Cobra Kai: Why [SPOILER] Can Finally Be Miyagi’s Replacement In Season 5

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 4

At the conclusion of Cobra Kai season 4, villain-turned-protagonist Chozen Toguchi (played by Yuji Okumoto) shows up in answer to Daniel LaRusso’s (Ralph Macchio) call for help in defeating Cobra Kai once and for all, giving him the opportunity to complete his journey of redemption and become the next Miyagi. Since Miyagi’s death, LaRusso has struggled to find his path in carrying the torch of his mentor’s teachings, but he isn’t the only one who was classically trained in Miyagi-Do Karate. Chozen was born and raised in Okinawa, trained by his Uncle Sato, who was Miyagi’s best friend. Miyagi’s father trained both his son and Sato, who in turn trained Chozen. While both LaRusso and Chozen are both students on a similar level, Chozen took a very different path with his training, leading him down a path of evil that eventually turned to defeat, then a long road to redemption that saw him upholding the Miyagi name in a way that no one else, including LaRusso, was able to.

Chozen was introduced in The Karate Kid: Part II when Miyagi traveled back to Okinawa as his father was dying. Miyagi had a long-standing feud with Sato, which caused strife upon his return. Sato used his nephew, Chozen, as an enforcer of sorts, antagonizing Miyagi and LaRusso until Miyagi agreed to a duel. By the end, Chozen was dishonored and defeated by LaRusso, leaving him in shame. It was the last time Chozen was seen until his return in Cobra Kai season 3, when Daniel visits Okinawa once again, this time as an adult. It’s here that LaRusso discovers that Chozen has turned his life around and kept the Miyagi-Do dojo and spirit alive, even surpassing Daniel in new techniques and training. Daniel learns a new technique that helps him defeat Kreese at the end of Cobra Kai season 3, showing that he’s continued to learn Miyago-Do karate through Chozen.

Chozen, like Miyagi, has a long gap of unexplained time, but has re-emerged better, stronger, wiser, and more skilled in Miyagi-Do karate than anyone, including LaRusso. As a character, Chozen has the most to offer in terms of carrying on Miyagi’s traditions, especially as he is rooted in Okinawa, the birthplace of Miyagi-Do, and was raised and trained under those traditions. He’s not only carried on and redeemed himself with Miyagi-Do, but he’s become a master in his own right, training new students and surpassing LaRusso in their shared discipline. Chozen’s wisdom is exactly what Miyagi-Do students need to help them finally defeat Cobra Kai in Cobra Kai season 5, giving Chozen the opportunity to take the mantle of Miyagi in a way that only he can.

From Villain To Hero: Chozen’s Shame Became His Greatest Lesson

Chozen was raised and trained under Miyagi-Do karate since he was a child and has carried on the practice well into adulthood, keeping the Miyagi legacy alive in Okinawa. While he suffered a terrific loss in The Karate Kid: Part II, leaving him in shame, it was revealed in Cobra Kai season 3 that Chozen took a path of redemption, but it wasn’t easy. After his initial defeat, Chozen contemplated suicide but was saved by his Uncle Sato, who helped Chozen chart a new course, leading to his current stature as the sensei of Miyagi-Do Karate in Okinawa. Ultimately, his shame opened the doors to a prosperous future, even if he still carries the burden of his regret.

How Chozen’s Birthright Gives Him The Edge In Miyagi-Do Karate

Chozen was born in Okinawa and has deep roots to the birthplace of karate. With Miyagi and Sato now gone, he is the only familial heir to the Miyagi-Do Karate tradition, which is one he has carried well into the future. As a student (and now teacher) of Miyagi-Do, learning from his Uncle as a boy and becoming his “star pupil”, Chozen embraced the legacy at an early age, although abused it in practice in the real world. However, his training and experience born of his shame post-The Karate Kid: Part II, which took place in Okinawa, gives Chozen an edge over someone like LaRusso, who practiced only off-and-on throughout the years, treating it more as an interesting hobby than a redeeming legacy to be carried on.

Keeping The Legacy Alive: Chozen Has Maintained Miyagi-Do’s History

It’s unclear exactly what transpired after the events of The Karate Kid: Part II and Chozen reveals only snippets of how he got to where he is now. However, it is revealed that his training did continue with Sato, who taught him new moves, including the pressure point technique he uses to defeat LaRusso during sparring in Cobra Kai season 3. It’s here that LaRusso sees the extent of what Chozen has accomplished with the Miyagi-Do dojo in Okinawa, including Miyagi teaching scrolls that he was never privy to. This is also where Chozen reveals his affinity for Miyagi, saying that he was “a man of great honor” that he can only hope to be someday in the future. Chozen is now a sensei for Miyagi-Do in Okinawa and appears to have a level of control and discipline that LaRusso has yet to attain in his own teachings.

Chozen & Daniel Forge The Future of Miyagi-Do Karate

After the defeat of Miyagi-Do at the All Valley Karate Championship in Cobra Kai season 4, LaRusso calls on Chozen to help him defeat Cobra Kai once and for all. The two meet up at Miyagi’s grave at the end of the season finale, where LaRusso asks for Chozen’s help, acknowledging that he knows the fight isn’t his and that it’s a lot to ask. Chozen replies with Miyagi’s signature “osu”, which is a strong Japanese term used in martial arts that has a significant meaning. It’s not simply an agreement to LaRusso’s ask, but a deeper commitment and response, much like Miyagi would make in training LaRusso. With Chozen and LaRusso teaming up to take on Cobra Kai, they are combining the two most well-trained sensei’s of Miyagi-Do to forge a new partnership that will surely change the balance of everything going forward.

Redemption: Chozen Becomes A Better Version of Both Sato & Miyagi

Chozen has redeemed himself over his past transgressions at this point, becoming a seasoned master and the strongest heir to Miyagi-Do as a discipline to carry on. LaRusso has become a sensei in his own right, but still has much to learn, which can be supplied by his unexpected ally. Chozen has also bested his Uncle Sato, as he has lived a life of redemption and salvation, never holding a grudge as Sato did against Miyagi, seeking enlightenment over revenge. Recognizing Miyagi as an honorable man and sensei, Chozen has carried the torch for Miyagi-Do in a way that goes beyond both his uncle and Miyagi, paving the way to be a more well-versed, practiced, and wise sensei, training innumerable students and keeping the name and the dojo alive for generations to come, which is sure to come into play in a big way for Cobra Kai season 5.