Karate Kid Legends ending explained: Cameos, tournament result & sequel setup

by

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but share my excitement as Karate Kid Legends graces our cinemas! With the grand tournament underway, it’s a thrill to explore the climactic moments that determine the winner and set the stage for a possible sequel. Curious minds like mine are eager to uncover any surprise cameos that might pop up along the way. Let’s dive in together!

In 2010, the latest Karate Kid film introduced Jackie Chan as a fresh character named Mr. Han, but since then, there’s been a noticeable absence of movie news regarding him.

As I found myself yearning for more martial arts action, Cobra Kai stepped up to fill the gap, debuting as a late sequel to the iconic 1984 film The Karate Kid on YouTube before making its way to Netflix. There, it quickly became one of their most-watched series.

Previously this year, Cobra Kai came to an end, but a new film titled Karate Kid Legends is now in UK cinemas and will be released in US theaters on May 30. This movie brings back Daniel LaRusso, a character from the original series or film, together with Mr. Han, in what can be considered a reboot for the franchise. So, as a heads up, if you don’t want to know the spoilers, here’s a brief summary of the plot…

The five boroughs tournament

The movie proceeds to narrate the tale of Li Fong’s transition from Beijing to New York, which shares similarities with Daniel LaRusso’s journey from New Jersey to California. However, there’s a significant deviation as a large portion of the film focuses on Joshua Jackson’s character, a pizza shop owner, preparing for and engaging in a boxing contest.

However, Li’s tale shares a striking resemblance to that of Daniel in the initial film, as the protagonist experiences falling in love and is tormented by an ex, here referred to as Conor Day, a youth who practices at a gym aptly named Demolition.

The ‘Five Boroughs Tournament’ sets up a confrontation for them as they advance through street fights in New York City. Eventually, this duo reaches the final, which happens on top of a skyscraper. With knowledge from both LaRusso and Han, Li steps onto the mat ready to use his skills in karate and kung fu.

However, Conor proves to be a formidable adversary, ready to go to any lengths for victory. The match is closely balanced, with Li managing to knock him down using a one-inch punch, while Day responds with an impressive series of blows that almost floor Fong.

The Dragon Kick that (sort-of) wins the final

However, much like the closing moments of Creed, Li experiences vivid memories from his past, gaining the resolve needed to rise once more. This resurgence leads to an epic conclusion where a single point is at stake, and it’s during this moment that the Dragon Kick makes its entrance.

In this scenario, Li learned an acrobatic move from his deceased brother, but it backfired when he attempted it against Conor most recently. Daniel then instructed Fong on how to mimic the move, involving a feint when Conor isn’t aware, followed by a swift sweep of Day’s leg. This deception succeeded in luring Conor, and Li followed up with a kick to the chest, securing an 8-7 victory for himself in that match, and ultimately claiming the entire tournament as his own.

However, things are still unfolding since when Fong walks away towards his friends and family, Conor suddenly charges at him from behind. In response, Li swiftly moves to counterattack, knocking Day down to the ground and getting a chance to inflict severe harm with a punch to the face. Yet, showing compassion, Fong chooses not to strike, instead hitting the mat and assisting Conor back up on his feet.

In an exhilarating moment, I share my triumph with dear friends and family, such as Daniel and Mr. Han, echoing the scene from Karate Kid’s 1984 finale. The film freezes on me, victorious, held high above the crowd, fist raised in the air.

Karate Kid Legends sequel setup

Next, the scene shifts to show Jackson’s character launching a new pizza joint, with Mr. Han proposing a possible expansion to Beijing for a potential third location, hinting at a potential continuation of the story.

In the spirit of camaraderie, I, being a fellow enthusiast, sent a pizza all the way from my location to Daniel in sunny California. Accompanying it was a message: “Should you ever require my assistance, remember I’m just a call or message away.

The implication seems to be that the Karate Kid Legends team believes there could come a time when Daniel LaRusso may require the assistance of Li Fong.

Mr. Miyagi and Johnny Lawrence cameos explained

At the beginning of the story, a brief appearance by Mr. Miyagi is included, though this is actually archival footage from The Karate Kid Part II. This cameo serves as a bridge connecting the karate style taught by Miyagi to the Kung Fu that Han practices.

However, towards the film’s conclusion, longtime Cobra Kai enthusiasts finally receive their anticipated moment. With a pizza clutched in his hand, Daniel addresses the character Johnny Lawrence, who has transformed into a hero, with William Zabka consistently portraying him.

Briefly appearing on screen, Johnny expresses his lack of enthusiasm about New York’s pizza, claiming that the superior pies are actually found in Reseda. He then proposes that he and Daniel start a pizzeria and name it Miyagi-Dough.

Lawrence brainstorms several catchphrases for the store – such as “olives on, olives off” and “slice thin, slice bold, no anchovies” – which are shown before the end credits suggestively hinting at a possible spin-off featuring Daniel and Johnny running their own pizzeria. (Or more casually: Lawrence comes up with some witty slogans for the store, like “add olives or remove them”, and “slice it thin, slice it bold, no anchovies”. These are shown before the end credits, hinting at a potential spin-off about Daniel and Johnny managing their own pizzeria.)

Read More

2025-05-28 17:48