- "Miyagi-Do's all about defense."
- ―Daniel to Sam[src]
These are the Miyagi-Do Karate lessons taught from Daniel LaRusso to his various Miyagi-Do students through the Cobra Kai series.
While some are similar to Miyagi's, Daniel himself has added his own spin to them as well as incorporated never before seen lessons and moves Miyagi has taught him.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Wax On, Wax Off
Daniel had his student, who was Robby Keene at the time, wash the antique cars he had inherited from Mr. Miyagi. The process of waxing them was tedious, had to be performed with his right hand, and apply the wax in a circular clockwise motion. He then repeated the motion with his left hand, moving counterclockwise. He had to remember to breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth. The lesson took him all day to complete.
Lesson 2: Raise and Lower the Flag
Each morning, Daniel made Robby raise the flag outside the dealership. He had to do so with his arms fully extended and high. He used one hand and alternated until the process was complete. At the end of the day, he lowered the flag using the same method.
Lesson 3: Wash the Windows
In a method similar to paint the house, the lesson required Robby to move his hands side-to-side with a squeegee across the windows of the LaRusso Auto Group. The motion was dependent on the hand he used.
Lesson 4: Jack up Car
Unlike the traditional method of jacking a car, Robby had to face the car and bend one knee, so he knelt on the floor. He moved the lever up and down with one arm in reps. Simultaneously, he stood and knelt in a matching motion to his arm.
Lesson 5: Sweep the Floor
Daniel taught this lesson to Robby on the showroom floor of LaRusso Auto Group. He gave Robby a large push-broom. As Robby swept the floor, he had to move his front foot forward, follow with his rear foot, until he reached the end of the floor. He then pivoted with his front foot on the ground until he had pivoted 180 degrees. He repeated this until the floor was spotless. It laid the groundwork for future movements.
Lesson 6: Staple the File
Daniel taught this lesson to Robby at LaRusso Auto Group. He stacked paper together and placed them under a stapler. He instructed Robby to strike the stapler with his palm, to condition his hands, increase his focus, and teach him a palm-strike. It also helped Daniel clear up his loose paperwork.
Lesson 7: Show
At this point, Robby was angry and frustrated with Daniel. He vented that he hadn't learned anything while his enemies were getting stronger. Daniel patiently asked Robby to show the movements he'd practiced over the few days. Daniel threw a strike while Robby "washed the windows" and was shocked too see he learned a block. The same came into play with the other chores, having taught him blocks unknowingly. He realized he'd learned the basic blocks of Miyagi-Do Karate, strengthened and conditioned his body, and gained muscle memory. The two faced one another and bowed while making eye contact.
Lesson 8: Miyagi-Do Kata
The foundation of Miyagi-Do Karate and the final lesson. This Kata, is based around the workings of the Bonsai Tree. He started with his fists pointing down to the ground, his roots. Then move his arms up to his chest and push them outwards, while opening his hands. The palms facing upwards as he did. Representing the branches growing and the leaves blooming. Then he raised his right hand up to his forehead with his left hand pointing downwards. His body turning and facing right. Then alternate positions, switching his hands and his stance so he was facing left. Representing the tree growing up and the limbs waving in the wind. Then he repeated the pattern until it becomes a natural flow to him.
Lesson 9: Punch
In this lesson, Daniel dressed in protective gear so Robby could practice the full-force of his punch. He had to focus the power of his body into the knuckle of his fist. He had to twist his feet, legs, hips, chest, and shoulders, and arms into his fist. He had to make the signature shout, a kiai, upon impact.
Lesson 10: The Tree
The tenth lesson. Much like Learn Balance, it involved learning to kick without falling. In this case, Robby stood atop a fallen log and practiced every kick. If he fell over, he had to go back up and try it again until he could do them all. He had to find Daniel, as only he knew the way out of the woods.
Lesson 11: The Wheel Technique
This lesson was completed by Sam and Robby, standing in a circle facing each other. The object is to move and perform the moves, within the circle in sync with one another, so they can be a strong defense. Originally, this training required the two to stand in a circle of sand, but thanks to a new installment within the dojo, a floating circular deck originally designed to balance Bonsai's from each other, the could do it over water. It also helped them sense where the other was going, through the slightest of imbalances of movements from the other causing the board to move.
Lesson 12: Lift the Stone
Improvised by Daniel LaRusso as a lesson in teamwork. Demitri and Chris used their required intelligence, strength and trust to lift a large stone knocked over from the Cobra Kai's vandalism. It helped strengthen their will and helped them work better together.
Lesson 13: Shochu-Geiko (暑中稽古)
- "Daniel: Shochu-Geiko is a Japanese exercise where you train during the hottest days of the year. It's about pushing yourself to your limit. The fight isn't always gonna come when it's 75 degrees and breezy."
Samantha: Aren't we supposed to avoid fighting?
Daniel:Sometimes you can't. Someday, the fight may come to you. And I wanna make sure you're ready. So, today, we're gonna see what Miyagi-Do is made of." - ―Daniel and Sam[src]
This lesson is a Japanese exercise involving training during the hottest days of the year. The object of the training is to learn how to adapt to the changes in temperature and use them to anticipate the moves of your opponent. While the Miyagi-Do Student will train in the traditional variation, training in hot temperatures, the main exercise involves a ring of nine students with the chosen Miyagi-Do in the center. When the number of the student is called, the corresponding student attacks the center student without warning, prompting them to defend themselves. Once mastered, they were ready to take on multiple opponents while adapting to the extreme temperatures.
Lesson 14: Kangeiko (寒稽古)
- "It's not about the heat or the cold. It's about adapting to the environment around you and using that to your advantage."
- ―Daniel[src]
This lesson is a Japanese exercise involving training under the coldest situations possible. Daniel brought the students to a freezer, as they lived in California and couldn't find the cold climate needed. The object of the training is to learn how to adapt to the changes in temperature and use them to anticipate the moves of your opponent. While the Miyagi-Do Student will train in the traditional variation, training in hot temperatures, the main exercise involves a ring of nine students with the chosen Miyagi-Do in the center. When the number of the student is called, the corresponding student attacks the center student without warning, prompting them to defend themselves.
Challenges
Challenge 1: The Double Kick
According to Daniel, this was one of the last moves Miyagi taught him how to do. He describes it as balancing your whole body on one hand, allowing both your feet to propel forward, kicking your opponent. Because Daniel was never able to master it himself, there was no proper lesson to how to do so. Robby figured it out through his skills as a skateboarder, since skateboarders naturally have to balance their bodies on one part of the board or themselves for tricks.