Way back in the dark ages of 1996 before Wi-Fi and even cable in college dorm rooms, my college roommates and I suffered through a near complete disconnect from the real world. It seems like a lifetime ago, considering how today we are all connected to everything 24/7.
One of the results of this disconnect and the lack of TV shows was that we watched a lot of movies. I really mean the same five or six VHS cassettes over and over. The ones that we watched the most were two of my favorite trilogies of all time, Star Wars and The Karate Kid. At some point during one of our viewings, I reached an epiphany.
There are uncanny similarities between Star Wars and The Karate Kid. It actually inspired me to write a persuasive speech about it for a public speaking class a year later. And, after recalling that speech, I was inspired to write this article.
The similarities between Star Wars and The Karate Kid begin with two sets of the main characters: Daniel Larusso & Luke Skywalker and Master Yoda & Mr. Miyagi.
Looking at the main protagonists first:
The characters of Luke and Daniel were both around the same age when we first see them, approximately 17-18.
Both Mark Hamill and Ralph Macchio were in their 20s when they played them.
Both characters start their respective films as pessimistic, whiny teens, completely oblivious to their true potential.
Aunt Beru: Where are you going?
Luke: Looks like I’m going nowhere… I’m gonna finish cleaning those ‘droids.Lucille Larusso: This is it. This is the end of the line.
Daniel: You’re telling me.
Both characters are without their fathers. Daniel’s died while he still lived in New Jersey and Luke’s…well; we all know what happened to Luke’s father.
Daniel leaves the only home he’s ever known, Parsippany, New Jersey in the opening scene of The Karate Kid. Luke leaves his home of Tatooine aboard the Millennium Falcon fairly early in Episode IV.
Both, through training and hard work, become powerful warriors, but each sees action before they are truly ready.
Luke confronts Vader before he is truly a Jedi.
Vader– The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.
Daniel fights in the All-Valley Karate Championship with only a limited amount of karate knowledge, not even having a belt until Mr. Miyagi steals him a black one.
Daniel: I don’t know if I know enough karate.
Miyagi: Feeling correct.
Daniel: You sure know how to make a guy feel confident.
Miyagi: You trust the quality of what you know, not quantity.
Second, let’s examine the mentors, Master Yoda and Mr. Miyagi.
First, we need to get the superficial similarity out of the way, because, let’s face it; Yoda and Miyagi look a lot alike.
They are both old masters of their arts; Yoda as a Jedi and Miyagi in karate. Obviously, Yoda, at 800 is significantly older than Miyagi, but both would seem to be at about the same place on their respective species’ life span.
Most importantly, both Yoda and Miyagi have the same philosophies.
Luke: All right, I’ll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.Miyagi: Now, ready?
Daniel: Yeah, I guess so.
Miyagi: [sighs] Daniel-san, must talk.
[they both kneel]
Miyagi: Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later
[makes squish gesture]
Miyagi: get squish just like grape. Here, karate, same thing. Either you karate do “yes” or karate do “no.” You karate do “guess so,”
[makes squish gesture]
Miyagi: just like grape. Understand?
Daniel: Yeah, I understand.
Miyagi: Now, ready?
Daniel: Yeah, I’m ready.Yoda: I am wondering, why are you here?
Luke: I’m looking for someone.
Yoda: Looking? Found someone, you have, I would say, hmmm?
Luke: Right…
Yoda: Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.
Luke: I don’t think so. I’m looking for a great warrior.
Yoda: Ohhh. Great warrior.
[laughs and shakes his head]
Yoda: Wars not make one great.Daniel: Hey – you ever get into fights when you were a kid?
Miyagi: Huh – plenty.
Daniel: Yeah, but it wasn’t like the problem I have, right?
Miyagi: Why? Fighting fighting. Same same.
Daniel: Yeah, but you knew karate.
Miyagi: Someone always know more.
Daniel: You mean there were times when you were scared to fight?
Miyagi: Always scare. Miyagi hate fighting.
Daniel: Yeah, but you like karate.
Miyagi: So?
Daniel: So, karate’s fighting. You train to fight.
Miyagi: That what you think?
Daniel: [pondering] No.
Miyagi: Then why train?
Daniel: [thinks] So I won’t have to fight.
Miyagi: [laughs] Miyagi have hope for you.
Lastly, let’s examine the protagonists, Darth Vader and Jon Kreese
Vader and Kreese have both taken something good and pure and warped it into something evil. Vader turning to the Dark Side of the Force and Kreese turning to the Cobra-Kai style of karate. Both wear black and end up being shown that the dark side is not quite as powerful as they had thought.
Brian Morin is a fan of anything related to the 80s. His love of playing with G.I. Joe developed into an obsession that continues to this day. He hosted an 80s themed radio show while in college which justified the building of a library of over 250 80s CDs. When he isn’t collecting and obsessing he is spending time with his wife and kids in Myerstown, PA.
Am I missing any content, or does the article really end that abruptly? Either way, a fun read, two storylines I would not have thought to compare — and the similarity of the “do or do not” philosophy is startling.
I had never noticed the parallels! Love the Miyagi /Yoda mashup pic at the top.
Tom- I had no desire to watch it when it premiered, and luckily Tank talked me into jumping on pretty early. It really hit its stride halfway thru the first season and it became my favorite show. The guys on it are so well written. Hilarious.