Top 30 Strongest Cobra Kai Fighters

Top 30 Strongest Cobra Kai Fighters

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at win records, skills, and feats to highlight the “Cobra Kai’s” best fighters. Although we loved Mr. Miyagi, we’ll only focus on characters who appear outside of flashbacks. Since we’ll be talking about where all the fighters stack up to each other by end of season 6 part one, beware of major spoilers ahead.

#30: Brucks

This character started out as a bulky and dim-witted tormentor who made life hell for people like Hawk. However, Brucks turned into a big punching bag after his victims started learning the
“Cobra Kai” karate style. The former villain got beaten to a pulp by both Miguel and Hawk. Although Brucks seemed like he’d fade into the background after his last loss, he returned for a fraternity brawl in season 6. When his allies needed help, he was able to charge into battle and take a few college aged dudes down by himself. We’re still not sure how Brucks would measure up against anyone who actually knows karate. But we still wouldn’t mind having him back us up in a fight.

#29: Nathaniel [aka Nate]

While this Miyagi-Do student doesn’t always stand out among the ensemble, he has a surprisingly decent resume. He beat his rival Bert in a one-on-one match while he was still a relative newbie. After undergoing more training, Nate was chosen to participate in the skills competition for the All Valley tournament. Although he didn’t make it past octofinals, he got credit because he had to face the extremely skilled Kenny. Nate continued to hone his skills and was even considered to be one of Miyagi-Do’s top 12 fighters in season 6. While he may never hold a first place trophy, we’ll still give him an award for dealing out some of the series’ best insults.

#28: Anthony LaRusso

When this spoiled kid first started learning karate, we weren’t sure if he’d ever be a real contender. He had a record for deceiving people and attempted to cheat his way around training. But once Anthony started taking karate seriously, it became clear that he had natural talent and plenty of wit. He was the mastermind who helped his entire dojo pass Sensei Chozen’s test. And after making it into the top 12 of Miyagi-Do, he overcame Nate in a direct duel. Anthony still needs a lot more fighting experience before he can rise up the ranks. But he does have the potential to outwit and outmatch opponents in the future.


#27: Mitch

You can call him “Muscles” or use one of his more insulting nicknames. But what you can’t do is completely disregard this fighter. Over the seasons, Mitch has spent time learning offensive techniques from Cobra Kai and Eagle Fang and took defensive lessons from Miyagi-Do. He’s also held his own against tough opponents like Chris. Unfortunately for Mitch, he’s racked up tons of losses across all six seasons. It’s possible that he could still beat a smaller opponent or someone who has less battle experience. Mitch just needs to really apply his muscles and the skills he’s gained to improve his reputation.

#26: Aisha Robinson

At the beginning of “Cobra Kai”, Aisha was a reserved student who was constantly harassed by her peers. But she proved to be a formidable fighter when joined Cobra Kai. After beating Miguel in a sparring match, she quickly rose up the ranks within the dojo. She was even good enough to compete in the quarterfinals at her very first All Valley Karate Tournament. Unfortunately, we don't get to see much of Aisha fighting outside of the dojo after she lost to a former champ. And we’re unsure if she’s kept up with her training enough to take down Miyagi-Do/Eagle Fang students. But judging by the brutal beatdown she dealt out in the season 2 finale, she’s still got some fight left.

#25: Shawn Payne

One of the toughest guys in Robbie’s juvenile detention center was unquestionably Shawn. Once the tension between the two reached a boiling point, they threw down in a very vicious brawl. Shawn impressively held his own during the entire bout with a trained Miyagi-do fighter who had taken on martial arts champions. Three seasons later, he was able to slip past his rival’s defenses during a heated clash. Shawn was also able to hold his own against Miguel and Robbie at the same time. If this elder Payne ever committed to a karate dojo, he could become one of the Valley’s top contenders.


#24: Piper Elswith

A talented gymnast became one of Cobra Kai’s most promising new recruits. After Piper joined the dojo, she showed off her physical skills and ability to get into people’s heads. She also proved she could effortlessly combine gymnastic moves with martial arts. Although we knew she could make Tori sweat, we never expected her to achieve so much in the climactic competition. Piper was able to land a blow on a vastly more experienced opponent who had almost never lost a serious fight before that point. Over the span of just a few episodes, she’s already proved to be an innovative combatant who can go against a few of the show’s fiercest fighters. Despite being absent from the mat for over a season, we still think she’d still be trouble for competitors.


