MiguelHey, I just wanted to say thank you.
Alright, well, you said it.
Miguel
So last night, was that, like, tae kwon do, or Jiu-Jitsu, or MMA, or something?
It's karate. Old school karate.
Miguel
Do you think you could teach me?
Miguel
What? Come on, when school starts, those guys are gonna make my life miserable.
Miguel
If I just knew a little bit of what you knew then I would be--
Forget it! I don't do karate anymore! All right? Besides, I need to find a job.
Miguel
Well, you can open your own karate school.
Miguel
Well, you could open your own dojo.
Look, I'm not getting into this with you, all right? I'm not even sure I'm allowed to be around kids right now.
Cobra Kai isn't just about karate. It's about a way of life. [Points to wall with "Strike First Strike Hard No Mercy" written on it] Take that first lesson. Striking first is the initial step towards victory. Okay, like when you're at a party, and you see a hot babe. You don't wait for some other guy to go talk to her first, do you?
Miguel
I mean, I've never been to a party, so...
Big surprise. Alright, look, striking first is about being aggressive. Alright? If you're not aggressive, then you're being a pussy. And you don't wanna be a pussy! You wanna have balls!
Miguel
Don't you think you're doing a lot of genderizing?
Miguel
Oh, sorry. Don't you think you're doing a lot of genderizing, sensei?
No, what the hell are you talking about?
Miguel
Oh, uh, my guidance counselor says that certain words can perpetuate the sexist world view that can trigger-
QUIET! From now on, you won't listen to your guidance counselor, you're gonna listen to me! Is that understood?
Miguel
Uh, yes, sensei.
Some things never change.
Yeah? What are you talking about?
I heard you beat up a bunch of teenagers in that parking lot out there.
Oh, that. No, I didn't beat up any teenagers. I kicked the shit out of a bunch of assholes who deserved it.
Wow. Johnny Lawrence calling someone else an asshole. That's rich, man.
Yeah, what's that supposed to mean?
Alright, look. I'm not here to rehash the past. Just stay away from my daughter's friends.
Your daughter's friends? Yeah, that makes sense. Nice company she keeps.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
It means those friends of hers were wailing on a kid half their size. Maybe you don't know your daughter as well as you think you do. Get your house in order, LaRusso.
Who the hell do you think you're talking to?
Miguel
Bathroom's clean! [walks into the scene] Is there anything else you need me to do?
[Johnny motions towards Miguel. He pulls out his earphones.]
Miguel
I'm sorry, Sensei. I...
Sensei? Really? Oh my god. [To Miguel] Kid, I don't know what he's told you, but you shouldn't believe a word this guy says, or you're gonna end up just like him. [Back to Johnny] You and I, this...we're not done.
Miguel
I wish I could show my mom what I did to those boards, but if she knew where I was right now, she'd kill me. What's wrong with you?
[After reading "Final Notice" bills] Nothing. Put your costume on, I'm driving you to that dance, and we're gonna pick up some more students. [Sees Miguel's horribly homemade halloween costume] What the hell is that?
Miguel
It's my halloween costume. My ya-ya made it. It started off as Deadpool, then I think it was Spider-Man, and then it just kinda became some generic superhero.
Yeah, a poor one at that. You're Poor-Man.
Miguel
Yeah.
Well, I can't let you go out like that. We have a reputation to uphold.
Miguel
What do you suggest?
[At the high school dance, Miguel is seen wearing Johnny's skeleton costume from the first movie]
Miguel Diaz
My mom says I can train again.
Miguel Diaz
Yeah. I mean, if we still have a dojo.
We do for now. All right, but I need to know are you ready to take things to the next level?
Miguel Diaz
Yes, Sensei.
You got your ass kicked because you didn't have any defense. So I'm gonna teach you the best defense that you can know. And the best defense- [holds up his fists to Miguel's face] -is more offense.
[Miguel shoves Kyler away from humiliating Sam]
KKyler
I'm ready for your lame-ass karate this time!
Miguel
It's not lame-ass karate. [Blocks punch from Kyler] It's Cobra Kai. [Punches Kyler in the face.]
