I think I may have discovered something horribly wrong in the final fight sequence of Karate Kid. Okay...not horribly wrong. But definitely inconsistent.
In the film, as Daniel is headed to the mat, Ali is quoting Daniel the rules. Here's what she says:
"Everything above your waist is a point. The head, the sternum, kidneys, the ribs. Got it?"
Now, let's look at the video.
Okay, if we are to believe Ali's recitation of the rules, here's how that fight played out.
First point:
Daniel hits Johnny with a body shot (sternum?) Daniel - 1, Johnny - 0.
Next point:
Daniel trips Johnny and whacks him on the back of the neck (head?) Daniel - 2, Johnny - 0.
Next point:
Johnny sweeps the leg and kicks him in the sternum. Daniel - 2, Johnny - 1.
Next point:
Johnny kicks Daniel in his side, Ref says "one point Lawrence, 2-2." Daniel - 2, Johnny - 2.
Next:
Johnny punches Daniel in the head - forehead actually, but the Ref says "That's a foul!" Why is this?
Shouldn't that be Johnny's third point? Why the foul? Karate folks out there? What just happened?
If we give Daniel a point for chopping a dude on the back of the neck, why is the forehead punch a foul?
Johnny should have won it right there, in my opinion. I'm sorry if that offends your sensibilities.
Please note that are two other possibilities to consider:
A. I am unaware of the finer aspects of scoring within whatever Karate Assocation was sponsoring the All Valley Tournament
or
B. I am way too invested in this film and possibly mentally disturbed.
Friday, May 02, 2008
on Karate Kid...
Posted by Todd Wright at 11:24 PM
Labels: karate kid, todd is insane, youtube
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6 comments:
What a wax-off.
B.
Johnny said "wax-off".
Oh, and B.
Todd, these people don't get it. I'm sorry they're chastising you with their petty insults. That's the kind of tactics one can expect from Cobra Kai dojo, but I wouldn't have thought we'd see that behavior here.
At any rate, I'm in.
I have only a limited martial arts knowledge, mainly in the weapons area, but I think I could possibly be of some help here, even if I am risking the ridicule of some.
The problem here is the way that the entire tournament is presented. In a real karate tournament of this kind, everyone would be wearing faceguards, as well as padded gloves and footpads. A direct shot to the face is a point in such a tournament, because it's a relatively harmless shot -- pad on pad. I think what happened in the movie is that they decided against authenticity (pads, gloves, etc) so that the audience could see faces. But once the pads are gone, a direct shot to the face looks pretty brutal. All of a sudden we're watching teenage cage-fighting. So what it seems like they decided on was this: head shots are a point, as long as they are not the intentional, direct, flagrant kind of face shots. Forehead? Good. Back of the neck? Sure. Eye? Foul.
It's inconsistent, but it seems like it's the only way they could do an "actor-driven" scene without condoning bare-knuckle brawling. It's a minor blemish on the face of an otherwise awesome movie experience.
thanks for having the guts to call it out.
Thank you, Ross.
Yes, I knew your expertise really lies within martial arts weaponry, but I think you've provided a fair and respectful theory here.
As for the naysayers and doomsdayers and HATERZ...I suggest they watch the movie again.
It's still quite good, even all these years later. I got a little teared up at the end...
B.
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