In a lively panel during their first visit to Brisbane, November father and son Supa-Star duo Martin and Jesse Kove delved into their experiences working together on Cobra Kai and more. The duo shared anecdotes, reflections, and insights with the audience, giving fans a closer look at their careers and personal lives.
With Cobra Kai’s final episodes recently dropping on Netflix, we revisit some highlights from the panel.
ON PREDICTING THE SUCCESS OF ‘THE KARATE KID’
Martin: “We didn’t even like the title. To me, it was just another film. I think I was at an autograph show in New York about 10 years later, and people were wearing “Sweep the Leg” shirts with my picture on it. That’s when I learned. There were all these kids coming up with The Karate Kid shirts, quoting lines. I brought some pictures from the film to the show, and it sold out fast. That’s when I realised, then and only then, how big it was.”
Martin Kove in ‘The Karate Kid’
AUDITIONING AND LANDING THE ROLE OF KREESE
Martin: “Yeah, it’s kind of a funny story. Jesse’s mother and I had received the script for The Karate Kid in 1983 or ’84 – I had only been in Hollywood for five years. They gave me a week to prepare for the audition, but I got the phone call the next day to come in. I was so angry. My wife said, ‘Use all the venom you feel for John Avildsen (the director) and the producer.’
“So, I went in, and I just proved my point. I didn’t know if I was going to get the part, but I just said, ‘I don’t care who you are. You can’t do this to me.’ I went into the room, and I just went for it, full of anger. And they loved it. Four days later, I got the role. It ended up being the role of a lifetime, and 40 years later, we’re all still talking about it. It’s an endless amount of gratitude. And now, my son gets to be part of this family.”
JESSE ON BEING HIS DAD’S BULLY IN ‘COBRA KAI’
Jesse Kove in ‘Cobra Kai’
Jesse: “It was awesome! We were laughing on set the whole time. It was funny because my dad was watching me bully his character — it was like a Back to the Future moment. It was so enjoyable for me. I was really proud to be a part of the show and have him watch me enter this universe. As a son, it was a big moment of pride. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to do it in such a special way. It was really fun, especially after all those years of doing dishes and laundry at home. Finally, I got to be part of a scene like this!”
REMEMBERING PAT MORITA (MR. MIYAGI)
Martin: “He was a lovely guy. Very funny and incredibly supportive of all of us. The producer didn’t want him for the role at first. They thought of him as just a comedian from Happy Days. But the director filmed him in a very vulnerable moment, portraying Mr. Miyagi as he would, and showed it to the producer. After seeing it, the producer said, ‘Yes, this is Mr. Miyagi.’
“He was kind, supportive, and always there for you when we worked together. In the two-three scenes we had, he was right there, moment to moment, with you as an actor. He made sure we were all prepared and felt comfortable.”
THE RIGOURS OF MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING
Jesse: “For something like Cobra Kai, you do a lot of prep work. You can spend up to five hours a day training, depending on the role. I’ve studied with a guy named Taran Butler, who trained the actors for John Wick. They even have a dojo on set where you can practice.
“When we’re not shooting, we rehearse the fight sequences. If there’s a big fight scene coming up, we prep months in advance. For example, the fight scene I had in season 3, I was shown the choreography, and it was a little intimidating at first, but they had already worked it out. We learned it in about 30 minutes and were ready to go. When we’re in the middle of shooting, it’s fight after fight. A lot of the choreography in Cobra Kai is super intense.”
FROM TOUGH GUY TO ‘COBRA KAI’
Martin: “I think one of the best things about Cobra Kai is the mere fact that one gets a chance to show some vulnerability. You know, in The Karate Kid 1, 2, and 3, he was a tough guy. When I signed on for the series, I wanted to give him vulnerability at times. I wanted him to have an emotional arc, to show more than just being a tough guy. And they agreed to do it. So that was a lot of fun, much more so than just the movies. We had an acting palette to work with, and he’s misunderstood. It was really enjoyable for me in the series versus the movies.”
THE REDEMPTION OF JOHN KREESE
Martin Kove as John Kreese and William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in ‘Cobra Kai’
Martin: “Does Kreese deserve forgiveness from Johnny? I can’t give too much away, but from the standpoint of what I would like to have happen… I don’t think it’s a matter of forgiveness. I think it’s about what’s accepted morally. John Kreese is a moral character. He’s not a villain like Terry Silver. I think Kreese would like them to accept that he acted morally throughout all these episodes. He did things that were necessary, even though they weren’t executed in the best way.
“We all know his reasons for being as tough as he was. I’d hope by the end of the show, they would understand that. But I can’t say much more than that. It’s such great writing, full of surprises. I feel guilty trying to give too much information. Jesse always stops me because he knows I’m about to reveal something. But trust me, you’ll love it. The writing is fantastic, and the ending will blow you away.”
Lead Image: Martin and Jesse Kove on stage at Supanova 2024 – Brisbane. Photo by Issaro Kayunsumrutket.