#23: Bobby Brown, Jimmy. & Tommy

Decades after stepping away from Cobra Kai, this trio reunited with Johnny for a sad occasion. After Tommy discovered he didn’t have long to live, he got the gang back together for one last hurrah. The quartet eventually ended up making some new enemies at a watering hole. We expected Johnny to do well. However, we were pleasantly surprised when the rest of the trio tapped into their old skills and managed to hold their own. It’s unclear how any of them would fare against fighters who kept up with their training through adulthood. But we know for sure that they gave Tommy an excellent sendoff by getting into one last brawl together.



#22: Raymond [AKA Stingray]

Raymond AKA Stingray initially seemed like a comic relief character who was obsessed with joining Cobra Kai. Although he’s still the butt of many of the show’s jokes, he’s also a pretty decent fighter. Stingray was clever enough to outwit every other Cobra Kai during the famous Coyote Creek competition. He took out multiple Miyagi-Dos and crushed a quartet of Cobra Kais. Since most of his most impressive feats are against younger and nameless karate students, it’s hard to tell if he could beat the show’s serious fighters. But Stingray was able to survive a beating from the extremely dangerous Terry Silver. And he was able to easily defeat his angry neighbor with barely any effort. Stingray could become more than a joke one day.




#21: Chris

Although Chris doesn't always get a lot of time to shine, he has quietly become a serious contender. After leaving Cobra Kai, he was able to completely switch his style and learn Miyagi-Do. Chris also has a talent for using literally any item as a melee weapon to get the upper hand. While he doesn’t have a lot of major victories under his belt, he is able to keep up with a lot of serious threats. He once came extremely close to beating top Cobra Kai student Kyler during a competition. It’s only a matter of time before Chris blows everyone away with his skill and strength alone.







#20: Kyler Park

Kyler’s fighting journey throughout “Cobra Kai” has been an absolute rollercoaster. Although he used to be one of the biggest school tormentors, he severely pulled back after Miguel beat him. After Kyler enlisted in Cobra Kai, he became enough of a threat to seriously injure his old rival. While he had a long losing streak for a while, he bounced back enough to defeat students like Chris…before immediately losing to Eli. The only consistent thing about Kyler is his overconfidence. He almost always underestimates more powerful opponents and ends up on his back. But on the rare occasions when Kyler’s properly motivated, he can fight at a champion level while easily dispatching chumps.

#19: Devon Lee

Few fighters have advanced as quickly as Devon has. As soon as this debater joined Eagle Fang, she proved that she was a fast learner who was ready and willing to compete. Devon’s ambition took her all the way to a quarterfinals match where she was pitted against the fearsome Tori. Although she wasn’t able to score any clean points, she didn’t make it easy for the queen of Cobra Kai to win the match. While she was bouncing around dojos, she rose to the top 6 of Miyagi Do, knocked Hawk down, and was temporarily chosen to represent Cobra Kai. Devon’s wide range of studies may allow her to finally get a top shelf win under her belt soon.


#18: Kenny Payne

When Kenny first attempted to join Cobra Kai, he was too scared to stand his ground. But after learning how to harness his speed, he started fighting back. Kenny quickly was able to turn the lessons he learned against his tormentors. He also became skilled enough to make it to the quarterfinals during his very first All Valley Tournament. Kenny went on to be a top Cobra Kai fighter that caught Kyler off guard and overcame Hawk. However, the young fighter still struggles to beat more experienced fighters without resorting to dirty tactics. Additionally, Kenny’s rage and reliance on Cobra Kai leaves him open for a Miyagi-Do upset. Kenny needs to center himself and learn more to keep growing.

#17: Xander Stone

While Xander Stone’s extremely sensitive and empathetic nature made him seem like a pushover, he's a seriously good fighter. After beating numerous opponents to win the All Valley Karate Tournament, he returned to defend his title. Xander was able to defeat Aisha in the quarterfinals by paying attention and making a decisive move. His acrobatic fighting style also makes it hard for his opponents to predict what he’ll do next. Although he ultimately wasn't able to reclaim his title, there's no reason to think that he can't make a comeback one day. Xander just needs to spend more time in the dojo and less time working on overly sentimental speeches.








#16: Yoon Do-Jin

Although we don’t know how many fights this martial artist has won over the years, we know he was once the top student in Master Kim Sun-Yung’s dojo. Yoon’s extensive training taught him how to penetrate defensive styles and leave opponents too damaged to continue. Although Yoon was once the best, he has struggled to keep up with his competition. His tendency to stick to what he knows could hold him back if a foe sees his offensive style coming and counters accordingly. And Yoon has lost when he’s gotten too cocky. This top student’s history could lead to a future where he becomes a success or a disappointment to his dojo.



