fu. 

“Like anything worthwhile in life... you have to place effort to attain it and to hold on to it. It's all in the Mastery Journey." 

Strong & Inspired

- Master Z

Time for Chozen

 artwork by letsbewater

Of course you know this means war

 

Getting close!

 

A couple of sneak peak photos from Cobra Kai season 5

 

Waxing On by Ralph Macchio - can't wait to read it!

 

Discomfort and Pain... the sacrifice in training - by Pablo Zamora

As true martial artist we learn to adapt to the rigors of training. If it was easy, everyone would be a “true martial artist.” While many people play the martial arts, and the serious learn to accept and even to enjoy the sacrifice of discomfort and pain. The real essence of the martial arts is to develop toughness in its practitioners. This level of toughness is a combination of physical and mental toughness. There’s no way around this. Learning to endure, and actually learning to accept and expect it. Because without it, one will never become the real deal. That’s just truth and reality.

Sadly through time the martial arts have soften so much in order to keep people involved in it. Learning toughness is no longer as important as it is to keep students by entertaining them with fun and excitement. Old school mentality in training is about developing strong students in body and mind. This still happens in certain schools that have a real dojo culture. Teaching students from the get-go, that discomfort and even pain will be a part of the process of developing skills. Making sure that parents also understand that even children will be taught to endure.

This is what makes the martial arts, and I mean, the true martial arts such a gem. There’s no possible way to develop warriors without this process. The magic that great schools do is to create a culture that sees the enduring of discomfort and pain as a great accomplishment. Students are rewarded with praise for this level of sacrifice. Praise from their instructors and peers is an incredible reward to receive. This praise becomes even stronger when the parents, siblings and other family members join in. It really is a process unlike anything else. To witness students turning into martial arts warriors is a reward like nothing else.

The sword that saves lives

"At times because of one man's evil, ten thousand persons suffer. So you kill that one man to let the tens of thousands live. Here, truly, the blade that deals death becomes the sword that saves lives." - Yamamoto Tsunetomo (Hagakure)

Master Ken still dangerous

 "My life is now complete" says Dylan Miller on a recent Facebook post.

 

Bloody Knuckles balm

 Duke Cannon wins the prize for the best named hand lotion. Oh sorry, balm.

Bloody Knuckles, that's awesome.

Sensei ron Thomas

 

Getting old?

 

Karate's Bad Boy

 

This would be an epic fight

 

Meet the cast of the Karate Kid musical

 

Way of the Cobra

Motivational book by Karate Kid 3's Sean Kanan.

Available for purchase at 

https://wayofthecobra.com/

 

Artwork by Salvamakoto on Instagram

 

Karate Kid characters in a Dragonball Z style. 

 

Artwork by Adrian Nicholls

 

Kind of cool to see a Cobra Kai design without the cobra. The dragon works well, and that is a bad ass hoodie.

This artist has a lot of Karate Kid and Cobra Kai designs on Tee Public. 

Check out the link

https://www.teepublic.com/user/adriannicholls

More artwork by Letsbewater

 

You choose own way do karate

 artwork by letsbewater

Johnny and Ali, Daniel and Kumiko

 

In an alternate story line this is how it ended up, Johnny gets back together with Ali, while Daniel and Kumiko celebrate years of marriage.

Why Train in Classical Weapons? - by Pablo Zamora

Today it seems that everyone looks at the martial arts at its practicality in defense. But there is another side to training in the martial arts that goes far beyond just self defense. Take training in classical martial arts weapons. Why learn these ancient combat tools that have no real use today? It’s important to fully understand the benefits of training classical weapons. Every weapon that you learn expands your knowledge and skills. Everything doesn’t have to be about practicality in combat. The skills that are gained are of hand and eye coordination, balance, strength, speed, focus... and the list goes on. If one thinks empty hands is challenging in the martial arts, they should take a closer look at weapons. It is raising the bar in skills development. Truth is that many of the classical weapons will still give a person an edge in combat efficiency. Learning to use a staff, sword, or other weapons can be practical in use if you have a long or short stick available. How about the flexible weapons like the Nunchakus? Then you will have the skill to use a belt with a buckle or anything flexible as a weapon for defense. I can go on and on on how these skills can be transferred to modern day usage. Realize that anything that challenges physically and mentally in learning will expand you and sharpen you as a better martial artist. Strong & Inspired. - Master Z

Daniel really did meet his match with Chozen

 Chozen was always kicking Daniel's butt in Karate Kid 2.

I wonder who would win if Chozen faced off against Johnny.

Karate Kid - the musical

 This is a real thing!

Coming to St. Louis, Missouri in a "Pre-Broadway" test starting May 25th.

https://thekaratekidthemusical.com/ 

Great photo from the original Karate Kid

 Wow, I never saw this photo before! 

Director John Avildsen on set with the guys.

Carrie Underwood !

I love how they brought back a little known Karate Kid song, Survivor's "Moment of Truth."