Shooting Location: Los Angeles, California, USA.

These contemporary photographs of the location were shot by me in August 2005, 22 years after filming.

Of all the film locations I visited, the film locations for this movie, were the most interesting ones for me. (Many thanks to Daniel).

The following scenes were filmed at
19223 Saticoy Street, Reseda, Los Angeles, USA.

The location used as the apartment complex and
the building looks "Frozen in time".

It was used for the first and third "Karate Kid" movie.

Shot at 19223 Saticoy Street, Reseda, Los Angeles.


The movie was released the same year (1984) Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop and The Terminator became blockbusters, and it was one of the top films of that year.

In this moive was the apartment complex correctly
portrayed on film, no fakes!


The location it still he South Seas is was in 1983
when the film was shot.

The entrence of the building looks the same as
it did in the movie.


You can see the security became stronger.

Forzen in time: The inside of the building.


The Karate Kid was the 500th Movie to be made with Dolby sound. It was also the first mass produced movie on
VHS in Hi-Fi stereo.

"I just love that one and always loved the moment where Daniel bows to Miyagi after he puts him to sleep," Macchio says, "That was John Avildsen saying, 'Before you leave, just turn and bow to him.' It's just a genuine organic great moment that just sort of came up on the day."
- Ralph Macchio -

"The first film was by far my favorite. I think the second was a very worthy sequel and it explores a whole other culture. It takes you to a whole different place and you explore more of Miyagi's past and his life," he says. "I think the third one was because the second one made a lot of money, and that happens a lot. It's not, it's certainly not my favorite of the three.
- Ralph Macchio -

The real key to this film is the relationship between the two main characters Mr Miyagi and Daniel. Despite the obvious age difference they become the best of friends very quickly, as Mr Miyagi begins to teach Daniel not only martial arts, but self confidence and self respect through philosophy. He becomes a father figure to Daniel who's real father is dead, forming a real bond right from the start, which continues (and grows) throughout the two sequels that they both appear in.

Apartement 20 in the film, is in real apartement 20.

Because of his boyish looks, Ralph Macchio was able to convincingly play a high school student although he was actually 22 years old during the filming of The Karate Kid. However, at 28, Macchio is hardly convincing playing a Daniel in Karate Kid III that is only supposed to be one year older than in the original.

The entrence of Miyagi's Workshop today.


The scenes in this film where Mr. Miyagi is using chopsticks to catch flies in midair is a obscure reference to the film "Bushido" where a very similar scene is used.


"There was a bit of time where it was overwhelming, but as time goes by, as you age you get smarter and wiser with these things and you learn to appreciate it," he says. "When you consider how few times the magic can work, you begin to realize that it's a privilege and you're quite fortunate to have had the opportunity."
- Ralph Macchio -


One can almost hear an old teacher saying, "Very wise, Daniel-san. Miyagi have hope for you."

Miyagi's Workshop was build at left by the filmcrew.
It used a couple of car parking spaces.


The insides scens were shot at Columbia Studio in
Culver Ctiy, Los Angeles, USA.


Mr. Miyagi is named for Chogun Miyagi, who became the forerunner of karate-jutsu in Okinawa, Japan. 'Sensei Miyagi' as he was called, created his own style of karate-jutsu, which he dubbed 'Goju Ryu', which means 'hard and soft style'.


Miyagi rescues Daniel from a Halloween-night beating by Johnny's skeleton-suited Cobra Kais, and makes a deal with the bullies' brutish Sensei that the boys are not allowed to fight Daniel until he's finished training. Then commences Daniel's learning, which begins with the iconic "wax on, wax off" demands.

The location of the fence that was used for the skeleton fight secenes.


Today it has trees and shrubs. For the movie were all
cleared for filming in 1983.


The last spin kick that Daniel is hit with before he is saved by Mr. Miyagi actually hit Ralph Macchio and hurt him.


