To be quite honest, I wasn't that thrilled to watch Cobra Kai, as I'd seen the previous Karate Kid films and didn't have the desire to go back 30 years in time. I used to be an accomplished martial artist, and I've been burnt on it for some time. A couple decades to be precise...but I digress. I really didn't think it was going to be that good. Not even having finished the current season, I was glad to find I really like it. For a couple of reasons:
1) First and foremost, there is a rock music soundtrack. Now of course the origins of this saga come from the early 80s so it's appropriate, but I have to ask a question: Am I the only guy who's absolutely SICK of hearing hip-hop music and rap on action film and tv soundtracks? NO ONE gets motivated to open a can of whoop-ass to that shit. To each their own, maybe they do (my girlfriend works out to it, so there's exceptions)...but I'm just glad to hear music with balls for a show that also has them. Give me a big drum beat and a bitchin guitar riff any time to throw down to.
More importantly....
2) Those who deserve an ass beating in this show get it. In modern day 2018, and in California NO LESS...I'm surprised they got away with making it this day and age honestly, as pussified and politically correct society is much less as bad as it is here in ultra leftist land.
The kids in the Cobra Kai class are made fun of. Insulted. Told to deal with it if someone gets in their face. And you know what? That's exactly what they do in this show. The show makes a good example of how bad it is with the cyber bullying bs kids realistically have to deal with growing up now. They can't help the generation they grow up in. I couldn't. No one can. But in this show, it gives a realistic portrayal of stepping up to your opponent in person to their face and not backing down. It also shows the sissified supposed "friends" you can only have online who never had your back and never will because they consider "social" media to be something that is an accurate portrayal of what a true friendship is. News flash: It isn't, and NEVER will be.
Today's children are taught to have 0 backbone and not stand up for themselves, because "You can't say that!", for fear of being sued, because they're taught that anyone being offended by anything is the worst thing that can happen. One kid in the class storms out because the instructor makes fun of his lip. He comes back with a new look and says "I'm flippin' the grid" and now looks like a badass and doesn't let what the instructor or anyone else says bother him. Because he has learned in a very short amount of time that LIFE. ISN'T. FAIR. and if he doesn't adapt and not let people run over him, they will - without apology. While words are powerful, actions still speak louder. Your actions by not standing up for yourself speak just as loudly as those kids who are bullies in school who are assholes just because they need someone to pick on. It's not easy to stand up for yourself, I had a tough time myself even as a kid who excelled in my martial arts classes. But eventually I did it and won the respect of my peers (I never needed or desired it, but they at least left me alone when they found out I meant business).
I also have to say it makes me fondly reminiscent of when we actually got hit in martial arts class and truly learned how to fight/take a punch/kick/etc. (in the days before people would sue you for anything and everything), because it toughened us up. I know nowadays there's a lot of martial arts schools who churn out black belts who may be skilled far as their technique/etc. but couldn't hold their own in a fight because they were never allowed to really get HIT and learn to cope with the pain of the experience. I'm glad we were when I was a student. My instructor was indeed an asshole, but he at least taught us without any bs attached and didn't let us get by with sub-par technique, and when it came time to put on the pads we flat out threw down. I am NOT advocating that martial arts schools beat children or physically abuse their students, but if they're not able to get hit and cope with it, then how is that black belt going to help them in a self defense situation? It isn't. And you're always taught that you shouldn't use your skills unless you absolutely have to, but if you do and can't cope with a real life threatening or dangerous situation where you have to endure physical pain to survive, you're going to end up a statistic unfortunately.
Bottom line: I'm just really glad to see a modern day series that accurately portrays what life is like when challenged and/or when you don't stick up for yourself, and what people THINK it's like who "live" their lives online. These kids can't help that they were born into the internet age, but they can be still taught that reality, no matter how convoluted or altered it may be, isn't ever going away. Cue badass guitar riff! I'm out for now. Thanks for reading.
