The Karate Kid: Mr. Miyagi’s 20 Most Wise & Inspiring Quotes

Mr. Miyagi was the heart and soul of The Karate Kid films and the father everyone wishes they had. He was patient and full of wise words and advice.

Summary

• Mr. Miyagi’s wisdom in The Karate Kid films revolves around finding balance in life and maintaining it despite hardships.
• His quotes offer life lessons beyond karate, covering topics such as self-confidence, patience, and the importance of social development.
• Revenge leads to personal self-destruction, and living well is the best form of revenge according to Mr. Miyagi’s philosophy.

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The Karate Kid is one film that helped make 1984 the greatest year in film, thanks in large part to the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi’s quotes. After fleeing Okinawa for the United States, Miyagi went into quiet solitude before meeting Daniel LaRusso, a young boy tormented by bullies at his local high school. Throughout The Karate Kid film series, Mr. Miyagi became the father everyone wished they had, and his beautiful outlook on life in his thoughtful quotes wholly sums up his character. This is wisdom for the ages, all centered around the concept of finding balance in life and striving to maintain it despite hardships.

Though Mr. Miyagi might not be present in the Cobra Kai sequel series to the Karate Kid movies, there are enough Mr. Miyagi nuggets of wisdom to last a lifetime from the first three Karate Kid films. Ever the teacher, Miyagi was also a humble philosopher and a man of peace. When Daniel came close to the precipice, Mr. Miyagi knew just how to draw him back, and set him on the right path. He had advice about things not related to karate as well. This included dating, dealing with parents, schoolwork, and of course, the framework needed to create a stable foundation for a person’s entire life. So many of the best Karate Kid quotes are courtesy of Daniel’s sensei.

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“If Come From Inside You, Always Right One.”

The Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi’s first life lesson to Daniel came in the first film when the latter went to thank the former for repairing his bicycle. Mr. Miyagi invited him inside to show him how to trim Bonsai trees, hoping to capitalize on his curiosity in order to boost his self-confidence.

Right off the bat, Daniel doubted himself and was prepared to quit before he had even tried. Miyagi told him to focus within and trust himself. When Daniel asked if he knew whether the image of the Bonsai tree in his head would be the correct one, Miyagi replied with this Karate Kid quote. It was his way of saying that Daniel needed to be happy with himself, before expecting it of anyone else.

“You Trust The Quality Of What You Know, Not Quantity.”

The Karate Kid

Daniel was constantly worried about not learning enough, but Mr. Miyagi was able to remind him that he needed to exercise patience. Patience was not always a virtue for Daniel. It was more important for him to learn the philosophy behind the martial art, as opposed to how to simply punch and kick well, and at first, he didn’t understand that.

In the first film, Daniel was worried about facing off against the stronger opponent, Johnny. However, Mr. Miyagi reminded him that he had excelled beyond just technique and that all he needed was to trust his teachings, particularly the philosophy of karate. Mr. Miyagi’s quote and teachings about patience eventually got through to Daniel since he used the same philosophy when teaching his daughter in Cobra Kai.

“One-To-One Problem, Yes. Five-To-One Problem, Too Much Ask Anyone.”

The Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi knew that fighting wasn’t like it was in the movies. Even the best of the best could get overwhelmed by too many opponents, which is why it was important to exercise caution. When Daniel was being bullied by Johnny and his crew, he couldn’t fight back, and not just for lack of skill.

Eventually, Miyagi agreed to visit Cobra Kai and confront the leader, Kreese, which kicked off one of the Karate Kid franchise’s best rivalries. When asked whether Daniel could take care of himself, Miyagi replied with this Karate Kid quote, which was both true and also a jab at the cowardice of the Cobra Kai bullies. Daniel frequently fought alone while the Cobra Kai students fought in a pack, leaving Daniel the one at the disadvantage.

“To Make Honey, Young Bee Need Young Flower, Not Old Prune.”

The Karate Kid

This is one of the funniest of Mr. Miyagi’s quotes, as he wasn’t afraid of poking fun at himself throughout the franchise. Daniel talked about the Halloween dance, and Mr. Miyagi asked him if he was planning to go, which he said no because he doesn’t want to run into Johnny and the Cobra Kai students.