#15: Demetri Alexopoulos

Since Dimitri wasn't welcome in Cobra Kai, he asked Daniel Larusso to teach him Miyagi-do karate. Although he wasn't the best student in the dojo, he didn't give up on his training. Demetri’s hard work really paid off for the first time when he managed to defeat his much stronger friend in a one-on-one fight. After the two resolved their issues, they were able to evenly fight alongside each other as a badass duo. Demetri reached new heights after he made it to the All Valley quarterfinals. While he didn’t beat their best fighter, he ended up improving enough to qualify for the Sekai Taikai. And he’s held his own against groups of opponents multiple times. Could Demetri hold a championship title in the future?


#14: Tory Nichols

On her very first day at Cobra Kai, Tory challenged the top student to a one-on-one fight. As soon as she took him down to the mat, we knew another fierce fighter had entered the dojo. Tory’s toughness and ruthlessness made her stand out immediately. Although she tried to leave the “no mercy” philosophy behind, she’s still absolutely vicious to her opponents. Tory’s considerable skills took her all the way to the finals of the All Valley. Since the referee of the match was bribed, her victory over her fearsome rival Sam has a huge asterisk over it. But Tory did bounce back. She learned Miyagi-Do, qualified for the Sekai Taikai, and became the female captain of Sensei Kreese’s international Cobra Kai team.

#13: Kwon Jae-Sung


This hothead made a strong first impression by executing a powerful karate move that was not approved by his senseis. From that point on, Kwon continued to amaze us. The cocky martial artist voluntarily fought Yoon and two other classmates without backup. After easily wiping the floor with his three foes, he became the top fighter of the international Cobra Kai team. Yoon’s no mercy style and ability to cleanly defeat the strongest fighter around makes him dangerous. His ability to channel his rage without losing his cool also makes him a brutal wild card. If Kwon’s foes can keep him at bay with defensive techniques, they may stand a chance. Without an ace up their sleeves, this martial artist will destroy them.



#12: Eli Moskowitz [AKA Hawk]

Eli was once a Cobra Kai student whose fighting style was as wild as his haircut. He loved dominating his opponents as much as he loved showing off his back tattoo. But after Eli realized he had let his rage and darkness take over, he decided to get a fresh start with his real friends. Like Miguel, his journey back to the light side involved learning Miyagi-Do karate. Eli was so excellent that he reached the All Valley finals and faced Robby. After combining his new skills with his Cobra Kai training, he soared as the new champion. Admittedly, Hawk has suffered a couple of shocking defeats since his big win. But he’s still got the heart and skills of a champion.


#11: Samantha LaRusso

Being the daughter of a former karate champion certainly has its advantages. Not only can Sam fight well, but she knows how to analyze her opponent’s combat styles for weaknesses. Her brains and brawn made fighting multiple Cobra Kais, including the fearsome Hawk, easy for her. Sam was also cool-headed and skilled enough to beat a weapon-wielding Tory in combat. If all that wasn’t enough, Sam is on the way to mastering offensive and defensive techniques. Although she can be a little immature in daily life, she brings nothing but experience and poise to her fights. She’s beaten Hawk, knocked adults down, and has trounced multiple female fighters on her level. Tangling with Sam will usually lead to your defeat.


#10: Robby Keene

Shortly after Robby started learning the Miyagi-Do style, he entered the All Valley Karate Tournament. He was such a fast learner and natural talent that he was able to make it to the finals and nearly win. But Robby's true power is his determination. He will absolutely not give up on a fight no matter what the odds. Robby has fought while outnumbered, taken on older opponents, and even went into a tournament match with an injured arm. There's practically nothing he can't achieve... if he's balanced. When Robby lets his darkness and anger take over, it usually leads to disaster. But when he collects himself, he can pull off miraculous feats and reach heights he only dreamed of.



#9: Miguel Diaz

If you were to go back in time and tell Miguel what he would accomplish as a Cobra Kai student, he probably wouldn't believe you. He went from a nerdy fighting enthusiast to a warrior who could easily fend off multiple large opponents at once. Miguel also defeated great fighters like former champion Xander and Miyagi-Do prodigy Robby to win the All Valley Karate title. Although Miguel got a serious upgrade when he started learning Miyagi-Do, his struggles to balance both sensei’s teachings and back injury limited him. And even after overcoming physical obstacles, his mental struggles have caused him to fall short. But Miguel’s lengthy winning record and ability to handle multiple assailants still puts him on top of the younger generation.

#8: The Five Cobra Kai Senseis

It’s hard to tell how each of these brutal martial artists stack up against each other. But the group’s feats as a whole gave us a good indication of their individual levels. When Chozen and Johnny came to investigate Cobra Kai’s shady tactics, Hyan-Woo was able to hold them off. Sensei Odell easily blocked or avoided most of Kenny and Kyler’s blows when they were assigned to attack him. Min-Jun’s use of a sword also suggests that the five martial artists might also have weapons training. While none of them were able to surpass any of the show’s adult heroes, these senseis can still keep the protagonists on their toes.

