Miyagi: Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off.

Oh this movie. It’s a classic, but somehow I’ve never actually seen it. Right now is the second best time though, so here we go!

In a nutshell, it’s a pretty straight forward coming-of-age / underdog sports movie from the 80s. Really. Daniel moves to a new town, gets beat up, meets the girl, gets beat up some more, meets the mysterious mentor figure, learns (but doesn’t realize it), learns (but does), loses the girl, gets her back, and, in the end, wins the day.

Exactly what you’d expect. But that’s not really what it’s all about. More than anything, it’s a movie about the character. I love just about everything between Daniel and Miyagi.

Daniel: You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.
Miyagi: You… pretty okay, too.

Miyagi is just so deadpan. Is he cracking jokes the whole time or is that just the way he is? NO IDEA. But he really does care deeply about Daniel and is doing his best to be the father figure he otherwise never got to be.

One of my favorite exchanges:

Miyagi: Now, ready?
Daniel: Yeah, I guess so.
Miyagi: [sighs] Daniel-san, must talk.
[they both kneel]
Miyagi: Walk on road, hm? Walk right side, safe. Walk left side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later
[makes squish gesture]
Miyagi: get the squish just like grape. Here, karate, same thing. Either you karate do “yes” or karate do “no.” You karate do “guess so,”
[makes squish gesture]
Miyagi: just like grape. Understand?
Daniel: Yeah, I understand.
Miyagi: Now, ready?
Daniel: Yeah, I’m ready.

It’s a fun movie. I’m glad to have (finally) seen it. And I totally understand why they made sequels, even if I have no idea where they’ll go with that.

Onward!