
The series, stemming from the renowned Karate Kid franchise of the 1980s, includes flashbacks showing Daniel LaRusso learning not just the Goju Ryu martial art style under his sensei, Mr. Miyagi, but also essential life lessons that are integral to this fighting style. During their training sessions, Miyagi frequently shares anecdotes from his past, such as growing up in Okinawa and mastering various martial arts, including Goju-Ryu, a style known for its “hard” and “soft” aspects, characterized by powerful strikes combined with soft, circular movements to counter or redirect attacks. One iconic example straight from the movies is the famous “wax on, wax off” scene where, by moving hands in a circular motion, a student can block or deflect incoming punches. Miyagi teaches Daniel these techniques by having him perform household chores that mimic the movements of the blocks, initially leading Daniel to believe he’s just doing free labor as a teenager.