7 Most powerful characters in Cobra Kai

Several powerful characters gather to determine the best fighter in the martial arts drama television series Cobra Kai. The show serves as a sequel to the original The Karate Kid films. It picks up 34 years after the All-Valley Karate Tournament at the end of The Karate Kid (1984).

Johnny Lawrence decides to teach Miguel Diaz the "way of the fist" after defending him from a group of bullies by using karate and thus begins the reopening of the Cobra Kai dojo. Part three of season 6 is set to be released on February 13, 2025.

The series features various tournaments, fights, championships, personal feuds, and more. However, throughout the seasons, certain characters stand out as powerful personas.

Below is a list of the 7 most powerful characters in Cobra Kai, in no particular order.

Miguel Diaz, Johnny Lawrence, and 5 other most powerful characters in Cobra Kai

1) Mr. Miyagi

Master Nariyoshi Miyagi, better known as Mr. Miyagi, can read an opponent's intentions. Although he is not physically a part of Cobra Kai, as he passed away before the show's events, he is often referenced and is still an important part of the story.

Mr. Miyagi is known for never wasting a movement—whether on offense or defense, his powerful techniques are known for achieving maximum results with minimum effort. He often waits for his opponent to attack, then dodges with a single, swift motion that positions him perfectly for a decisive counterstrike. This efficiency is a hallmark of his fighting style.

Primarily a counter-fighter, Mr. Miyagi uses his opponent's weight and momentum against them. His approach to karate is rooted in defense, allowing him to turn his adversaries' attacks into opportunities for victory.

2) Miguel Diaz

Miguel "El Serpiente" Diaz is one of the main characters in Cobra Kai. After being bullied by Kyler Park, Miguel asks Johnny (his neighbor) to teach him karate. With Johnny's help, Miguel helps reopen the Cobra Kai dojo, quickly adopting its "No Mercy" mindset.

Miguel becomes a skilled and powerful fighter with great defense, movement, and timing. He knows when to counterattack, as shown in his match with Xander Stone. He also masters the "crane kick" as the show progresses.

When angry, Miguel fights more aggressively, like when he targets Robby's injured shoulder at the All Valley Tournament. However, he also knows when to fight fairly and show mercy.

3) Chozen Toguchi

Born in Okinawa, Japan, Chozen Toguchi is the nephew of Mr. Miyagi's enemy, Sato Toguchi, and is arguably Sato's finest student and a skilled practitioner of Miyagi-Do karate.

Like his uncle, Chozen is primarily a counterfighter adept at blocking incoming attacks by catching his opponent's limbs when necessary. He then follows up with a series of vicious attack combos, making him a powerful fighter in the franchise.

Known for his strength and athleticism, Chozen strikes with significant power. One of his most dangerous tactics is the Miyagi-Do pressure point attack. This tactic temporarily paralyzes an opponent's limbs by numbing the nerves, rendering them vulnerable to further strikes.

4) Johnny Lawrence

John "Johnny" Lawrence is Robby Keene's father and Miguel Diaz's mentor and sensei. Johnny is a skilled and aggressive fighter, with his former mentor, John Kreese, even claiming that Johnny is the best student in the history of the original Cobra Kai dojo.

Johnny's fighting skills continued to improve as he got older, reaching a level where he could easily take on multiple opponents. His strength and power are also key aspects of his fighting style.

In one memorable fight, Johnny demonstrated his physical prowess by lifting a Cobra Kai sensei off the ground and throwing him through the air into a wall. Johnny fits into the list of one of the most powerful forerunners in the show.

5) Demetri Alexopoulos

Demetri is not a natural-born fighter and doesn't engage in combat until he joins Miyagi-Do. Initially, he struggles with martial arts techniques, but his intellect becomes his greatest asset.

Recognizing this, Daniel uses Demetri's intelligence to his advantage and presents a blocking drill as a puzzle to be solved. This approach helped Demetri develop into a solid defender.

He is also an exceptionally fast runner who can outrun others, including five physically fit Cobra Kai students. In the Cobra Kai Dojo Brawl, Demetri takes down several Cobra Kai members, knocking out and defeating his former bully, Kyler.

His quick thinking and growing martial arts skills make Demetri one of the most powerful characters in the series.

6) Kim Da-eun

Skilled in the martial art of Tang Soo-do, Terry Silver recruits Kim Da-eun to become the head sensei for the Cobra Kai dojo. She is the granddaughter of Kim Sun-yung, the martial artist who taught John Kreese and Terry Silver karate.

Kim Da-eun is an aggressive and skilled martial artist. She shares the philosophy of dirty fighting and "no mercy" but arguably takes it further. Her most powerful trait is her grandfather's teachings of using unfair tactics, attacking when the opponents are vulnerable, or even before the fight has officially begun.

7) Kim Sun-yung

Master Kim (Image via Instagram/@csleeofficial)

Master Kim is a sensei from Korea and the master of Tang Soo-do, credited with developing a ruthless technique known as the "way of the fist." After perfecting his signature the "way of the fist" style, Master Kim's martial arts mastery reached an almost unparalleled level, to the point where he could have fought evenly with the legendary Mr. Miyagi.

Unlike less experienced fighters, Master Kim adopts an aggressive, offensive mindset but is skilled enough to avoid leaving openings for well-timed counterattacks. Master Kim is widely regarded as one of the most powerful fighters in the Cobra Kai franchise, known for his lethal precision.

Watch these powerful characters in action in Cobra Kai, with all six seasons streaming on Netflix.

Edited by Ivanna Lalsangzuali