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Cobra Kai is not just about karate at school. The show examines old fights that never seem to go away. The adults have their own problems, not just the kids. Things people did a long time ago still matter now. Sure, the kids learn karate, but everyone has issues to figure out. Every karate lesson is also a lesson about life and all the baggage people carry with them.
The most special part? It is Cobra Kai's layered antagonists. Surprisingly, many of them believe they're doing the right thing, even while causing chaos in others' lives. From manipulative senseis to violent students, each of them has changed the story in major ways.
This list looks at the 10 best villains in Cobra Kai, ranked by how much impact they had on the characters, the story, and the audience. You'll see power-hungry masterminds, revenge-seeking fighters, and even some people who were once heroes here.
Cobra Kai: Top 10 antagonists ranked by impact
1. Terry Silver
Terry Silver is the most dangerous villain in Cobra Kai. He’s not just strong, but rich, smart, and always ten steps ahead. After returning in Season 4, Silver takes over the Kai association completely. He doesn’t just fight with fists; he uses lies, money, and fear to win.
He opens dojos across the Valley and nearly wins the Sekai Taikai tournament spot. His manipulative charm and cruel mind games pushed students like Tory to question their values. Silver changed the whole tone of the show, proving how scary true control can be.
2. Anthony LaRusso
Daniel’s son, Anthony LaRusso, became an unexpected antagonist in Season 4. While his father preaches peace, Anthony joins bullies at school and picks on Kenny. He laughs at others’ pain and tries to escape consequences. His actions directly led Kenny down the Cobra Kai path.
Anthony’s bullying shows how cruelty isn’t always loud. It can come from silence, laughter, or standing by. He became a key reason why violence grew among the new generation.
3. Kenny Payne
Kenny started as a sweet, bullied kid. But once Cobra Kai got to him, he turned into something else entirely. Under Silver’s training, Kenny becomes a quick learner and uses dirty tactics.
By Season 5, he’s fighting hard and even hurts his old friends. Watching him change like that? It’s sad. The gang really destroys people, inside and out.
4. Hawk
Hawk changed a lot. At first, he was Eli, a super quiet, nervous one. Other kids picked on him. Then he joined the gang and suddenly turned into a completely different person. He got that crazy mohawk and started acting tough, almost scary. He liked to hurt people, even his own friends sometimes.
Hawk broke arms, started fights, and betrayed people. In the end, he showed just how much the association can destroy someone when they let power go to their head.
5. Tory Nichols
One of the most complex characters, Tory, comes from a hard life. She fights to survive, and her choices often go too far. She started rivalries with Samantha LaRusso and led violent attacks outside the dojo.
She fights with raw anger and refuses to back down. Her presence made the girls’ fight scenes more brutal and emotional. Even though she begins to question Cobra Kai’s methods, her time as a dangerous fighter left a deep mark on the series.
6. Devon Lee
Devon is introduced as a promising young athlete in Season 4. She joins Cobra Kai under Silver's guidance. She adapts quickly to Cobra Kai’s aggressive philosophy and becomes a threat to students such as Sam and Tory. She is a strong female antagonist, which gives the series a deeper meaning.
This is especially true when the competition between dojos grows. Devon's full villain arc has yet to unfold, but her potential and early impact have already established her as a prominent figure in Cobra Kai's dark future.
7. Kyler Park
Kyler, a bully since the beginning of the show. He used karate to become even worse. This dangerous guy picks fights, spreads rumors, and shows no loyalty. Kyler’s constant mocking and physical bullying pushed Miguel and others to train harder.
While not the smartest or strongest, Kyler made everyday life at school toxic. His presence reminds viewers how real-world bullying feeds the need for self-defense.
8. Brucks
Brucks is Kyler’s right-hand man and one of the original school bullies. He bullies Miguel and Demetri in Season 1, often with cruel taunts and group ambushes. Though he’s not very skilled in martial arts, Brucks' attitude adds to the toxic culture around Kyler.
His eventual beatdown by Hawk shows poetic justice, but his presence early on helped create the hostile environment the show thrives in.
9. Sensei Kim Da-Eun
In Season 5, Sensei Kim Da-Eun arrives from South Korea to help Silver train his students for international glory. She brings a new level of cruelty, as her training methods are harsh and violent. She even encourages students to fight through pain and ignore their own instincts.
Her short time on the show showed Cobra Kai’s global reach and how the wrong teacher can turn any dojo into a battlefield.
10. Mitch
Mitch is often comic relief, but during the seasons he spends in the show, he plays a role in group fights and dojo rivalries. His decision to betray Miyagi-Do and rejoin the gang during the dojo wars makes him a minor but noticeable antagonist.
Though not deeply strategic or cruel, Mitch’s switch in loyalty and willingness to fight dirty make him a small but real part of the enemy side. He represents how Cobra Kai’s appeal pulls people in with promises of strength and popularity.
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The universe of Cobra Kai is filled with more than just black and white villains. A lot of the characters believed that they were right, even when they did harm. Overall, whether by violence or manipulation, or even fear, these antagonists had the greatest impact.
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