In the book Daniel's first attempt at the Crane has a different outcome, one where Daniel almost loses his life!
Chapter 23, page 100-101
Then next afternoon, Daniel was back at the beach - this time alone.
With the utmost care, he made his way to the last piling and pulled himself up on its precarious surface. Carefully, between waves, he stood as straight and tall as he could and lifted his right leg into the crane position he'd seen Mr. Miyagi use, in time to greet the oncoming wave. At the last second, he flexed his left leg to jump, but he was too late. The powerful sea grabbed him and pulled him from the piling, slamming him into another one, making a gash in his head. He lost his sense of direction as the water tossed and dragged him mercilessly. He struggled against the clawing grasp of the undertow, barely escaping its pull. Continuously, the waves pushed him to danger while the undertow dragged him to the depths.
It took every ounce of Daniel's strength to overcome the forces of the icy Pacific, but some time later, coughing up salty water, Daniel pulled himself onto the beach, exhausted, spent.
It was then, semiconscious, that Daniel remembered Mr. Miyagi's words:
"First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature's rules, Danielsan, not mine."
How long, he wondered, lying half in and half out of the water, still unable to move. How long before he could stand?