The film is one about determination and training. With such things at ones disposal success is almost always assured againt any adversary no matter how big or strong. The film features an excellent soundtrack and training scenes that have become synonymous with Karate itself. This movie is Karate, and has encouraged countless numbers of people to enter into Karate training to defend their honor or to aid in the disipline needed to succed in life.

The Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, was released in theatres early in the summer of 1984. At the time the film was released, it's not likely anyone, including the film's cast and crew, knew just how popular it would become, going onto become an American pop cultural phenomenon, and spawning three sequels.

The parking lot of the building. Miyagi's Workshop was build at the third parking space by the filmcrew.


" 'Wax on, wax off'- itcomes every day. Well, maybe not every day, but every week," says Macchio. "And everyone yells out the phrase as if they'd just come up with the idea, thinking, 'Whoa, isn't that genius? Hey Ralph, wax on, wax off!' "
- Ralph Macchio -


Ralph Macchio, now 43, also screened it recently over sushi and sake with director John Avildsen, writer Robert Mark Kamen, and Morita when they did commentary for the new DVD.


Still, Ralph Macchio has gotten used to nostalgic Gen-X'ers quoting lines from the 1984 coming-of-age classic. Now, to his surprise, another generation is picking up on the film.

This pictures is taken to show the location of the car parking lot used to build Miyagi's Workshop and the front of the building.

Taglines for the movie:
"Only the 'Old One' could teach him the secrets of the masters."
"He taught him the secret to Karate lies in the mind and heart. Not in the hands."

The following school scenes were filmed at
22400 Philiprim Street, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.

"Pat Morita was a truly generous actor, a gifted comic, and an even greater friend, ... It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him and create a bit of cinema magic together."
- Ralph Macchio -

Filmed at
5607 Capistrano Street, near
22400 Philiprim Street, Woodland Hills.


"I go into Blockbuster now and I bump into the sales person or the person behind the desk and they say the film is always out, that parents say, 'Oh, this is a good one. I want to share this with my kids.' "
- Ralph Macchio -

"Pat Morita (Miyagi) has this wonderful scene gets drunk and you learn about his ex-wife and you learn about his character and it's at the point that Daniel puts him to bed, lays him down and then finds out that his wife and son died due to complications from birth," he says. "It's just a real dramatic moment."

As the DVD reveals, studio execs thought the scene slowed the pace of the film and wanted it gone. But Avildsen fought for it, the scene stayed in, and Morita likely got his Oscar nomination because of it.

The school dedication plaque as seen in the movie.


All school scenes were filmed at
Charles Evans Hughes Junior High School.

The school building in August 2005. All school scenes were filmed there.


Kyle Eastwood auditioned for the role of Daniel LaRusso.

The lockers in the background where Ali meets Daniel.


The school is now closed!

David Schwimmer, famous for his role in "Friends", makes a quick walk-on appearance as a student.

The inside of the school building.

The Karate Kid was the name of a character in DC Comic's "Legion Of Superheroes" who was a member of the Legion. DC Comics, which owned the name, gave special permission for the title to be used. There's a thank you to DC Comics for allowing the use of the name at the end of the credits.

Charles Evans Hughes Junior High School in August 2005.

Ralph Macchio has almost no sense of smell at all. Just for fun, he makes it a point to smell something at least once during every movie he's in. In this movie, he smells a french fry at the restaurant, and he smells his underarm before approaching Alli.

The sportplace of the
Charles Evans Hughes Junior High School today.


Elisabeth Shue interrupted her studies at Harvard to be in this movie.

The Karate Kid spawned an entire franchise of related items and memorabilia, such as action figures, head bands, posters, t-shirts, etc. It also had three sequels, and it launched the career of Macchio, who would turn into a teen idol featured on the covers of magazines such as Tiger Beat. It enhanced the career of Morita (previously mostly known for his role in Happy Days as the owner of Arnold's, the hamburger hangout), who made several other movies including the three sequels; additionally, it launched the career of Elisabeth Shue. It has also been credited with renewing youth interest in martial arts, with an emphasis on personal discipline rather than the often gratuitous and cinematic violence that martial arts films are known for. The characters of Daniel and his mother are also noteworthy as positive media portrayals of Italian Americans.