Mr. Miyagi told him he was spending too much time alone, to which Daniel replied that he’s not alone because he has him. Mr. Miyagi knew better and realized that young kids needed to be around each other for social development, great memories, and of course, balance. Daniel might have loved his company, but Mr. Miyagi knew that Daniel had to live his life with his contemporaries as well.

“If Karate Used Defend Honor, Defend Life, Karate Mean Something. If Karate Used Defend Plastic Metal Trophy, Karate No Mean Nothing.”

The Karate Kid Part III

Most of the third movie saw Daniel wanting to defend his All Valley title with no support from Mr. Miyagi, who didn’t believe in fighting for the sake of a trophy. The first movie saw Daniel participate in order to learn how to protect himself and stand up to his bullies. Mr. Miyagi tried to tell him that the trophy wasn’t important, and was hoping that he could persuade him not to be goaded into a fight. Daniel would later ignore this lesson to his own detriment, but he learned it in the end.

Of course, Mr. Miyagi’s teaching about the trophy not being what’s important would be very different in the Cobra Kai series. The All Valley trophy came to symbolize the victory of one teaching style over another in Netflix’s sequel series. Winning the tournament became a way for Cobra Kai’s corrupt senseis to spread their philosophy, and the series became about a way to take down those corrupt leaders. Mr. Miyagi might understand the trophy as a representation of putting a stop to a vicious cycle in that instance.

“First Learn Stand, Then Learn Fly. Nature Rule, Daniel-san, Not Mine.”

The Karate Kid

Impatience is a signature of youth, and Daniel was more concerned with learning how to stand up to his bullies, rather than taking the time to learn why. This came into practice during his training, when Daniel wanted to learn powerful karate moves early on, instead of taking the straight and narrow path.

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Miyagi reminded Daniel with this Karate Kid quote that nobody can fly before they first learn how to stand. Similarly, a baby cannot run before it learns how to walk. Like all of Miyagi’s wise quotes, they draw on basic notions of reality and the natural world.

“Man Who Catch Fly With Chopstick, Accomplish Anything.”

The Karate Kid

One of Mr. Miyagi’s hobbies seemed to revolve around his obsession with using a pair of chopsticks to catch a housefly. Such a feat was especially challenging, as houseflies are notoriously fast. Yet Miyagi tried for years to perfect this technique.

When Daniel asked him why he spent time on the pursuit, he replied with this Karate Kid quote, before following up with one of Mr Miyagi’s absolute funniest lines. It was especially maddening then, that Daniel did it within his first few attempts. The look on Miyagi’s face said it all, though he must also have seen a budding potential in Daniel.

“… Sometimes What Heart Know, Head Forget.”

The Karate Kid Part II

Mr. Miyagi understood human nature, and a person’s tendency to forget what was right. This usually manifests itself in people’s tendency to rationalize actions that others recognize as wrong, immoral, or ill-advised. It’s this rationalization that can lead people down a rabbit hole of personal troubles.

While basing decisions purely on emotion is a rash idea, it is equally foolhardy to allow pragmatism to be the sole deciding factor. Only a balance of facts and feelings leads people down the right path to making good life decisions. In this case, Mr. Miyagi is referencing Sato’s behavior in one of The Karate Kid Part II’s most matter-of-fact quotes.

“Daniel-San, You Look Revenge That Way, You Start By Digging Two Grave.”

The Karate Kid

Revenge is a movement fueled by rage, ego, and a desire to inflict pain on the person(s) who inflict pain on others. Miyagi knew that the best form of revenge was simply living well which would force enemies to re-examine their own path in life. He also knew that those who pursued revenge, no matter how justified it may seem, faced the risk of personal self-destruction. Even in the most extreme cases, revenge rarely leaves a person satisfied. On the contrary, it can leave them feeling empty, hollow, and worse off than they started. He certainly got that idea through to Daniel.

