Timeline

This article covers the in-universe timeline for the The Karate Kid franchise.

1625

• Miyagi Shimpo Sensei, a fisherman, accidentally travels to China by boat after a failed day of fishing and drinking sake in a storm. (The Karate Kid Part II)

1635

• Miyagi Shimpo Sensei returns to Okinawa with a Chinese family and the secret to Miyagi-Do Karate. (The Karate Kid Part II)

1888

April

25

• Chōjun Miyagi is born in Okinawa.

1925

June

9

• Nariyoshi Miyagi is born in Okinawa. (Counterbalance)

1927

• Mr. Miyagi's Father takes his son fishing for the first time. (The Karate Kid Part II)

1939

September

1

• World War II begins. (The Karate Kid)

1940

• Nariyoshi Miyagi professes his love for Yukie, who was arranged to marry Sato Toguchi. Disgraced, Toguchi challenged Miyagi to a duel to the death, but he emigrated to the United States of America. (The Karate Kid Part II) Miyagi brought a priceless bonsai tree with him and planted it in a hidden spot in California. (The Karate Kid Part III) Miyagi later met his future wife in a Hawaiian cane field. (The Karate Kid)

1941

December

7

• The United States of America enters World War II. At first Japanese and Nisei citizens were discouraged from volunteering, and those already in active service were demoted to reserve units over fears of sabotage.

1942

Nariyoshi Miyagi and his wife were taken to Manzanar Relocation Center. (The Karate Kid)

1943

January

The United States army issued a call for Japanese-American volunteers. Nariyoshi Miyagi enlists.

1944

January

The 442nd Infantry Regiment is created, composed of mostly Japanese-American soldiers, Miyagi among them. He receives the Medal of Honor. (The Karate Kid) During his service, Miyagi was saved by Jack Pierce, and he teaches the latter Miyagi-Do Karate in return. (The Next Karate Kid)

November

2

• Nariyoshi Miyagi's wife and unborn son pass away while imprisoned at Manzanar Relocation Center due to childbirth complications. (The Karate Kid)

1945

September

2

• World War II ends. (The Karate Kid)

1953

October

8

• Chōjun Miyagi passes away at the age of 65.

1965

• John Kreese decides to enlist in the United States Army and fight in Vietnam. He falls in love with Betsy after he saves her from her abusive boyfriend, David. He promises to return to her before leaving for basic training. (Nature Vs. Nurture)

1966

December

18

• Daniel LaRusso is born to Lucille LaRusso and an unnamed man in Newark, New Jersey. (The Karate Kid)

1967

August

20

• Johnny Lawrence is born to Laura Lawrence and an unnamed man. (The Karate Kid)

1968

• John Kreese is serving in Vietnam. Captain Turner recruits him for an elite team and trains him in guerrilla tactics, demolitions, and hand-to-hand combat, specifically Tang Soo Do (which the captain learned during the Korean War under Master Kim Sun-Yung), which would later inspire Cobra Kai's style of karate. Kreese learns to show no mercy, and pledges to return to Betsy soon. On a mission, Kreese and his team are exposed behind enemy lines, and he disobeys an order to explode the enemy's base in order to save his teammate. However, he is then executed by the Vietcong in front of Kreese, Turner and Terry Silver. Kreese learns to not hesitate, and he and his team are taken as prisoners of war. (King Cobra) Meanwhile, Betsy is killed in a car accident. (December 19) Turner withholds this information from Kreese to keep him focused on the mission. (King Cobra) The first All Valley Karate Tournament is also held. (Mercy)

1969

• John Kreese and his team are still prisoners of war. The Vietcong torture them by forcing two members to fight each other to the death on a bridge of a pit of cobras. Terry Silver still blames himself for their capture, but Kreese reminds him to focus on surviving, and takes the blame himself, which Captain Turner agrees with. Kreese volunteers to fight Turner to the death to spare Silver. Turner reveals that Betsy is dead and he intentionally did not tell Kreese to keep him focused on the mission. Kreese defeats Turner in hand-to-hand combat and embraces the idea of "kill or be killed." Reinforcements arrive to free the prisoners of war, but Kreese causes Turner to fall into the pit. Silver expresses gratitude for Kreese saving his life and offers to help him with anything he would ever need. (December 19)

1970

• John Kreese becomes the United States Army karate champion. (The Karate Kid)

1972

• John Kreese is no longer the United States Army karate champion. (The Karate Kid)

1979

• Johnny Lawrence discovers Cobra Kai Dojo. (Quiver)

1981

• Johnny Lawrence competes in his first All Valley Karate Tournament. (Counterbalance) However, he is defeated by Darryl Vidal in the quarterfinals. (Miyagi-Do)

1982

• During a screening of Rocky III with his friends, Johnny Lawrence meets Ali Mills. They have their first date at Golf N' Stuff and kissed on the Ferris wheel. They were in love and dated for two years. (Molting) Johnny later won his first tournament. (Strike First)

1983

• Johnny Lawrence wins his second tournament without losing a single point. (Strike First) During the tournament, Tommy defeated Darryl Vidal to advance to the semifinals. He was defeated by Johnny in the finals. (Take a Right)

1984

December

18

• Nariyoshi Miyagi gives Daniel LaRusso his 1947 Ford Super De Luxe as a gift for his 18th birthday. Miyagi reminds Daniel to have balance in his life. (The Karate Kid)

19

• Daniel LaRusso defeats Johnny Lawrence and wins the 16th All Valley Karate Tournament. (The Karate Kid)

1985

August

15

• Daniel LaRusso defeats Chozen Toguchi during the O-bon dance. (The Karate Kid Part II)

1988

• Johnny Lawrence obtains a Summer Swimsuits magazine. (Miyagi-Do)

1994

• Nariyoshi Miyagi trains Julie Pierce to defend herself from the Alpha Elite. (The Next Karate Kid)

1997

July

8

• Dre Parker is born. (The Karate Kid (2010))

2001

September

1

• Dre Parker starts kindergarten. (The Karate Kid (2010))

2002

February

4

• Robby Keene is born to Johnny Lawrence and Shannon Keene. (Fire and Ice)

December

11

• Dre Parker loses his first tooth. (The Karate Kid (2010))

2003

November

24

• Dre Parker hits his first home run. (The Karate Kid (2010))

2007

November

13

• Dre Parker's father passes away. (The Karate Kid (2010))

2011

November

• Nariyoshi Miyagi writes his final letter to Yukie. (The Right Path)

15

• Nariyoshi Miyagi passes away at the age of 86. (Counterbalance)

2018

May

19

• Miguel Diaz defeats Robby Keene and wins the 50th All Valley Karate Tournament. Following his victory, Johnny discovers Kreese is alive when the latter visits him at the dojo. (Mercy)

To be finished