The Karate Kid became a huge hit, sparking global interest in karate and making Ralph Macchio a breakout star during the “Brat Pack” era.
Although Macchio had previously shown his talent in The Outsiders and Crossroads, it was The Karate Kid that made him both a teen idol and an action star. The film is now considered one of the greatest sports movies ever made. This leads to a common question: Did Ralph Macchio perform his own stunts?
What Training Did Ralph Macchio Do for The Karate Kid?
The Karate Kid was a massive success, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of 1984. It’s remarkable that Daniel LaRusso, a character introduced in the film, would be one that Macchio would continue to play more than four decades later.
Macchio reprised his role in The Karate Kid: Part II and The Karate Kid: Part III. The franchise continued without him in The Next Karate Kid and a 2010 remake starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.
However, Macchio returned as LaRusso in the sequel series Cobra Kai, a major hit on Netflix. One reason The Karate Kid remains popular today is that Macchio performed most of his stunts and learned karate while filming.
Macchio confessed that before being cast in The Karate Kid, he had only minimal karate training. He had started jiu-jitsu lessons in elementary school but had no martial arts experience beyond that.
After meeting with director John G. Avildsen, who had already directed the sports classic Rocky, Macchio realized he needed to learn the actual stunts to portray his character convincingly.
Both Macchio and his co-star Pat Morita, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Mr. Miyagi, trained in a traditional Okinawan style of karate that reflected their characters’ honorable nature.
The only time Macchio was not allowed to perform his own stunts was during a fight scene where his character, Daniel, had to roll down a hill. Remarkably, Macchio has never broken a bone while filming any scene in the franchise.
Avildsen purposely kept Macchio and William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence) apart on set, as the actors playing Cobra Kai members were trained in a more aggressive style of martial arts.
Although Macchio and Zabka were friendly during filming, they did not become close until after Morita’s death, which allowed them to bond over how The Karate Kid had influenced their careers.
Macchio and Zabka now serve as producers on Cobra Kai, initially produced for YouTube before Netflix picked it up and renewed it. The next part of the show’s final season is scheduled to air on Netflix in November.
Does Ralph Macchio Perform His Own Stunts on Cobra Kai?
Returning to the iconic role he first played as a teenager is not easy, but Macchio insists that he still performs most of his own stunts on Cobra Kai—even though his age has made it more challenging.
Although he is one of the show’s co-leads, Cobra Kai mainly focuses on a younger cast, including LaRusso’s children Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Anthony (Griffin Santopietro).
Cobra Kai will air its final episodes in early 2025, but Macchio will return as LaRusso on the big screen that same year in an upcoming The Karate Kid film, where he will co-star with Jackie Chan.
The Karate Kid is available to rent on Prime Video in the United States.