The halloween dance and the scenes where Daniel runs out of the dance causing a crash between two cars were filmed at the school loaction. The street runs through, but is no trespassing today. It was close from a couple of years.

Ali's house is located at
4072 Alonzo Drive, at the intersection of Alvarado and
Encino Lake Drive. According to the special edition DVD commentary, the studio originally wanted the role of Mr. Miyagi to be played by Toshiro Mifune. But writer Robert Mark Kamen was opposed to that casting choice.

Frozen in time:
The location it still identical to how is was in 1983
when the film was shot.

The beautiful house in Encino.

Miyagi's lessons of balance, study and nonviolence are a harsh contrast to those of the Cobra Kai, in which students chant, "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!" 'Heil Sensie Kreese!' Daniel eventually finds that he must learn to fight so he doesn't have to fight. And that self-discipline and dedication are musts.

Nervously Daniel LaRusso kicks the brick down.

The brick is now fixed!

Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita make a great team. Elizabeth Shue, Randee Heller, William Zabka, Chad McQueen and Martin Kove are an excellent support cast. Also, Pat E. Johnson was perfect for choreographing this movie.

This scene was shot at intersection of Alvarado and
Encino Lake Drive.

The Cobra Kai Dojo was filmed at two different locations!


The first Location of the Dojo was filmed at Located at the
5300 Wilshire Blvd and intersection with Cloverdale.

"The Orient Express Restaurant" name was created by the filmmakers. Located at 5300 Wilshire Blvd and Cloverdale.


Today is a Korean Restaurant named: "The Express".

The second Location of the Cobra Kai Dojo is located at Lankershim Boulvard in North Hollywood. The intersection street is Magnolia Street.


In real still a Karate school there: "Tae Kwon Do".

The same location was used for "The Karate Kid Part III".

"It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him
(Pat Morita) and create a bit of cinema magic together, ... My life is all the richer for having known him. I will miss his genuine friendship".
- Ralph Macchio -

Frozen in time: The Dojo today.

I have shot the following two pictures through the entrance
glass door.


William Zabka (Johnny) had no martial arts experience prior to being cast in the film. However, he was an accomplished wrestler.


Miyagi's lessons of balance, study and nonviolence are a harsh contrast to those of the Cobra Kai, in which students chant, "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!" "Heil Sensie Kreese!"


Daniel eventually finds that he must learn to fight so he doesn't have to fight. And that self-discipline and dedication are musts.

The referee in the final match is Pat Johnson, a karate expert and former student of Chuck Norris. He instructed many movie stars in karate, including Steve McQueen, with whom he became close friends.


Martin Kove replaced Chuck Norris, who turned down the role of John Kreese because he didn't want karate trainers to be shown in an unsympathetic light.

Pat Morita was initially turned-down for the role of Mr. Miyagi because there was a "no comedian" policy when looking for an actor. He was later given the role because he was best for it after reading.

Miyagi rescues Daniel from a Halloween-night beating by Johnny's skeleton-suited Cobra Kais, and makes a deal with the bullies' brutish Sensei that the boys are not allowed to fight Daniel until he's finished training. Then commences Daniel's learning, which begins with the iconic 'wax on, wax off' demands.

All "Golf N' Stuff" scenes were filmed at
Norwalk at 10555 E. Firestone Boulvard, Los Angeles, USA.

Driving Directions
Take the Firestone Blvd. exit off the 605 freeway and turn right. We are on the right hand side.

Forzen in time: The ARCADE Sign still there.

Beautifully done , I loved the 80's atmosphere and the 80's music. I first saw it when I was 18 , and watching it again recently brought all the memories flooding back!

The "Golf N' Stuff" park was built in 1970, with the waterslide being added in 1980. In 1996 the waterslide was completly removed.



