Legends Corrects the Franchise’s Longest-Running Criticism

The first trailer for Karate Kid: Legends doesn’t just open a new chapter in the martial arts franchise; it also fixes one of its oldest problems. The upcoming film sets up a much-anticipated crossover between Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from two separate Karate Kid films, while also merging them with Cobra Kai in a single shared universe.

This time, Karate Kid: Legends focuses on the story of Kung Fu prodigy Li Fong, who enters a karate competition reminiscent of the original films. Mr. Han seeks Daniel’s help to teach Li a new way to fight. As a result, the martial arts showdown is expected to feature a blend of two different fighting styles, hinted at by one particular line from the film’s trailer, which also serves as its tagline.

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“Two Branches, One Tree”, Explained

Karate Kid: Legends’ Theme & Tagline

From the recent Karate Kid: Legends trailer, one line stands out: “Two branches, one tree.” The line is spoken by Daniel LaRusso to Li Fong as he hands him a headband with a tree embroidered on it. The branches in question are the two separate but interconnected martial arts of karate and kung fu. The trailer highlights this line because the movie is expected to revolve around how these two fighting styles come together to help Li Fong win the competition.

The film will likely give significant weight to this particular line, which might even serve as the overarching theme of Karate Kid: Legends. This addresses a common criticism of the Karate Kid franchise’s recent addition. The 2010 reboot, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, is undeniably popular, but it has often faced criticism from martial arts purists and fans alike. Despite featuring “karate” in its title, the film primarily revolved around kung fu.

How Legends Fixes 2010 Karate Kid’s Problem

Karate Vs. Kung Fu Criticism

From the trailer, it’s evident that Karate Kid: Legends has embraced this talking point and is likely to explore the relationship between the two fighting styles. It’s a common misconception that kung fu has nothing to do with karate. In fact, karate culture has deep connections to other forms of martial arts. One could even argue that kung fu isn’t a separate style of fighting, but rather a separate lifestyle or discipline. The term “kung fu” literally refers to any skill acquired through learning or practice.

In fact, Jackie Chan himself has acknowledged the confusion between karate and kung fu in the 2010 remake. In a 2010 interview with MTV, he confirmed that the film’s cast members often referred to it as Kung Fu Kid behind the scenes, and addressed how China might continue to call it differently. This turned out to be partly true, as the film’s title in the People’s Republic of China is The Kung Fu Dream.

Connection Between Karate & Kung Fu

Similarities Between The Two Martial Arts

While it’s fair to say the 2010 film should have been called Kung Fu Kid, even if that’s a stretch, it’s still not too far removed from karate. Cobra Kai has also faced similar criticism, with some claiming it’s not even karate but actually Tang Soo Do. However, the term Tang Soo Do itself is the Korean pronunciation of the original name for Okinawan karate. Similarly, in the 2010 Karate Kid, it’s made clear that despite the movie being set in Beijing, northern China, Mr. Han’s kung fu originates from the south – precisely where the Okinawans would have learned their karate from.

Both kung fu and karate are arguably not single martial arts, but umbrella terms encompassing various fighting styles, with significant overlap between the two. In the Chinese language, people often say “kung fu” or “gong fu” without any martial arts implications. While karate is synonymous with “empty hand,” it was originally known for its weapons usage, such as sai, nunchaku, and others. In fact, some famous karate katas, like Monk Fist or Southern Crane, are directly derived from Southern Chinese martial arts forms.

Miyagi-Han Relationship In Karate Kid

Legends Will Explore Potential Connection

The line “Two branches, one tree” is an excellent summation of the relationship between karate and kung fu – kudos to whoever came up with it. It’s also a clever way for Karate Kid: Legends to connect Mr. Han to Mr. Miyagi. Jackie Chan’s character clearly seems to be acquainted with the original mentor and his relationship with Daniel, as he tells him, “Li means to me what you meant to Sensei Miyagi.” The film is likely to explore how Mr. Han’s kung fu and Miyagi-Do karate might have evolved from the same form, tracing back to when Miyagi’s ancestors were in China.

So, whether it’s between karate, Tang Soo Do, or kung fu, and how they’re represented in the original Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai, or even the reboot, it’s ultimately a matter of which came first and how well they’re connected. While it’s natural for martial arts fans to care about naming conventions, it’s equally important for movies to clarify these distinctions and bring greater awareness to these art forms.

Karate Kid: Legends

Release Date

May 30, 2025

Director

Jonathan Entwistle

Main Genre

Drama

Studio(s)

Columbia Pictures
, Jerry Weintraub Productions
, Overbrook Entertainment
, Sony Pictures Entertainment