Since you joined Cobra Kai, I have been hard on you. I've called you names, I've humiliated you - some of you, I've hit. And for that, I don't apologize. Cobra Kai is about strength. If you can't be strong on the inside, you can't be strong on the outside. And right now - you're all weak. And I know that because I was you. I used to have no friends, I used to be the weird kid. Well, maybe not that weird, I still hooked up with babes 'n all but the point is - I wasn't always the badass Sensei that I am today. Just like a cobra, I had to shed my loser skin to find my true power. And you guys will too.
[Eli enters sporting a new mohawk. No one recognizes him]
Miguel
Eli... what happened?
EEli
I'm flippin' the script.
Wait, are you the kid with the lip? Nice cut, bro! You see that? It doesn't matter if you're a loser, or a nerd, or a freak. All that matters is that You... Become... Badass! "Hawk" - fall in.
[Eli/Hawk kicks off his shoes and falls in at the front of the class next to Aisha and Miguel. The other Cobra Kais stare in awe]
Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Miguel
No, Sensei!
Class! Are you ready to learn the 'Way of the Fist'?
MAMiguel, Aisha, Eli
Yes, Sensei!
It was the summer of '82. Rocky III had just come out. My buddy Dutch was a huge Mr. T fan, so we went to a local theater to check it out. Sitting in front of us was this group of cute chicks, eating popcorn, and Dutch started throwing Milk Duds at 'em.
Miguel
What? Why would he do that?
'Cause, it's an alpha move, man. Chicks love it when you treat 'em like crap. Anyway, eventually the girls got so pissed off one of 'em stood up and started yelling at us. That's when I saw her for the first time.
Miguel
Saw who?
Miguel
I found his weakness, Sensei; it's his shoulder.
Look, we wanna win, but it's gotta be the right way. You don't have to fight dirty.
Miguel
There's nothing dirty about winning, Sensei. You taught me that. Don't worry; I got this. No mercy.
[The students fall into position, with Miguel and Hawk in front]
Must've been a rager, sensei.
Miguel Diaz
Yeah, were you celebrating all weekend?
Celebrating what? That my students are a bunch of pussies? Diaz, Hawk, up front!
[Miguel and Hawk step forward, facing the other students]
Hawk, did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?
Diaz, did you purposely attack your opponent's injury?
Miguel Diaz
Yes, Sensei.
You think that makes you badass? [Hawk and Miguel look at Johnny, visibly confused] What's the matter? Too tough a question? Maybe you need some help. Miss Robinson!
Two cobras in the jungle. One kills the strongest lion. The other kills a crippled monkey. Which cobra do you want to be?
The one that kills the lion, sensei.
Because it killed the stronger animal.
Correct! Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is the one that beats his opponent when he's at his strongest. [facing Hawk] Not when his back is turned! [Facing Miguel] Not when he's injured! Is that understood?
That means no more cheating. No more fighting dirty. From here on out, those are "pussy moves". And you don't want to be pussies, do you?
Good. That's why I had you wear your white belts. You're starting over. Diaz, Hawk, fifty push-ups, on your knuckles. Miss Robinson, warm them up.
[Johnny has his students lined up in front of a cement mixer truck]
You think winning the All Valley gives you the right to goof off? Well, I got news for you. Winning one championship don't mean squat! A true champion never stops training. You gotta keep moving forward, or else you can get stuck exactly where you are. It's like the cement in this truck. If that drum doesn't start turning, the cement inside will harden and get stuck. Is that what you want to happen to you?
Good. Then climb up, get inside, and make it spin.
Sensei, we're sorry for messing around.
[lowers the cement mixer's ladder]Get in!
Miguel Diaz
Sensei, this seems kind of dangerous. I mean, the fumes alone-
Quiet! This man led you to the mountaintop and you question him? Look at you. Look at all of you. I can't believe this pathetic pack of pussies competed in the All Valley, and let alone won. It's an absolute miracle. And who's responsible for that miracle? Johnny Lawrence. The best student in the history of Cobra Kai. My student.
You were Sensei's sensei?
You better believe it, kid. And I tell you I've never trained a tougher student in my whole life. So if you know what's good for you, you better listen to every goddamn word he says.
