"The Karate Kid: Ralph Macchio Reflects on the Iconic Crane Kick"
Ralph Macchio reflects on his experience making the iconic film "The Karate Kid." Initially skeptical of the title, Macchio quickly became invested in the role of Daniel LaRusso, a young boy defending his roots in a new town. He formed a strong bond with Pat Morita, who played Mr Miyagi, Daniel's mentor. Macchio had limited martial arts experience but trained in Okinawan Gōjū-ryū karate for the film. The movie's premiere was met with an enthusiastic audience response, with people even mimicking the famous crane kick. The film's creator, Robert Mark Kamen, drew inspiration from his own experiences in karate and aimed to capture the emotion and the ideal teacher-student relationship.