Attractions at "Golf N' Stuff" in 2005:

- Miniature Golf (4 courses, 18 holes each)
- Lit'l Indy Race Cars (Go-Karts)
- New! Disk'O Thrill Ride
- Bumper Boats
- Bumper Cars
- Cannonball Express Train (Kiddie Train)
- Snack Bar
- Over 140 Arcade Games in 2 arcades.

Directed by John G. Avildsen (who also did 1976's "Rocky" - another underdog story) and written by Robert Mark Kamen (who would later co-author 2001's "Kiss of the Dragon" with Luc Besson, which starred Jet Li - another example of martial arts in American cinema done right), "The Karate Kid" is by far the best (and frankly, most realistic) incorporation of martial arts into a mainstream American film.

The waterslide was completly removed in 1996.


Karate Kid was the highest grossing video rental in 1985.

"The Karate Kid" is one of the finest and most emotionally delivered lines in American cinema history.

Both actors completely sold themselves into roles, at the price of being forever typecast, with the reward of crafting everlasting characters that become ingrained into society.


If there's any doubt about what the parts continue to mean to Morita and Macchio, take a stroll to 8225 W. Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, Calif., where you'll find the restaurant Morita started, called Miyagi's.


And look up Macchio's biography, where you'll see his son is named Daniel.


Morita earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor that year for his mesmerizing performance as Mr Miyagi, but he lost. In my opinion, he deserved that award. It's also my opinion that The Karate Kid is one of the best films I have ever seen.

Go to "Golf N' Stuff" and take a game!

The interior still looks mostly the same as it did in the movie.

Daniel's yellow car (given to him by Miyagi) is a 1950 Chevrolet Convertible finished in Canary Yellow. Ralph Macchio received the car after filming from the production.

Whenever I get asked my fav movies the "Karate Kid" is up in my favorite movies. Yes it is a 80's movie, well I am an 80's teenager and proud of it!

We 80's teenage grew up in an idealistic era full of greate tv-series and bubble gum pop, and some of the best cheesy yet genuis movies ever made, every time the theme music starts on the "Karate Kid" am instantly taken for just that split second back to my childhood where I am free to dream and be inspired. I know Ralph Macchio hasn't always had the movie acclaim and longevity he so rightly deserved, but he will always hold a special place in all of our 80's teenage hearts as the "Karate Kid", and hey to inspire a whole generation with one movie is pretty cool if u ask me.

"I'll never forget the first time I saw 'Karate Kid' in a movie theater with a real audience. I stood in the back and watched them laugh and applaud and kept thinking, `That's me. They're cheering me. This is a movie everybody loves, and I'm in every scene in it."
- Ralph Macchio -

The beach scenes were shot at
Leo Carillo State Beach. Located just south of Oxnard on the Pacific Coast.

The beach scene was the first scene filmed.
The father-son rapport between the Miyagi and Daniel is palpable, as Miyagi, the Okinawan handyman in Daniel's apartment complex, takes him under his wing. Johnny, jealous of Ali's romantic interest, wallops Daniel daily. The boys' first fight, at a beach in front of Daniel's new friends, ends so badly that Daniel is mockingly named "The Karate Kid."

This is the path that the Cobra Kai's drive down to the beach from the Lifeguard station.


Chad McQueen, Steve McQueen's son plays 'Dutch' one of the Cobra Kai student.

Great movie.
There's a reason this movie gets praised constantly - IT RULES. The acting here is top notch, no questions asked. Ralph Macchio does a great job with his character, but the best acting in this film, by far, comes from Pat Morita. It's doubtful anyone knew just how well he'd do in a dramatic role (given that he used to be on Happy Days), but the casting directors could NOT have picked a better man for the role.


Combine this great acting with martial arts action, and you've got one hell of a film on your hands. Also not to be overlooked is the music of the film.

