As an ’80s kid living overseas and gaining a window into American culture mainly through its movie and TV offerings, “The Karate Kid” gave me a severely distorted view of the importance of karate in the lives of Southern California teens.
Sure, it’s an important life skill and undoubtedly good for your health. But in the “Karate Kid” universe, it’s not just an important thing; it’s the only thing. It’s the locus of life, love, rage, revenge and so, so much drama.
This is a world where a high school karate tournament isn’t just something you compete in; it’s something that defines your entire existence for the rest of your life.