Noriyuki “Pat” Morita played Mr. Miyagi throughout The Karate Kid franchise, and his iconic character was inspired by a real instructor of martial arts from East Asia. Mr. Miyagi was introduced in 1984’s The Karate Kid as a maintenance person who is secretly a martial arts expert. Miyagi befriends and trains Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in karate to help defend him against high-school bullies. Throughout The Karate Kid saga, Daniel learns many important lessons from Mr. Miyagi, which helps shape him into becoming a successful martial arts instructor in Cobra Kai.

Pat Morita was highly praised for his portrayal of Mr. Miyagi throughout The Karate Kid movies and received both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his performance in the first film; the character of Mr. Miyagi remains Morita’s most recognizable role throughout his career. Despite his death, which takes place within The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai timelines, Mr. Miyagi remains a poignant figure throughout the franchise. To create the character of Mr. Miyagi, The Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen was inspired by a real martial artist who left a powerful legacy within the sport of karate.

Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi Is Based On Chojun Miyagi

Chojun Miyagi Was The Founder Of Goju-ryu Karate

In one of several behind-the-scenes details about The Karate Kid, the movie was based on real events and people. Robert Mark Kamen based the character of Mr. Miyagi after the Okinawan martial artist, Chōjun Miyagi. Born in 1888, Chōjun Miyagi began studying martial arts at the age of 14, under the Ryukyuan martial artist Kanryo Higaonna. After Higaonna’s death in 1915, Miyagi moved to China, where he attended the Pakua Chan School and the School of Shaolin Chuan. While in China, Miyagi founded Gōjū-ryū karate, which he created by combining direct techniques with graceful movements (via Academy of Kempo Martial Arts).

Chōjun Miyagi returned to Japan in the late 1920s and taught classes at Kyoto University, before moving back to Naha, Okinawa, where he opened a dojo to train students in Gōjū-ryū (via History of Fighting). He remained heavily involved in the development and training of Gōjū-ryū until his death from a heart attack in 1953, at the age of 65. Robert Mark Kamen studied Gōjū-ryū as a teenager and received training from a student of Chōjun Miyagi. Kamen was eventually inspired to create the character of Mr. Miyagi after the founder of Gōjū-ryū (via Sports Illustrated).

How Chojun Miyagi’s Life Mirrors Mr. Miyagi’s

There Are Subtle References To Chojun Miyagi’s Life & Teachings Throughout The Franchise

There are several ways that the life of Chōjun Miyagi is reflected in Mr. Miyagi’s life in The Karate Kid franchise. Mr. Miyagi’s military backstory and previous life in Japan are explored in The Karate Kid, and he reveals to Daniel that he was born in Okinawa, Chōjun Miyagi’s birthplace, before moving to Hawaii and serving in the U.S. Army. In The Karate Kid Part II, it’s revealed that Mr. Miyagi’s father was named Chōjun Miyagi and trained him in martial arts; in the movie, Mr. Miyagi returns to Okinawa with Daniel, upon learning that his father is dying.

Chōjun Miyagi’s Gōjū-ryū was the popular style of karate in Okinawa and while it’s never explicitly named in the franchise, it served as the basis for Miyagi-do karate in both The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai. Throughout The Karate Kid saga, Mr. Miyagi emphasizes the importance of body strengthening, balance of mind, breathing, and defense to Daniel, which are important in the style of Gōjū-ryū; Daniel later uses this method of teaching with his students in Cobra Kai. Mr. Miyagi’s lessons throughout The Karate Kid franchise serve as an effective reflection of the real Chōjun Miyagi’s teachings.

Sources: Academy of Kempo Martial Arts, History of Fighting, Sports Illustrated