Composer Bill Conti creates one of the most memorable film scores I've ever heard, and one that definitely adds something to the movie. Likewise, the pop tunes that were made for the film are also excellent - Survivor and Joe Esposito's contributions are particularly outstanding. Is it humanly possible NOT to like this movie? I think not.

The filming location on the beach used for Miyag'is
crane technic demonstration.


This is, without question, one of the greatest films to emerge from the eighties - and it certainly stands the test of time. The film DID spawn three sequels, but none of them would be as successful or as high quality as the original film. I strongly recommend that everyone see this film. Even if you're not a fan of martial arts movies (I'm not), more likely than not you'll still love it.
Six stars.


"The Karate Kid" is not just an entertaining classic for the young at hearts, it's a lesson for a lifetime, this touching, funny and dramatic movie is a portait of a shy newcomer boy, who must face the big bullies from his school in a karate tournament, with help from his master, the scene-stealing Mr. Miyagi, and they become friends of a lifetime. This is one of the classic feel good movies you will stand up and cheer for.

These following scenes were filmed on a lake on the
Tejon Ranch, California, USA.

I have not visited the location in August 2005. I hop I can visit it one day.

"Tejon Ranch Company" is a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company. The principal asset is the 270,000 acre Tejon Ranch founded in 1843, located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield, California.

Tejon Ranch is the largest, privately held, contiguous land holding in California. The company is publicly traded on the New York stock exchange. Operating revenues are generated by four divisions.


Many movies and TV-Shows were filmed there:

Southern California's Most Diverse Filming Location


"First learn stand, then learn fly.
Nature rule, Daniel-san, not mine".

"Daniel-san, must talk. Man walk on road. Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk down middle, sooner or later, get knocked down. Same here. You karate do yes or karate do no. You karate do guess so".

I remember watching this film as a teenager and feeling the magic of it all, and even now when I watch it many years on I still get that same buzz when Daniel wins the final of the karate tornament and I still cheer when his wise old teacher Mr Miyagi gives the gang who have been bullying him a good beating. The fact that this film made over $90,000,000 at the box office in the USA alone, gives you an idea of how good the film is and how popular it was on its release.

"My life is all the richer for having known him. I will miss his genuine friendship... Forever my Sensei."
- Ralph Macchio -


"Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did. If I tried it in Japan before the war, it would have been considered blasphemy, and I would have ended in leg irons."
- Pat Morita -

Biography of John G. Avildsen:

Director / Editor / Cinematographer / Producer:
Born December 21, 1935 - Oak Park, IL

Director John G. Avildsen's career has endured many ups and downs over the past thirty years. Not only has he produced a string of bombs, and low-budget films, the self-described dreamer has also produced some of the most popular films of our time--most notably the triple Oscar winning Rocky(1976) and the thematically similar Karate Kid (1984).

The son of a Chicago tool manufacturer, Avildsen worked as a copywriter at an ad agency; he then served as a chaplain's assistant in the military before coming to Hollywood in the early 60s where he first worked as a production manager, assistant director, and cinematographer before directing his first films--best forgotten according to some critics--in the late '60s.

His first hit was the low-budget (he filmed it himself) sleeper Joe (1970), which told the tale of a bigoted construction worker and made a star of Peter Boyle. After the smashing success of Rocky the director did not have another major commercial hit until The Karate Kid, even though some of his films featured popular stars such as Burt Reynolds, W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, Marlon Brando, The Formula, and John Belushi (in his last film), Neighbors.

He followed The Karate Kid with 3 sequels. In 1989 he created the fine drama Lean on Me, which showcased the talents of the charismatic Morgan Freeman.

Directed seven actors to Oscar nominations: Jack Lemmon, Jack Gilford, Burgess Meredith, Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Pat Morita, and Burt Young. Lemmon won Best Actor prizes for Save the Tiger (1973).

He was the original director of Saturday Night Fever but pulled out. He was replaced by John Badham.

Columbia Studio in Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA

I have visited the Studios in December 1990.

