Chances are if you grew up in the ’80s you were at some point on Team Daniel (Miyagi-Do Karate) or Team Johnny (Cobra Kai) after The Karate Kid debuted in 1984.

I was Team Daniel; I sympathized with the kid. I also had to move across the country in the middle of high school and make new friends in a new environment. It’s not easy. I’d be lying if I said I’d never practiced my crane kicks before 😉

 

It’s quite possible for those of you who were (and remain Team Johnny) to feel he was misrepresented and Daniel was the true instigator, as represented by this side of the story:

And yes it’s also true that Daniel’s tournament winning kick was to the face and should have disqualified him, had it not been for the ref willing to turn a blind eye after Johnny tried to remove Daniel’s knee from his body. That final blow was a temporary end to the Cobra Kai, an end that would be revisited in Karate Kid III.

 

Have you ever wondered what happened to Johnny? What happened to John Kreese? And what became of Daniel LaRusso?

 

YouTube Red presents a new series, Cobra Kai, that shows us where Johnny and Daniel are now in life. Nostalgia overload!

 

Set 34 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (still drives his old red Trans-Am with a cassette deck & sweet ’80s rock soundtrack) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This move reignites his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso, who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor Mr. Miyagi.

 

The first two episodes are free to watch on YouTube and do a nice job setting the tone. The remainder of the series is a part of YouTube’s subscription series and cost $2.49 per episode. But if you’re looking for a great throwback (complete with flashback scenes) this is a great series to kick back (pun intended) and enjoy.

 

Check out the first episode below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rB36UGoP4Y

 

Have you watched any of the new episodes yet? Are you Team Daniel or Team Johnny? Let us know on Facebook or send us a singing telegram.

 

Filed under: Cobra Kai, JACK up the '80s, The Karate Kid