5 hidden Karate Kid references in Netflix’s Cobra Kai over the years

Cobra Kai is finally wrapping up its narrative run, with the sixth season of the show being the last in the line for now. The third part of Cobra Kai season six is expected to hit the screens on February 13, 2025. Cobra Kai initially started out as a show on the now-defunct YouTube Red before moving on to Netflix.

Despite the long-running show coming to an end in the upcoming year, this wouldn't be the end of the beloved Karate Kid franchise, which will continue on in the new Karate Kid film.

Here we are counting down our personal picks for the five most memorable hidden references and easter eggs related to Karate Kid across the previous episodes and seasons of Cobra Kai.

Karate Kid easter eggs and hidden references in Cobra Kai explored

Keep reading to learn more about the five hidden Karate Kid easter eggs and references in the episode of Cobra Kai.

1.The Window Punch by John Kreese

During the third season episode Aftermath, John Kreese is distressed after being concerned for the health of Miguel Diaz, he spots the latter in a news broadcast. He then has a large share of Coors beers and starts arguing with an L.A. Dodgers fan. As the exchange turns heated, the Dodgers fan calls John Kreese "a piece of dog sh** who took a dump."

This enrages Kreese to the extent that he follows the fan to the car and punches a hole through the driver's side window. This is a reference to a similar scene from Karate Kid II when Kreese punched a window during a confrontation with Mr. Miyagi.

2. Sato, Chozen's uncle

The second episode of Cobra Kai season five featured a flashback exploring Chozen's formative years and his martial arts training at the hands of his uncle Sato. This is a hidden reference to Karate Kid II, which featured Sato and Chozen, who are presented as the primary antagonists. Sato served as the chief rival of Mr. Miyagi back in Okinawa. Eventually Sato developed feelings of mutual appreciation after witnessing Mr. Miyagi's valor during a storm.

3. A '47 Ford car

The third season episode titled Nature Vs. Nurture opened with a flashback sequence that took the audiences back to 1965. In the series, a high school student was seen rolling in a '47 Ford convertible car, which he then refers to as a piece of junk. The car itself is particularly interesting, as the model was the one which Mr. Miyagi had given to Daniel in The Karate Kid.

4. Exotic Bonsai

Daniel and Mr. Miyagi set up a bonsai tree business in The Karate Kid III. Terry Silver, being the antagonist that he was, constantly tried to destroy the bonsai business operated by Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. In doing so, he took the help of his Cobra Kai comrades.

Coming to the third season of the Netflix show, when Daniel offers up a couple of rare bonsai trees for auction, Terry Silver places the winning bid and then promises to destroy the trees, in the same way that he did in the third Karate Kid movie.

5. The song No Shelter by Broken Edges

The fifth episode from the second season of the Netflix show presented the song No Shelter by Broken Edge playing in the background as Demetri tries to make good on his escape from Hawk. It's interesting to note that during the Halloween dance in the Karate Kid movie, the same song was playing in the background as Daniel escaped from Johnny.