The Library: Revised and Condensed
Cobra Kai-ism was founded in the 1980s by karate champion and Vietnam War veteran John Kreese, also known as “The Merciless One.”
Seeking to bridge together an Eastern martial arts philosophy with a Western Bad Boy way of life, Kreese developed an ultra-pragmatic no-nonsense philosophy aimed at producing results.
The system, known as the Cobra Kai Way or Cobra Kai-ism, stresses main principles such as seizing opportunities with vigor and a sense of urgency, striving to be tougher than any other being who has ever lived on earth, and not allowing defeat to exist within the “dojo” of your personal life. Above all, a follower of the Cobra Kai Way is expected to be ruthless against enemies, and able to deal with anything that he might confront in life, whether in the dojo, in a competition, or on the street.
In the 1980s, Kreese opened the Cobra Kai Dojo in Southern California, in order to spread his doctrine to disciples that were willing to devote themselves to the Cobra Kai Way.
As the Master of several dozen students, Kreese ran a tight ship, and was always sure to let everyone know that there was no room for any nonsense within his dojo’s walls, and no tolerance or patience for anything that deviated from the Cobra Kai core focus. Many early Cobra Kai disciples recall that he was fond of responding to un Cobra Kai attitudes by saying, “This is a karate dojo, not a knitting class.”
Demanding and expecting much from his disciples, Kreese was one Sensei who really would not accept anything less than what a student was capable of. In fact, on one occasion, a particular disciple’s disappointing second-place finish in an important karate tournament drove Kreese to break the disciple’s second-place trophy with his bare hands.
That disciple—John “Johnny” Lawrence—and that tournament—the 1984 Southern California All Valley competition—also turned out to lead to a major upheaval within the Cobra Kai order. Fed up with Lawrence and other disciples, Kreese became a recluse. Later, he teamed up with longtime friend and Terry Silver and reestablished the Cobra Kai order, this time deciding to take in only the most worthy disciples he came across.
Selections from the Cobra Kaible
And Satan Miyagi said, “No more fighting.”
And The Merciless One said, “This is a karate dojo, not a knitting class. You don’t come in here, drop a challenge and leave, old man. You get your boy on the mat, or you and I will have a problem.”
But Satan Miyagi, trembling in fear, begged The Merciless One to consider an alternative, and suggested another venue and date for the fight to take place—the 1984 Southern California All Valley competition.
And The Merciless One, eager to publicly humiliate Satan Miyagi and his disciple in front of a large crowd, accepted his terms.