[long pause before Miguel steps forward]
Miguel Diaz
I'll do it, Sensei.
Miguel Diaz
Okay. The app is downloaded. What type of women are you looking to meet? Super hot babes. Dumb question. Okay. What are your likes?
Miguel Diaz
Mm hmm.
What am I supposed to say? Long walks on the beach? I like muscle cars, martial arts, and "Iron Eagle". And "Iron Eagle II". Why aren't you texting this down? Computer dating is your idea.
Miguel Diaz
Look, you have to take this seriously.
It used to be simple. Find a chick in a bar. Bump into her hard, but not too hard. Pretty hard. Then you buy her a beer.
Miguel Diaz
Yeah, no.
Tried and true, Diaz. That's how the cavemen did it. Cavemen. That's another like. You know, like the ones in those insurance commercials.
Miguel Diaz
[sighs] Look, I think I can fill out the rest of this on my own. What about clothes? What are you wearing?
You gonna teach me about fashion now?
Miguel Diaz
Might have to.
[The three senseis are giving speeches to their students]
I know it's been a while since our last class. After the fight at the school, I wasn't sure Miyagi-Do should stay open, but things have gotten worse since we shut down. That's why we're back. The only way to stop Cobra Kai is if we all work together. But always remember, the reason we learn karate is—
To show the world that you're not a bunch of pansy-ass nerds! We're gonna show 'em that you're tough, because eagles don't get shit on! They're the ones that do the shitting. Just don't forget, being a badass doesn't mean being an asshole. The goal isn't to hurt other kids. The goal is to—
Win at all costs. Those we thought to be our allies have turned against us. Now our enemies are attacking us from all sides. There is no turning back. Now is the time to show them—
Forgiveness. Compassion. Mr. Miyagi used to say, "If you're looking for revenge, you could start by digging two graves." He was right. If you have hate in your heart, then you've already lost. I know it's not easy, but you have to do whatever you can—
To beat the living crap out of 'em! Don't let 'em push you around. You gotta swoop down like an eagle, grab 'em with your claws, and sink your fangs into 'em...but I don't ever want you to start the fight. I just want you to—
Finish it... for good. Do I make myself clear?
EMEli "Hawk" Moscowitz, Tory Nichols, Miguel Diaz, Samantha LaRusso, Demetri
YES, SENSEI!!
[Miguel barges into the town hall meeting, and makes his way down to the podium for petitioners to speak at]
Miguel Diaz
My name is Miguel Diaz. I was in the school fight. I was the one who got kicked off the second floor. I know...I thought I was going to be paralyzed. I relearned how to stand. I relearned how to walk. And I want the tournament to continue.
CRCouncilperson Roberts
We are very happy for your recovery, young man. But I'm afraid you don't understand-
[stands up] Yes, he does. We're the ones getting hurt. We're the ones fighting! [Sam joins Miguel at the podium] Our voices should matter the most. And we want a place where we can compete, fairly and safely.
Miguel Diaz
When I first moved here, I was bullied. I realized that there’s no escaping it. There's always going to be some kid will want to steal your lunch money, or give you a wedgie, or give you a swirlie.
CRCouncilperson Roberts
A swirlie?
It's when you, uh, dunk someone's head in a toilet and flush it. Pretty funny, actually.
Miguel Diaz
[to Johnny] Sensei! [to Councilperson Roberts] Instead of burying your heads in the sand and pretending that bullying doesn’t exist, or that you could get rid of it, what you need to do is to teach kids how to defend themselves.
Physically and... mentally. Because... sometimes the scars you can't see are the ones that hurt the most.
Miguel Diaz
Karate is about discipline. It’s about inner strength. it’s about confidence! Lessons that you could use the rest of your life! Look, I don’t know where I would be today, or who I would be today... if it wasn’t for my Sensei. Look, we don’t need this tournament to do cool kicks or to sell tickets. We need it to show the bullies of the world that we’re not afraid. It’s called the All-Valley because it’s for everyone, to give everyone the chance to show what they can do, to fight, to become a champion. And we deserve that chance.
Cobra Kai · 95 quotes