In fact, Daniel tried to teach the same concept to his students when he started his own dojo in Cobra Kai. Daniel even used the same line in season three of Cobra Kai when trying to encourage his students not to focus on getting revenge against Cobra Kai students. His students didn’t learn the lesson as quickly as he did though.

“When You Feel Life Out Of Focus, Always Return To Basic Of Life.”

The Karate Kid Part II

Scientific studies have been done on the way breathing can affect a person’s stress level. By calming the mind, focusing, and taking deep breaths, people can overcome stressful situations, while reducing things like blood pressure, hypertension, and other ailments.

Miyagi knew the importance of breathing, which is why he gave Daniel this advice in The Karate Kid, Part II. At the time, Daniel seemed to be spiraling into some trouble, so Miyagi brought him right back to the basics, then followed it up with a lesson about focus, featuring a hammer and a nail. Like so many of Mr. Miyagi’s quotes and best pieces of advice, he uses a natural path to find a connection.

“Here Are Two Rules Of Miyagi-Ryu Karate. Rule Number One: Karate For Defense Only. Rule Number 2 – First Learn Rule Number One!”

The Karate Kid

One of Mr. Miyagi’s best-remembered quotes is actually his rules for karate. Mr. Miyagi was a staunch opponent of anyone who taught martial arts for the sake of personal empowerment, ego, or glory. He knew that karate was designed for self-defense only, and his mantra stood in opposition to all forms of teaching that openly encouraged aggression and violence, such as Cobra Kai’s methodology.

Miyagi-Ryu karate focuses on two rules that are brazenly simple, yet cunningly wise. Miyagi’s ancestors knew full well that it was one thing to say martial arts were for self-defense, but quite another to put it into practice. By constantly being reminded about the true nature of karate, people are better suited to using it for the purpose it was intended.

“It’s Okay To Lose To Opponent! Must Not Lose To Fear!”

The Karate Kid Part III

The old saying “the only thing to fear is fear itself” is common, but many still fall victim to this emotion throughout their lives. Fear goes far beyond the monster under the bed. It can manifest itself in fear of emotions, fear of success, or fear of the unknown.

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Mr. Miyagi knew that Daniel was full of fear, and he had every reason to be. However, the secret to winning in life is to admit fear, and still go on fighting. Losing to an opponent in the ring is nothing compared to losing to personal fear and doubt. That’s why Mr. Miyagi tried to instill confidence in Daniel, but also understanding of his own fear instead of allowing him to hide from it.

“Not Matter Who’s Stronger. Matter Who’s Smarter!”

The Karate Kid Part II

The rivalry between Miyagi and Sato in The Karate Kid II was obvious, right from the moment he and Daniel stepped off the plane in Okinawa. Sato had been waiting decades to fight Miyagi over an honor feud, and he wasn’t ready to wait for it. He attempted to goad Miyagi into a fight on the street, but they were stopped at the announcement of some bad news.

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Later, Daniel questioned what Miyagi would have done, had Sato thrown the punch. Miyagi replied “Block.” When Daniel doubted that he had the strength to do anything like that, Miyagi reminded him with this Karate Kid quote that it wasn’t about who was stronger, but rather, who was relying on intellect over muscle.

“Never Put Passion In Front Of Principle. Even If You Win, You Lose.”

The Karate Kid Part III

This Mr. Miyagi quote is a lesson that many people forget, especially in these turbulent and troubled times. Passion can be wonderful, but it can also be a corrosive substance that destroys everything it touches. It’s quite alright to feel passionate about a goal or a cause, but if left unchecked, it can warp and destroy the best of intentions.

Miyagi understood that principles were everything. “Win, no matter what” is a recipe for self-corruption and darkness. Turning a blind eye to injustice for the sake of the so-called “greater good” is an evil mandate. Principles are virtuous for a reason, and to shove them aside in favor of blind emotion is immoral, and that’s something that is consistent in all of Mr. Miyagi’s appearances in the franchise.

“For Man With No Forgiveness In Heart, Life Worse Punishment Than Death.”

