Summary
The Sekai Taikai is the biggest event in karate inCobra Kai, but I’m not so sure that Miyagi-Do is putting it’s best foot forward for the competition.Cobra Kaihas showcased the slow and steady improvements made by a group of teens trying to learn discipline and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Over the course of the show, people have changed sides, gone down darker paths, and picked themselves back up, but with the world’s premiere karate competition looming around the corner, playtime is over.
Miyagi-Do has finally put its house in order, withDaniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrenceputting aside their differences and focusing on helping their students in one united dojo. However, the exclusivity of the Sekai Taikai demands that the dojo will only be able to send its six best students to compete. WhileMiyagi-Do is full of incredibly talented fighters, there are a few members of the team that stand out. And despite the final line up consisting of Miguel, Sam, Hawk, Devon, Demetri and Robby, I can’t help but think there were some better fighters that got left behind.
All 4 Sekai Taikai Championship Contenders In Cobra Kai Season 6 Explained
As Cobra Kai enters its final season, the Sekai Taikai is beginning to amp up, with just a few characters from each group having a shot at winning.
Miguel Diaz
Former All-Valley Champ And Highly Resilient
First, there are several contenders who have fully earned their place at the Sekai Taikai. Among them, Miguel Diaz is one of the top names who rightfully earned a spot to compete. Miguel is not only a former All-Valley champion, buthe is incredibly determined and resilient. Despite suffering a major injury to his spine that could have left him unable to walk, Miguel pushed through the pain and physio therapy to not just walk again, but also fight at a competitive level.
Miguel has not quite climbed back to the same level that he was performing at before his injury, largely due to his anxiety and stress, but he is a real champion.Miguel is also one of the most talented fighters, proving his skills in various disciplines, and expanding his Cobra Kai karate to incorporate the more defensive Miyagi-Do style. Miguel is a great pick for the Sekai Taikai, and makes perfect sense on the team.
Robby Keene
Multi-Discipline Expert And A Strong Leader
On the other hand, there is Robby Keene, who is the boy responsible for putting Miguel in the hospital in the first place. Despite his colorful past,Robby hasput in the workto be focused and disciplined, and avoid acting without thinking. Robby has consistently been the most versatile and responsive fighter, with his skills being tested in several different environments both in and out of the dojos.
Robby came runner-up to Miguel, and to Hawk in the All-Valley, but on both occasions, he very narrowly missed the win due to other circumstances and distractions. Robby has come back to Miyagi-Do, after a brief hiatus with Cobra Kai, and he is one of the few students whohas been put to work teaching and training others. If he can maintain his focus, Robby could win the entire Sekai Taikai tournament, and considering his role as team captain, he needs to set the bar for the rest of his team.
Should a Cobra Kai college spinoff happen after season 6?
Netflix’s Cobra Kai is coming to an end with season 6, though the creators and stars have all teased their ideas for potential spinoffs to the Karate Kid show, one of the most discussed being a college-set show with the younger cast. Though season 6 is building towards meaningful closures to the characters' arcs, I would like to see their college years, particularly as college can see people go through a variety of changes beyond high school, and it would be interesting to see how the younger stars evolve further.
Sam LaRusso
A Fighter From A Young Age Ready To Prove Herself
In the lineup as it stands, Sam LaRusso is the only girl in the Miyagi-Do six to compete. This somewhat minimizes her position of female team captain, but Sam should not be underestimated.Sam has had the longest relationship with karateof anyone on the team, due to her father’s continued training with Mr. Miyagi when she was young. As a result, Sam has always practiced at a high level, but she did suffer setbacks when feuds broke out between Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai that resulted in her being attacked in her own home.
It took Sam some time to get back in the right mindset, but through her determination and positivity, she managed to become an elite fighter.Sam has great technical skill, and is able to adapt to various styles with a high degree of efficiency and accuracy. She earned her spot in the six, but it’s a shame other strong female fighters like Devon were cut, despite their incredible skills.
Tory Nichols
Tory Never Gives Up, In The Dojo Or At Home
However, Tory Nichols had a spot on the team. Tory has potentially had one of the most difficult journeys in the entire show, as a young girl who has been forced to care for and provide for her ill mother.Tory worked multiple jobs to keep food in the fridge, while also trying to juggle school, boys, and her passion for karate. Karate was the perfect outlet forTory while training at Cobra Kai, and she grew to be an exceptional fighter who could take on the likes of the incredibly experienced Sam and win.
However, Tory also fell in with some less than great leaders. People like John Kreese and Terry Silver saw her potential, and the fire in her belly, but instead of helping her to fan the flames and control it, they pushed her to let the fire engulf her.Tory has a short temper, and when tragedy strikes inCobra Kaiseason 6, part 1, she makes a rash decision to leave her team in Miyagi-Do behind, and fight as the female team captain with Cobra Kai. Tory would have been a huge asset, but now, she stands as Miyagi-Do’s biggest competition.
How Old Each Cobra Kai Kid Actor Is Compared To Their Character
Cobra Kai features several teenage characters, but how old they are compared to the actors who play Miguel, Tory, Sam, and others are very different.
Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz
Adaptable, Strong, And A Strategic Genius
Hawk is one of the most incredible transformation stories on the show. Eli Moskowitz started out as a quiet kid who was frequently bullied and put down, but with karate as his inspiration, he changed the narrative and reinvented himself. Now, he stands as one of the few former All-Valley champions thanks to his hard work and dedication, and his willingness to grow and learn.Hawk had a challenging road to becoming a new man, but when he eventually put his life in balance, there was no going back.
Hawk has frequently challenged and beaten foes twice his size. Despite his petite figure, he knows how to perform his moves, and how to disorient his rivals. He also has a knack for intimidation and psychological warfare, potentially stemming from hisincredible intelligence and academic background. Hawk is on the Sekai Taikai six, but he faces stiff competition, even within his own group, to claim the title of karate world champion.
Kenny Payne
Up-And-Coming Speedy Fighter
Kenny is another great example of a transformation story, although he remains firmly in the middle of that journey, rather than at the end. As a boy, Kenny was forced to move a lot due to his father’s military background. In addition, his older brother, Shawn, was frequently in trouble with the law, and detained in juvenile prison. As a result,Kenny struggled to make new friends, and was picked on by other kids who chose to focus on his differences, rather than the things they had in common.
Robby tookKenny under his wing at Cobra Kaiand helped him to hone his strengths, like his speed, as a way to dominate the competition. However, Kenny took the Cobra Kai mantra to heart and became increasingly angry and violent, which led to him beating his old friend and mentor, Robby, in a match. Kenny is undeniably talented and fast, but his aggression controls him. If he took more time to practice the Miyagi-Do style of karate and rid himself of his rage, he could be the best fighter in the entire Sekai Taikai, and a valuable asset for the team inCobra Kai’sfinal season.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
