The Karate Kid

“The Karate Kid” Filming Location

South Seas Apartment Building – 19223 Saticoy Street (east of Tampa Ave)

In Reseda in the beautiful San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California

South Seas Apartment Building

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A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting.

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), falls in love with the beautiful Ali (Elizabeth Shue) and finds himself the target of a group of bullies from the Kobra Kai dojo. Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita), the building maintenance man, a  war hero and martial arts master. Mr. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing and trains him in a more compassionate form of karate while preparing him to compete against the “Show No Mercy!” Kobra Kai in the All Valley Karate Championship.

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Release date: June 22, 1984 (USA)

Director: John G. Avildsen
Writer: Robert Mark Kamen

Starring; Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Martin Kove, William Zabka

Box office: 90.8 million USD

South Seas Apartment Building

South Seas Apartment Building

South Seas Apartment Building – Couldn’t find Mr. Miyagi!

They built Mr. Miyagi’s workshop into the parking garage!

Pat Morita as Mr.Miyagi was nominated for an Academy Award!

Jerry Weintraub said “I don’t want this guy Arnold from ‘Happy Days’ in this movie.”

Noriyuki “Pat” Morita (June 28, 1932 – November 24, 2005) RIP

“WAX  ON….WAX OFF.”

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Empty Lot next to the South Seas Apartment Building

The empty lot next to the South Seas Apartment Building is still there. It’s the location where Daniel gets his ass kicked by the Kobra Kai after the Halloween dance.

The Kobra Kai Dojo location is on Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood.

Martin Kove & William Zabka – Kobra Kai: “Show No Mercy!”

Focus Daniel-san!

Crane Technique!

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Or was Daniel the real Bully? (very interesting video):

SPOILER ALERT! Daniel uses the “Crane Technique” in the Final Round of the All Valley Karate Championship, defeats his opponent, wins the trophy, gets the girl and earns the respect of his enemies for himself and Mr. Miyagi (at least until the sequel).

The Karate Kid Mural on Ventura Blvd in Encino, California

“818 ’til I die!” – Steven Brody Stevens

Steven Brody Stevens @Brodyismefriend

I saw an advanced screening of “The Karate Kid” at the Mann Valley West in Tarzana, California, in an almost empty theatre, a week before they released it to the public.

To be perfectly honest, I walked out of the movie before the finale. It was not a “KARATE” movie or the type of film I was expecting from the title and I got bored with the story after Daniel got his ass kicked for the third time and left before he is redeemed at the end. I didn’t like the Daniel character, thought the plot was contrived, and I also thought Ralph Macchio’s acting was “acted” and not very good. Of course, I enjoyed the Mr. Miyagi character! Pat Morita’s performance is the best part of the film and Elisabeth Shue shows a lot of talent and is beautiful as Ali. When I watch the video about Daniel being the real bully it points out what I didn’t like about the plot: Daniel is kind of a dick throughout the film and I found it hard to care about him getting his ass kicked or kicking ass.

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