The Karate Kid (1984) - 15 questions

Question: During the final battle, why wasn't Johnny disqualified for deliberately attacking the knee like Bobby was? The referee saw Johnny attack the knee because he gave him a warning. So it makes no sense one participant would be disqualified and not the other.

Question: Johnny mentions something about ex-degenerate. I was just curious, what exactly was he talking about?

Answer: He's basically saying that he's going to go "straight-edge" and stop drinking, partying etc. He's going to buckle down and be good. Most likely to win Allie back.

Question: If Mr. Miyagi hadn't have intervened during the Cobra Kai students attack on Daniel, would Johnny have killed him with that kick to the face/head?

Answer: If you drive the nasal bone straight up with a fist or foot, it would shatter, enter the brain, and instantly kill you. So yes, it IS possible, but I doubt very much that Johnny would have risked that move, kill Daniel, and then face a murder charge.

Question: Why does Daniel lie to Freddy Fernandez about his mother's job? He said that she worked with rocket computers, yet we see her working in a restaurant.

Answer: He didn't lie. His mother was originally getting into computers but decided that she wanted to become a restaurant manager instead. This is discussed when Daniel and his mon are in the restaurant having lunch.

Question: Why do the Cobra Kai students dislike Daniel so much? What has he done that's annoyed them so much?

Answer: Did you not see the beginning of the film? Daniel stood up to Johnny and the other Cobra Kai's on the beach. This makes him their enemy. As Kreese teaches them, "an enemy deserves no mercy", which is why they continue to pick on him.

Question: In tournament action, is the crane kick an actual legal move to use? How about the stance to start the move?

Answer: There are no rules about how a fighter must stand before throwing a kick, and it's basically just a jumping front kick, which is completely legal.

Question: At the beginning during the Cruel Summer song sequence, while playing soccer Daniel is seen in an obvious "set-up" fight with Bobby. Was this gym class, or soccer try-outs?

Answer: It looks like after school try-outs since the cheerleaders are also practising.

Question: Why does Daniel get annoyed with Miyagi after he says Daniel was lucky he didn't hurt his hand falling off his bike?

Answer: Daniel's wounds came from fighting the Cobra Kai guys but he tells Miyagi that he was injured falling off of his bike. Miyagi sees through this and sarcastically says that he's lucky his hand wasn't hurt.

Question: During the final fight scene after Daniel scores the 2nd point, Johnny goes to have his Kreese check his nose. When he was done, Kreese told Johnny to "Sweep the lick." What did he mean by this?

Answer: He told him to "Sweep the Leg" meaning to concentrate his attack on Daniel's knee. Johnny balked at this since he would be disqualified, but did it anyway out of fear.

Question: This is in regards to the tournament in this movie and in part 3. Is it compatible to tournaments in real life? In real life, are they physically hitting each other or do they pull back on their punches? What do they do in the tournaments in both movies that is not allowed in a real life tournament?

Answer: Without knowing the exact style of karate, it is impossible to answer. I perform in martial arts tournaments but we wear various protective gear and are prohibited to strike at targets like knees (as in the movie) but are also prohibited from "excessive" contact on legal targets. My brother-in-law, though, does another style - and he won a match by kicking a person so hard he broke ribs and the other participant couldn't continue - so my brother-in-law won the match. Different styles differ.

Question: Where is the school that Daniel was seen riding his bike to, and is the school real and/or still there?

Answer: It's the Charles Evans Hughes Jr High School in CA and it still stands.

Question: Why does Mr Myagi call Daniel, "Daniel san"?

Answer: "San" is a japanese term of respect. Sort of like the english "Mr.", however "Sir" would be a little closer to what it means in japanese. They attach the "San" at the end of someone's name, rather than at the begining like english speakers do.

Question: Is the healing technique that Mr. Miyagi uses where he rubs his hands together real, or just something made up for the movie?

Answer: Thats debatable. Some chinese people beleive that they can heal injuries with the power of their hands, but it has yet to be proved by science. They added it into the movie to mahe Mr Miyagi seem powerful and mysterious.

Question: At the end of their date, Daniel and Ali run into some of her snobby friends who insult Daniel and drive off. Then Ali seems irritated at Daniel, but why? She's the one who is more laid back about their relationship and the fact that Daniel doesn't fit in with her friends. You'd think if anything she would try to reassure Daniel and say it's no big deal. So why is she mad at him, especially since he didn't say or do anything to make her so?

Answer: She is irritated because he told her she could have gone with her friends if she wanted. I believe she got annoyed because Ali thought Daniel should have realized by now she wanted to be with him and didn't care what her friends thought.

Question: Where exactly is the funpark where Daniel first takes Ali out on a date (and later makes up with her)? Is it still there?

Answer: Its in Anaheim, california. More specifically it is Camelot game and golf family fun center. However the slide shown in the movie as well as the park is out of business and no longer there. Sorry. http://www.boomersparks.com/parks/anaheim/.