Nariyoshi Miyagi lived a long and interesting life that saw him fleeing Okinawa for the United States, where he became a highly decorated and esteemed military officer. After losing his wife and child to complications at birth, Miyagi went into quiet solitude before meeting Daniel LaRusso, a young boy tormented by bullies at his local high school.
Realizing how vulnerable Daniel was at such a young and chaotic age, he took him under his wing and taught him about the importance of having balance in life. Throughout The Karate Kid film series, Mr. Miyagi became the father everyone wished they had, and his beautiful outlook on life is reflected in the following list of quotes that sum up his character.
10 "... Sometimes What Heart Know, Head Forget."
Mr. Miyagi understood human nature and a person's tendency to forget what is right. This usually manifests itself in people's tendency to rationalize actions that others recognize as wrong, immoral or ill-advised. It's this rationalization that can lead people down a rabbit hole of personal troubles.
Miyai understood that while basing decisions purely on emotion was a rash idea, it is equally foolhardy to allow pragmatism to be the sole deciding factor. Only a balance of facts, as well as feelings, leads people down the right path to making good life decisions. In this case, he was referencing Sato's behavior.
9 "Daniel-San, You Look Revenge That Way, You Start By Digging Two Grave."
Revenge has been called a sucker's game, and for good reason. It's a movement fueled by rage, ego and a desire to inflict pain on the person(s) who inflict pain on others. Miyagi knew that the best form of revenge is simply living well and forcing your enemies to re-examine their own path in life.
He also knew that those who pursue revenge, no matter how justified it may seem, face the risk of personal self-destruction. Even in the most extreme cases, revenge rarely leaves a person satisfied. On the contrary, it can leave them feeling empty, hollow and worse off than they started.
8 "Here Are Two Rules Of Miyagi-Ryu Karate. Rule Number One: Karate For Defense Only. Rule Number 2: First Learn Rule Number One!"
Mr. Miyagi was a staunch opponent of anyone who taught martial arts for the sake of personal empowerment, ego or glory. He knew that karate was designed for self-defense only, and his mantra stood in opposition to all forms of teaching that openly encouraged aggression and violence, such as Cobra Kai's methodology.
Miyagi-Ryu karate focused on two rules that were brazenly simple, yet deceptively wise. Miyagi's ancestors knew full well that it was one thing to say martial arts were for self-defense, but quite another to put it into practice. By constantly reminding ones-self about the true nature of karate, they would be better suited to using it for the purpose it was intended.
7 "It's OK To Lose To Opponent! Must Not Lose To Fear!"
The old saying "the only thing to fear is fear itself" is common, but most people still fall victim to this emotion throughout their lives. Fear goes far beyond the monster the under bed. It can manifest itself in the fear of emotions, fear of success or fear of the unknown.
Miyagi knew that Daniel was full of fear, and he had every reason to be. However, the secret to winning in life is to admit one's fears and still go on fighting. He knew that losing to an opponent in the ring was nothing compared to losing to the voice inside one's own head.
6 "Never Put Passion In Front Of Principle. Even If You Win, You Lose."
This is a lesson that many people forget, especially in these turbulent and troubled times. Passion can be wonderful, but it can also be a corrosive substance that destroys everything it touches. It's quite alright to feel passionate about a goal or a cause, but if left unchecked, it can warp and destroy the best of intentions.
Miyagi understood that principals were everything. "Win, no matter what" is a recipe for self-corruption and darkness. Turning a blind eye to injustice for the sake of the so-called "greater good" is an evil mandate. Principles are virtuous for a reason, and to shove them aside in favor of blind emotion is immoral.
5 "For Man With No Forgiveness In Heart, Life Worse Punishment Than Death."
Mr. Miyagi had Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese literally on his knees after confronting him in the parking lot of the All Valley Karate tournament. Kreese raged against his students and belittled them for losing, and Johnny Lawrence got the worst of it with a chokehold that could have ended with him in the hospital, or worse.
Without landing a single punch, Miyagi managed to overcome Kreese and humiliate him in front of his students. When Daniel asked why he didn't just kill him, Miyagi responded with this quote, and he clearly wasn't talking about Kreese.
4 "No Such Thing As Bad Student, Only Bad Teacher. Teacher Say, Student Do."
Teachers help shape the minds and ideas of our youth, and when this establishment is corrupted, society pays the price. As people in positions of high esteem and authority, teachers are widely regarded as the final word in their respective fields, and challenging bad rhetoric can prove difficult.
Mr. Miyagi was quick to point out that students followed the guidelines and principles laid down by their teachers. The suggestion was to look at the root cause of the problem, rather than the student's behavior, and question the lessons they had been getting. Nobody is perfect, and teachers are prone to folly, just as students are.
3 "Walk On Road, Hmmm? Walk Left Side, Safe. Walk Right Side, Safe. Walk Middle, Sooner Or Later ... Get Squish Just Like Grape!"
When Mr. Miyagi asked Daniel if he was ready to begin his training, he responded with "I guess so." It was a prime opportunity for Miyagi to teach him a life lesson about the foolishness of being lukewarm. His illustration was colorful and humorous, but nevertheless apt. Either commit fully to something or don't bother.
He followed up the illustration with "Same with karate. You karate 'yes,' or you karate 'no.' You karate 'guess so,' squish just like grape. Understand?" It was a solid take on the wisdom laid down by the Jedi Master Yoda in Star Wars who famously said "Do, or do not! There is no try.'"
2 "Karate Here [Touches Head]. Karate Here [Touches Heart]. Karate Never Here [Touches Gut]! Understand?"
Mr. Miyagi knew full well that Daniel stood at a crossroads in his life. He was a boy without a father being bullied at a high school he didn't want to go, in a state he never wanted to live in. If left unchecked, his anger would get the better of him and potentially drive him down a very dangerous path in life.
When Miyagi agreed to teach Daniel karate, he immediately tried to get through to him with this quote that talked specifically about the need to use the heart and mind, rather than the "gut." It was the latter that could lead to danger, if anger, rage and impulse drove his training.
1 "Lesson Not Just Karate Only. Lesson For Whole Life! Whole Life Have A Balance, Everything Be Better."
Mr. Miyagi used karate as a vehicle for self-defense, but also as a philosophical lesson. In contrast to Cobra Kai's focus on rudiments, techniques and aggression, Miyagi-Ryu karate was more spiritual in nature. It encouraged its students to slow down and see life beyond the context of the dojo.
Without Mr. Miyagi to guide Daniel at such a pivotal and vulnerable moment in his life, Daniel could have fallen by the wayside with disastrous results. By teaching him to find balance in every aspect of his life, he was able to mold Daniel's spirit and help him find a harmony that had been missing up until that point.
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