The Karate Kid Part II

Mr. Miyagi had Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese literally on his knees after he lost the important All Valley Karate tournament, one of the most popular tournaments in cinema history. Kreese raged against his students and belittled them for losing, and Johnny Lawrence got the worst of it with a chokehold that could have ended with him in the hospital, or worse.

Without landing a single punch, Miyagi managed to overcome Kreese and humiliate him in front of his students. When Daniel asked why he didn’t just kill him, Miyagi responded with this quote, which is just as strong a warning today, as it was back in the 1980s.

“No Such Thing As Bad Student, Only Bad Teacher. Teacher Say, Student Do.”

The Karate Kid

Teachers help shape the minds and ideas youth, but when this establishment becomes corrupted, society pays an excruciatingly heavy price. As people in positions of high esteem and authority, teachers are widely regarded as the final word in their respective fields, and challenging bad rhetoric can prove difficult.

Mr. Miyagi is quick to point out with this Karate Kid quote that students follow the guidelines and principles laid down by their teachers. The suggestion is to look at the root cause of the problem, rather than the student’s behavior, and question the lessons they’ve been getting. Teachers are not immune to criticism, nor should they be.

“Walk On Road, Hmmm? Walk Left Side, Safe. Walk Right Side, Safe. Walk Middle, Sooner Or Later… Get Squish Just Like Grape!”

The Karate Kid

When Mr. Miyagi asked Daniel if he was ready to begin his training, he responded with “I guess so.” It’s a prime opportunity for Miyagi to teach him a life lesson about the foolishness of being lukewarm. His illustration is colorful and humorous, but nevertheless apt. Either commit fully to something or don’t bother.

He followed up the illustration with “…same with karate. You karate ‘yes,’ or you karate ‘no.’ You karate ‘guess so,’ squish just like grape. Understand?” Mr. Miyagi’s quote is a solid take on similar wisdom laid down by the Jedi Master Yoda in Star Wars, who famously said “Do, or do not! There is no try.'”

“Karate Here [Touches Head]. Karate Here [Touches Heart]. Karate Never Here [Touches Gut]! Understand?”

The Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi knew full well that Daniel stood at a crossroads in his life. He was a boy without a father, being bullied at a high school he didn’t want to go to, in a state he never wanted to live in. If left unchecked, his anger would have gotten the better of him, and potentially driven him down a very dangerous path in life.

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When Miyagi agreed to teach Daniel karate, he immediately tried to get through to him with this Karate Kid quote that talks specifically about the need to use the heart and mind, rather than the “gut.” It’s the latter that could lead to danger if anger, rage, and impulse drove his training.

“Lesson Not Just Karate Only. Lesson For Whole Life! Whole Life Have A Balance, Everything Be Better.”

The Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi uses karate as a vehicle not just for self-defense, but also as a philosophical lesson. In contrast to Cobra Kai’s focus on rudiments, techniques and aggression, Miyagi-Ryu karate was more spiritual in nature. It encouraged its students to slow down and see life beyond the context of the dojo. Many of Mr. Miyagi’s quotes encourage reflection and balance.

Without Mr. Miyagi to guide Daniel at such a pivotal and vulnerable moment in his life, Daniel could have fallen by the wayside, with disastrous results. By teaching him to find balance in every aspect of his life, Mr. Miyagi was able to mold Daniel’s spirit, which later forged the man he would become in his Cobra Kai years.

“Inside You Have Strong Root. No Need Nothing Except What Inside You To Grow.”

The Karate Kid Part III

The Karate Kid III saw Daniel’s life flying out of control, all thanks to the machinations of Terry Silver and John Kreese. Under Silver’s manipulation, Daniel became a violent, rage-filled aggressor, and it threatened to derail his entire life, not to mention his bond with Miyagi.

Eventually, he saw the light and wondered whether he could truly heal from his ordeal. Miyagi took the time to compare Daniel to a Bonsai tree that had been snapped in half by Terry’s underlings, which was in the process of healing. He told Daniel that if his root, or spirit, was strong, he could mend, and grow again. Mr. Miyagi’s teachings about balance, reflection, and growth through his Karate Kid quotes all helped Daniel to come of age in his movies and become a mentor in Cobra Kai as well.

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