Cobra Kai: A Lesson on Teaching and Learning

Sometime around 1986 my mother decided to enroll me in Karate classes. My dad was often away for work (activity duty military) and she wanted some male role models in my life. Not sure what influence the movie Karate Kid had on the decision to put me in Karate classes (I did like the movie), but it was the start of my martial arts journey. I recently made a video that summarizes this journey as part of earning my blackbelt at the Chinese Martial Arts Academy (CMAA).

Me in 1986

You bet I was excited about the release of the YouTube series Cobra Kai. Here is the description of the show from YouTube:

"Thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence’s life has taken a rocky turn as he tries to forget a past that constantly haunts him. He seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. But the LaRusso-Lawrence rivalry of yesteryear is reignited when their lives become intertwined with the next generation of “karate kids.”

As a father, teacher, and martial artist I found much to love about this series. It's like the makers of it asked,"What could we produce that Scott will really get into?"

Though the series wasn't meant to be an examination of teaching and learning I couldn't help but contemplate the decisions made by the adults and youth in the series. There was give and take both ways as there is in any classroom. Here are a few things I thought about.

What was my take-away as a teacher. 

The Power of Reflection
There should be no need to point out (if you've seen the show) that Johnny Lawrence is not the teacher you want for your kid(s). He drinks. He puts his students in dangerous situations. He advocates for winning at all costs. It's Cobra Kai dammit!

He does have lots going for him as a teacher though. As with any aspiring business owner he quickly realizes that he needs customers to keep his business open (more importantly to him, to also outdo LaRusso in someway). So he listens, reflects, and accommodates by accepting girls and admitting he needs more than one specific "type" of student. He reflects on how his actions affect his students and dojo. He definitely makes lots of mistakes and you continually hope he makes better decisions. That's one reason I found the story compelling. You could almost see him reflecting during and after the final matches in the show.

You Teach How You Were Taught
If you are a parent you are familiar with this. When put into a tough situation you fish around in your mind for a response. Your son/daughter fails a test, for example. You search around in your myriad of memories for how your parents may have dealt with this. You go to your role models. How would my mom or dad deal with this? Johnny did the same. He had one instructor at the original Cobra Kai. That's all he knows. Your not going to squeeze water from a rock. Adjusting your teaching style is challenging and requires time and reflection. He comes from one school of thought and that is what he relies on and goes back to. Often as teachers we don't realize how often we do this. I believe this is why observing good teaching is valuable. You can gain new perspectives and branch out your thinking and teaching styles.

Differentiated Instruction
Especially at the beginning, he may not be the teacher you want for kids, but he may be the style of teacher they need. Some students respond well to in-your-face challenges, tough discipline,  and no-nonsense teaching. Different students need different approaches. Imagine if one of Sensei Lawrence's pupils was coming from a tough home life. Maybe one already involving abuse or neglect. His literal "punch you in the face" teaching style may not work as well as calm and caring. Being a good teacher means being able to adjust your approach when dealing with different students. It also requires knowing your students in a real way. Johnny Lawrence does not relate well to his students. He is very distant. LaRusso, however, talks to his student and tries to develop a rapport with him.

High Expectations
Johnny Lawrence has them. He expected each of his students to try their hardest...or leave. He didn't go soft on them. His top students also bought into the program he was selling and excelled. Results speak for themselves and success breeds success. High expectations for everyone brings up what is possible for everyone. I know in the classes I attend at CMAA that students often excel where they think they won't. They are often better than they think they are. I try for the same high expectations in my science classes.

Final Thoughts

In the next season of Cobra Kai we are sure to see more of Daniel LaRusso's dojo. I'm stoked to see how his school differs from Cobra Kai. There is so much more to talk about concerning martial arts teaching and how it compares to classroom teaching. I have a few more blog posts planned including: experiential learning, belt systems/gamification, assessment, and student attitude.

I 'm very interested in hearing other's thoughts on Cobra Kai and how it relates to teaching.





Cobra Kai YouTube Link
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe9DTWmhhxeKyYHL4mldGcA