#7: Kim Da-Eun

Whenever this fighter appears in a Cobra Kai setting, it is clear that she holds a higher rank than 90 percent of the senseis in the room. This is likely due to the fact that she spent a lifetime training with an intimidating Master. Kim Da-Eun’s brutal years of training turned her into a ruthless taskmaster that does not hold back against adults or students. She’s also held off the strongest female fighters without breaking a sweat. Since Kim didn’t spar with any adult foes during season 5 or 6 part 1, we’re still curious to see how she compares to someone like Johnny. We’re confident this merciless martial artist would teach any opponent the meaning of pain.

#6: Mike Barnes

There’s a reason they used to call him Karate’s bad boy. Although he stepped away from karate for decades, he kept up with a seasoned sensei during his first fight on the show. Barnes also proved to be a valuable asset in a climactic brawl. He easily took a Cobra Kai sensei down with a few moves. While Mike spent most of the fight unconscious due to a cheap shot, he later returned and easily destroyed two highly trained combatants. The first part of season 6 showed us his current limits by having him get completely overwhelmed by Johnny. Despite the recent loss, Mike’s strong performance overall makes us wonder what would happen if he took a break from business to hone his considerable skills.




#5: John Kreese

After serving the U.S.A. in the Vietnam War, a battle-hardened John Kreese co-founded Cobra Kai. He promotes a brutal fighting philosophy that tells students to strike their opponents before they can retaliate. Kreese also has such a wicked temper that he nearly ended the lives of multiple people outside of the war. But his ideology and attitude aren’t the only dangerous things about him. Despite being in his 70s, Kreese was still able to keep up with senseis like Johnny Lawrence and Daniel Larusso. He also beat a group of prison inmates senseless while only taking a few hits. If you’re reckless enough to underestimate Kreese in a fight, this old man won’t be likely to show you mercy.


#4: Johnny Lawrence

Decades after Johnny Lawrence lost his shot at a third consecutive All-Valley title, the Miyagi-Do Sensei has proven that he’s still a threat in the present. Johnny has absolutely no problem beating multiple opponents at the same time. He was also able to surpass his former master and fight evenly with Daniel in modern times. Although Johnny has also picked up defensive moves from his rival, he still needs more practice before he’s considered an expert in multiple styles. Even without achieving mastery, he’s solidified his reputation as a top adult fighter. Johnny even held his own against five Cobra Kais senseis at once. We wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes enough of a beast to finally defeat his old rival Daniel.


#3: Terrance “Terry” Silver


Underneath Terry Silver’s seemingly charming smile lies one of the threatening fighters you’ll ever meet. This cold and calculating villain is a Cobra Kai master who does not believe in showing mercy to opponents. Silver has absolutely no problem fighting dirty, targeting weaknesses and manipulating others if it means achieving victory. His vicious personality and martial arts style enables him to obliterate opponents at a moment’s notice. While we expected him to decimate Stingray, we didn’t expect the sensei’s most terrifying feat. Silver easily beat Johnny Lawrence to a pulp in season four. The villain also defeated an off-balance Daniel at one point. Since Silver is willing to do anything to win, no one should underestimate this cobra.


#2: Daniel LaRusso

This fighter needs little introduction. Daniel Larusso became a local legend after defeating Cobra Kai’s top student at the All Valley Karate Tournament in the 1980s. After taking the title for a second time, he let martial arts take a backseat in his life. But Daniel got back into the fighting Spirit when Cobra Kai returned. He's taken on multiple opponents at a time, defeated John Kreese and fought Johnny Lawrence to a stalemate. Daniel's willingness to learn new techniques allowed him to instantly incorporate Eagle Fang’s offensive style after a single day’s training. And secret Miyagi-Do moves he’s learned allow him to overwhelm most opponents. When the former Karate Kid struck Silver down, we knew he’d become a master martial artist as an adult.



#1: Chozen Toguchi

At a young age, Chozen became an intimidating fighter that no one in Tomi village would cross. He turned his life around after losing a climactic duel against Daniel LaRusso. But while Chozen may have lost to Mr. Miyagi’s prized student in the past, things are very different now. He narrowly outclassed and overpowered Daniel during multiple sparring matches. Chozen’s weapon mastery also gives him a slight edge over his former rival. Speaking of other fighters, he pulled off a Johnny-like feat by beating multiple senseis. Chozen also backed Silver into a corner like Daniel did. The Miyagi-Do master only lost because his foe cheated. In a fair fight, Chozen has a good chance of beating Terry and most of the show’s fighters.

Who’s your favorite Cobra Kai fighter? Let us know in the comments below.