Who Is Mr. Miyagi's Struggle In The Karate Kid

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In the movie, The Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi gives this small, yet powerful piece of advice to Daniel LaRusso as he trains Daniel for the fight of his life. The Karate Kid centers on a teenage boy named Daniel LaRusso who moves to California and faces the difficult task of fitting in. However, a belligerent gang of karate students called the Cobras begins to bully him when he strikes up a relationship with Ali, the Cobra leader's ex-girlfriend. Wanting to fight back, but afraid of the dangerous gang, Daniel asks his handyman, Mr. Miyagi, to teach him karate. Overall, The Karate Kid is a movie about inner strength, self-control, and humility. As Daniel goes through his journey, he learns that arrogance and an unwillingness to learn from others …show more content…

After crossing the threshold, we find Daniel immediately in another conflict with the Cobra Kai gang. As the Cobra Kai leader, Johnny, approaches Daniel to beat him up, he says punitively, “You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you, little twerp? No, you had to push it. Now you're gonna pay”(Robert Mark Kamen, The Karate Kid). This scene can be thought of as Daniel’s abyss. The abyss is where the hero appears to have died and must be reborn and begin his transformation into a hero. In his abyss, we find Daniel in the foggy field behind his condo complex where the Cobra Kai, symbolically wearing skeleton costumes, beat Daniel senseless after chasing him from the Halloween dance. He’s saved, just in time, by Mr. Miyagi, the repair man, who takes out everyone in the Cobra Kai gang effortlessly. Afterwards, Mr. Miyagi revives Daniel and decides to help Daniel defend himself and beat the Cobra Kai gang in the All Valley Karate Tournament by teaching Daniel the art of karate. This is where Daniel must face many challenges and temptations in his journey as a part of “the road of trials”; all of which develop him into the hero he becomes. At school, Daniel must avoid getting thrashed or picked on by Johnny and his friends in order for him to be okay to fight in the tournament. With this challenge, his new girlfriend, Ali, helps him out …show more content…

Daniel LaRusso clearly transforms from being an underdog into a true hero as he goes through each stage found in a hero’s journey. Along the way, Daniel discovers that egotism and an unwillingness to learn from others is an impetus for hostility and conflict; yet, modesty and an ability to listen to others prompts confidence, control over oneself, and

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