Columbia Pictures is a film production company, and today part of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Biography in memoriam of Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita:

Talented Japanese-American actor who gained fame and a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as the wise karate master, Mr. Miyagi, in The Karate Kid (1984), a role he repeated in parts II (1986), III (1989), and IV, aka The Next Karate Kid (1994).
After a long bout with spinal tuberculosis and years in a Japanese internment camp during World War 2, Morita worked as a computer programmer but gave up the job to become a stand-up comic. Billed as "the hip Nip," he played nightclubs and TV variety shows, and made appearances in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), Cancel My Reservation (1972), and Midway (1976). His first major break was playing restaurant proprietor Arnold on two seasons of the popular "Happy Days" sitcom (1975-76 and 1982-83); he also starred in his own short-lived comedy, "Mr. T. and Tina" (1976). He began billing himself as Noriyuki for The Karate Kid but the promise of film stardom proved elusive. His other film credits include Savannah Smiles (1982), Jimmy the Kid (1983), Slapstick (of Another Kind (1984), the straight-to-video Collision Course (1987, costarring Jay Leno), Do or Die (1991), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994). He starred in and wrote the screenplay for the WW2 romance Captive Hearts (1987) and had his own TV detective series, "Ohara" (1987-88). He received a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame in 1994.

Morita died on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2005, at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, of natural causes at age 73. Morita will be buried at Palm Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery. He is survived by his second wife, actress Evelyn Guerrero, and three daughters from a previous marriage to his first wife, Yuki. Yuki and their three daughters were with him at the time of his death.

Biography of Ralph Macchio:

Ralph George Macchio (born November 4, 1961) is an actor from New York City best remembered for his role as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series.

Macchio began his acting career during the 1970s, as star of television commercials for products like Bubble Yum and Dr Pepper. In 1983, he starred alongside Patrick Swayze and Matt Dillon in The Outsiders. It wasn't until 1984, however, that he became an international teen idol, after the release of the first Karate Kid movie, where he starred alongside Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. Macchio became one of the most famous teen idols of the mid-1980s, his face appearing on the cover of many "bubble gum" magazines such as Tiger Beat, 16, and Teen Beat.

Macchio participated in two Karate Kid sequels, which came out in 1986 and 1989, respectively. However, after The Karate Kid, Part III, his fame as a teen idol began to wane, and he has been seen sporadically as an actor since.

In 1987, he married Phyllis Fierro, with whom he has a son and a daughter.

He has participated as film director a few times, and also appeared in some minor films. Also of note is his appearance in the film Crossroads. He played music student Eugene Martone, who battles Jack Butler (played by guitarist Steve Vai), a protegé of the Devil.

In 2002 he wirte and direct a short film named:
"Love Thy Brother"

In 2005/2006 he work on a new film named: "Beer League".

About the Film release on DVD:

The original DVD release of this film was severely lacking, but the reissue added on plenty of bonus material. I won't deny that this bonus material is a bit on the lackluster side, but it's still better than the older DVD release. The "making of" featurette is well worth watching if you're a fan of the film - it's great to hear from the cast and crew.

The Life of Bonsai portion of the featurette is pretty much pointless, though, since it has very little relevance to the film. There's also a commentary track, which is great to have. Overall, this DVD isn't quite the Special Edition I was hoping for, but it's still a solid package. And besides, it's the MOVIE that matters, not the bells and whistles added to the DVD.

The picture and audio quality aren't the best here, but it's cleaned up compared to the original dvd release. There's still a lot of grain to be found in scenes, and some outdoor ones at night are a little too dark for their own good, but everything looks fine.

The audio can be quiet at times, but the action sequences, especially the tournament, make great use of surround sound. Basically, unless some restoration master gets hired to clean this up for either Blu-Ray or HD DVD, this is as good as the movie's going to look and sound.

" We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. "

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi played by Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita

" Well I figured you knew about this stuff. I figured you went to these before. Oh great, I'm dead. I am dead. You told me you fought a lot. "

Daniel LaRusso played by Ralph Macchio