The Karate Kid Quotations

The Karate Kid is a 1984 film about a boy who, after being beaten by local bullies using karate, becomes a student of a mild-mannered handyman who also happens to be a karate master.

Directed by John G. Avildsen. Written by Robert Mark Kamen. Starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita.

Only the Old One could teach him the secrets of the masters. Taglines

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi

Daniel-san, you much humor!
[repeated line to Daniel] Look eye! Always look eye!
To make honey, young bee need young flower, not old prune.

Others

John Kreese: We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition. A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy. What is the problem, Mr. Lawrence?
Tommy: Get him a body bag, yeah!
Johnny Lawrence: You're all right, LaRusso. [handing Daniel the tournament trophy] Great match!

Dialogue

John Kreese: Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?

Cobra Kai: No, Sensei!

John Kreese: Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?

Cobra Kai: No, Sensei!

John Kreese: Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?

Cobra Kai: No, Sensei!

John Kreese: Prepare! What do we study here?

Cobra Kai: The way of the fist, sir!

John Kreese: And what is that way?

Cobra Kai: Strike first, strike hard, no mercy, sir!

John Kreese: I can't hear you!

Cobra Kai: Strike first, strike hard, no mercy, sir!

Dutch: Looking for a shortcut back to Newark, Daniel?

Tommy: I think he wants to learn karate! Right?

Johnny Lawrence: Yeah! Okay, here's your first lesson: how to take a fall!

Dutch: Don't think about the pain.

Daniel LaRusso: This damn bike. I hate this bike. I hate this frigging bike. Stupid bike.

Lucille LaRusso: Daniel! What's the matter? Why did you throw your bike away?

Daniel LaRusso: Because I felt like it, Mum.

Daniel LaRusso: How come you didn't tell me?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Tell you what?

Daniel LaRusso: That you knew karate?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: You never ask?

Daniel LaRusso: Well, where did you learn it?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Father.

Daniel LaRusso: But I thought he was a fisherman.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: In Okinawa, all Miyagi know two things: fish and karate. Karate come from China, sixteenth century, called te, "hand". Hundred year later, Miyagi ancestor bring to Okinawa, call karate. "empty hand".

Daniel LaRusso: I always thought it came from Buddhist temples and stuff like that.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: You too much TV.

Daniel LaRusso: That what my mother tells me.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Fighting always last answer to problem.

Daniel LaRusso: No offense, Mr Miyajee, but I don't think you understand my problem...

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: [interrupting] Mi... ya... gi... understand problem perfect. Your friend, all karate student, eh?

Daniel LaRusso: Friend? Oh, yeah, those guys.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Problem: attitude.

Daniel LaRusso: No the problem is, I'm getting my ass kicked every other day, that's the problem.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Because boys have bad attitude. Karate for defense only.

Daniel LaRusso: That's not what these guys are taught.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Hai - can see. No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher. Teacher say, student do.

Daniel LaRusso: Oh, great, that solves everything for me. I'll just go down to the school and straighten it out with the teacher, no problem.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Now use head for something other than target.

Daniel LaRusso: Hey, I was just kidding about that.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Why kidding?

Daniel LaRusso: Because I'll get killed if I go down there.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Get killed anyway.

Daniel LaRusso: Hey, what kind of belt do you have?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Canvas. J.C. Penny. Three ninety-eight. You like. [laughs]

Daniel LaRusso: No, I meant...

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants. [laughs; then, seriously] Daniel-san, karate here. [taps his head] Karate here. [taps his heart] Karate never here. [points to his belt] Understand?

Daniel LaRusso: I think so.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Now, ready?

Daniel LaRusso: Yeah, I guess so.

Mr, Kesuke Miyagi: [sighs] Daniel-san, must talk. [they both kneel] Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later, [makes squish gesture] get 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] just like grape. Understand?

Daniel LaRusso: Yeah, I understand.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Now, ready?

Daniel LaRusso: Yeah, I'm ready.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: First make sacred pact. I promise teach karate. That my part. You promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. That your part.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: First, wash all car. Then wax. Wax on...

Daniel LaRusso: Hey, why do I have to...?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Ah ah! Remember deal! No questions!

Daniel LaRusso: Yeah, but...

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Hai! [makes circular gestures with each hand] Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out of mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important. [walks away, still making circular motions with hands] Wax on... wax off. Wax on... wax off.

Daniel LaRusso: Hey where do these old cars come from?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Detroit.

Daniel LaRusso: Wouldn't a fly swatter be easier?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Man who catch fly with chopsticks accomplish anything.

Daniel LaRusso: Ever catch one?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Not yet.

Daniel LaRusso: What where you doing on those stumps over there?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Called crane technique.

Daniel LaRusso: Does it work?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: If do right, no can defense.

Daniel LaRusso: Could you teach me?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature rule, Daniel-san, not mine.

Daniel LaRusso: Where did you learn it from?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Father teach.

Daniel LaRusso: You must have had some father, man

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Oh, yes.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Excuse me, please. Boy cold. Must leave. Kindly remove bottles.

Drunk: Kindly do it yourself, Mr. Moto.

[Miyagi karate-chops the tops of three beer bottles]

Daniel LaRusso: How did you do that? How did you do that?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Don't know. First time.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: [on Daniel's birthday, after having already giving him a present] Go outside. Something show you.

Daniel LaRusso: What?

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Number two present. [leads Daniel outside]

Daniel LaRusso: [walking and talking] Number two present? You don't have to give me anything. You've given me enough already. [Miyagi keeps walking, silently] No really, I'm serious.

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: [stops and points to his fleet of antique cars] Choose.

Daniel LaRusso: [surprised and hesitant] Oh, no...

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Hai! Hurt old man feeling. [points again] Choose.

Daniel LaRusso: You're the best friend I've ever had!

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: You... pretty OK, too. Go, find balance. [chuckles]

[Daniel starts to drive away]

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: Banzai, Daniel-san!

Daniel LaRusso: Hey, banzai!

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: [beat; then; louder] Banzai!

Daniel LaRusso: [louder] Banzai!

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: [shouts] Banzai!

Daniel La Russo: [shouts back] Banzai!

John Kreese: Bobby, I want him out of commission.

Bobby: But, Sensei, I can beat this guy.

John Kreese: I don't want him beaten.

Bobby: But I'll be disqualified.

John Kreese: Out of commission.

John Kreese: Sweep the leg. (referring to Daniel's injured leg)

[Johnny stares at him in shock]

John Kreese: Do you have a problem with that?

Johnny Lawrence: No, Sensei.

John Kreese: No mercy.

Taglines

He taught him the secret to karate lies in the mind and heart. Not in the hands.
Only the "Old One" could teach him the secrets of masters.

Cast

Ralph Macchio - Daniel LaRusso
Pat Morita - Mr. Kesuke Miyagi
Elisabeth Shue - Ali Mills
William Zabka - Johnny Lawrence
Martin Kove - John Kreese
Randee Heller - Lucille LaRusso

The Karate Kid

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi

Others

Dialogue

Taglines

Cast

See also