MR.MIYAGI. ROLE MODEL. Pts. 1-5

Back in the late 60’s another young man and I co-founded a local ‘outpost’ in Florida of an international Assemblies of God boys group known as “Royal Rangers.” A few years later, I had the privilege of co-founding a second group in Virginia. I am pleased to say that, almost half a century later, both groups are still “going strong.”

Speaking of the first group to which I alluded, a couple years ago I ran into one of my long lost Rangers, now a middle-aged man, who has “taken up the mantle” and is a current commander of the outpost. And it goes without saying, I am inestimably proud of him.

I was watching a rerun of the classic movie, “The Karate Kid” yesterday, and something about the old film struck me as it never had before; (thus, the emphasis with which I began this blog).

For in the movie we see such a poignant representation of a mentoring relationship between a man and a boy. Two characters who, while diametrically different, share a love for a particular sport, (karate) which in turns acts as a vehicle by which they form an inseparable personal bond.

An old Okinawan, (Mr. Miyagi) who fought the Japanese during WWII; while his wife was interned in a U.S. relocation camp. A teenager of Italian heritage, (Daniel Larusso) from New Jersey who had been  transplanted by his mother to the low rent district of Reseda; a borough of Los Angeles.

Mr. Miyagi happens to be the maintenance man for the apartment building in which Daniel and his mother live, and as the movie progresses the older befriends the younger.

Pt. 2

Initially, Daniel notices Mr. Miyagi working in his shop, and notes several Bonsai trees in various states of metamorphosis. Miyagi invites the curious boy inside, and encourages him to create his own living work of art.

In one dramatic scene, the young man, (whom Miyagi has begun to refer to as “Daniel-son”) flees five or six teenage classmates who, summarily, begin to practice their karate skills upon his head and shoulders. And since Daniel is almost home when the one-sided fight begins, the old man cannot help but hear “what is going down” and he rushes to assist the 17 year old. While Miyagi’s evening presence at the apartment building is not explained, (as he owns his own home) we see him climbing a chain link fence and jumping into the midst of the melee, and he quickly “takes care of business;” leaving the young bullies in various states of pain and suffering.

Later, Daniel wakes up on a cot in Mr. Miyagi’s shop, and asks,

“Where did Spiderman come from?”

The old oriental man responds,

“Who?”

And the conversation continues,

(Daniel) “No! That couldn’t have been you!”

(Miyagi) “Why not me? ‘Cause I old man?”

(and)

“In Okinawa we learn two things. Fishing and Karate.”

(Daniel) “Wow. What kind of belt do you have?”

Mr. Miyagi grins, pulls up his pants, and exclaims,

“Canvass. JC Penny. You like?”

Pt. 3

As the movie progresses, Mr. Miyagi confronts Sensai Kreese, the unruly teens’ belligerent Karate instructor, and they reach a tenuous deal whereby the bullies will leave Daniel-son alone for two months; so that he can devote time to preparing for the “All-Valley Karate Tournament.”

While the wisened old man knows how to have fun, it soon becomes apparent that he also knows how to demand respect; and in one memorable scene he seems to “kill two birds with one stone.” Driving Daniel over to his nearby home, he ties a karate scarf around the boy’s forehead, and “gets down to brass tacks.”

Picking up a paintbrush, he thrusts it into his young friend’s hand, and puts him to work varnishing an immense wooden fence which runs around the perimeter of his oriental-styled house; careful to abjure him to religiously practice up and down movements of his wrist, as he paints.

Of course, before this rather unusual training regimen in the martial arts concludes, Daniel ends up washing and polishing several old cars in the old man’s front yard, and painting his house; respectively, moving his hands in circular, and side to side motions.

After a couple of days elapse, and evening is drawing near, Miyagi steps up to his understudy, and points out a slight oversight on the outside wall of his newly painted home.

Pointing upwards he says,

“Daniel-son, you missed a spot.”

By now, the seasoned veteran’s understudy has had it up to his ying-yang, and goes into a tirade.

“I’ve had it with this! You think I’m your d_ _ _ _ _ slave? I’m going home!”

Pt. 4

However, before Daniel has time to “put one foot ahead of the other” the kindly old man provides him a lesson he will not soon forget. For as the master moves into a classic martial arts stance, and “puts the move” on Daniel, time and time again his skinny little understudy defends against the physical onslaught.

Suddenly, his proverbial eyes are opened. Mr. Miyagi’s rather irregular form of training has instilled the sort of muscle memory within him which is so integral to a successful martial arts student; just as surely as those small Bonsai trees in the old man’s shop were transformed before him.

Ultimately, Daniel competes in the All Valley Tournament, and though one, after the other of the bullies challenges him, and though Sensai Kreese does his best to encourage his students to cheat, and knock our young hero out of the contest, he continues to “get back up.”

When one of the boys comes down rudely on Daniel’s leg, and it seems all hope is lost, the teen is given a few minutes to recover; in the unlikely possibility that he will be able to return to the ring. As you might imagine, Mr. Miyagi has a secret weapon of sorts “up his sleeve,” and he does something which we have seen him do in the past. Rubbing his hands together, he applies pressure to the offended limb, and, as a result, the young lad is able to return to the arena, and to contend against his chief protagonist.

Assuming what Mr. Miyagi has previously referred to as “The Crane Technique,” Daniel comes up with a high flying kick, and the two time winner of the karate championship suffers an ignominious defeat.

Of course, Daniel is beside himself with joy, and holds the first place trophy up in abject elation, and screams,

“Mr. Miyagi, WE did it!”

And “as the curtain falls” we see the stocky little man well up with emotion, and the grandest smile of all time lights up his countenance.

Pt. 5

As a mentor, I often tell my own understudies that, “We stand on the shoulders of giants.” One generation impacting another, and in so doing providing them the necessary skills for function and success.

I am ever so keenly aware that my influence on those whom God has set in my pathway is momentary in nature. I simply cannot stay here. But I am determined to do what I can, for as long as I can, to feed into young, and not so young lives.

I think Mr. Miyagi must have also been keenly aware of the concept of “Heritage, Destiny and Legacy,” and how that we Receive a Heritage, we Fulfill a Destiny, and we Leave a Legacy. My favorite adage in all the world is, “My students are living messages to a time that I will never see;” (and I think the context of the movie so fervently exudes this principle).

As I reminisce about the young boy’s programs which I was privileged to establish so long ago, and the dozens of adults whom I have been afforded the opportunity to mentor over the years, I am humbled, and grateful for the distinct honor to impact the next generation who will, in turn, follow my lead.

And while I cannot account for my newfound epiphany, in terms of Mr. Miyagi’s having so thoroughly poured into his student’s life, and in making himself available, the duo having established such a love and respect for one another, I am thankful for the realization. I have been fortunate to have a few “Mr. Miyagi’s” in my own life.

I cannot but help but “pay it forward.”


(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary. Vol. 64. By William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending.

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