In the summer of 1984 a kid from New Jersey met a handyman from Okinawa and movie magic was made. Much like its unassuming hero, the deceptively simple coming of age tale The Karate Kid is one of cinema's greatest underdogs. With two film sequels, one Oscar nomination, endless quotable lines and now a hit Netflix spinoff this surprise hit remains the best around thirty-six years after its initial release. While the film is best remembered for launching Ralph Macchio's status as an 80's icon and popularizing karate in the United States, it is the film's characters that ensure its continued resonance. By far the most memorable and inspiring of the film's characters is Mr. Miyagi, whose lessons proved vital not only in karate, but also in life. This week I'll be turning the spotlight on Mr. Miyagi and three of his greatest lessons.
Balance is Key: Mr. Miyagi's first lesson for Daniel is "Learn balance. Balance good, karate good, everything good. Balance bad might as well pack up, go home". Given the fact that balance is the foundation of martial arts and many other sports, Mr. Miyagi's advice seems fairly straightforward. As the story progresses, however, it becomes apparent that the balance that he is referring to is not merely physical but also an emotional, spiritual, and philosophical state of being. At the film's start Daniel's entire being is thrown out of balance when he moves across the country and is forced to start a new life in California. Despite his best efforts to adjust to his new school he quickly finds himself targeted by bullies led by Cobra Kai's top karate student, Johnny. The constant harassment leads Daniel to retreat from his social life and avoid his classmates as his existence becomes reduced to a struggle to survive one day to the next. It is only when he begins training with Mr. Miyagi and reevaluating his perspective that Daniel finally begins to regain his sense of balance as he steadily gains confidence and reclaims his sense of self. By the film's conclusion Daniel has finally achieved a balanced life after making a true friend, embarking upon a healthy romantic relationship, and finding a lifelong passion. It is this achievement rather than his famous crane kick that ensures that he is already a winner even before he steps onto the tournament mat. Next time that you feel like life's throwing you off of your game take a deep breath and remember, "Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life have a balance. Everything be better"
More Mercy: The motto of the notoriously ruthless Cobra Kai dojo is "Strike hard, strike fast, no mercy". While this philosophy may ensure that Cobra Kai's students are victorious on the mat Mr. Miyagi reminds Daniel that such a victory is hollow at best. At the start of The Karate Kid II Daniel and Mr. Miyagi witness Johnny's sensei, John Kreese, viciously beating Johnny as punishment for only earning second place in the tournament. After Mr. Miyagi intervenes on Johnny's behalf Kreese attacks Mr. Miyagi only to realize that he is outmatched. Before he can deliver a lethal blow, however, Mr. Miyagi releases Kreese with a warning. When Daniel asks why Mr. Miyagi let Kreese go Mr. Miyagi replies, "For person with no forgiveness in heart living worse punishment than death". This quote accurately summarizes how Kreese's 'no mercy' philosophy has destroyed his humanity and reduced him to an existence defined by anger and bitterness. This is further highlighted in The Karate Kid III when Kreese is later revealed to have become consumed by a vengeful obsession with Daniel and Mr. Miyagi after he loses his students, business, and reputation following his attack on Johnny.
The value of forgiveness is shown in The Karate Kid II when Daniel and Mr. Miyagi travel to Japan and encounter Mr. Miyagi's best friend turned embittered enemy, Sato. After Sato's betrothed, Yukea, ended their engagement to pursue a relationship with Mr. Miyagi Sato refused to forgive either of them, and lost two of the most important people in his life. Despite achieving wealth and power decades later, Sato continues to dwell upon his past and has become a hardened shell of a man. When Sato is injured during a typhoon Mr. Miyagi sets their differences aside and risks his own life to rescue his former friend. This selfless act allows both men to make peace with their pasts and transforms Sato, who is finally able to move forward with his life. The next time that someone deals you a low blow choose the higher path; in a world full of Sato's and Kreese's be a Miyagi.
Never Let Your Fears Defeat You: Over the course of the franchise Daniel faces an array of opponents, but none of those opponents is more dangerous than his own fear. In The Karate Kid III, Kreese enlists the aid of ruthless karate champion Mike Barnes in finally exacting his revenge upon Daniel. After enduring Mike's relentless tormenting Daniel loses his confidence both on and off of the mat. During their final tournament fight Mike viciously attacks Daniel both physically and mentally. After suffering an injury Daniel nearly surrenders and tells Mr. Miyagi, "I just want to go home...I'm afraid of him, okay. I'm afraid". Mr. Miyagi then reminds Daniel that while he will inevitably lose to some opponents he must never lose to his own fear. It is then that Daniel regains his confidence just in time to win the match.
Mr. Miyagi's advice echoes Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famous speech upon his election at the height of the Great Depression in which he advised the American people that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". When President Roosevelt made this speech he was not denying the reality of the Depression, but instead reminding the country of the importance of continuing to fight even in the face of unprecedented adversity. Whether facing a national crisis, entering a sports tournament, conducting a job interview, or asking out a crush the surest ways to guarantee that we do not succeed are quitting and failing to try in the first place. In life we will inevitably face adversaries and obstacles that will defeat us, but we are only defeated by fear if we allow ourselves to be. Bravery does not mean never being scared, it means carrying on even we are at our most intimidated. Whenever you find yourself confronted with your own fear face it head on and remember that whether you win or lose you'll still have earned a victory just by trying.
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