CRANE KICK ILLEGAL?

The question seems to be over whether or not ALL strikes to the face are illegal, or only punches. Because punches to the face are definitely illegal. What about kicks?

Some people argue that other people are shown in the tournament scoring points with kicks to the face, so they must have been legal.

Ralph Macchio has said himself that the kick was illegal.

https://www.thewrap.com/ralph-macchio-karate-kid-crane-kick-cobra-kai-daniel-larusso/

The creators of Cobra Kai do a bit of fence sitting in this interview excerpt:

Josh Heald: We address the idea of the illegal kick in our first episode, but we also take steps to point out that it’s a matter of perspective. The illegal kick may be an illegal kick or may not be an illegal kick depending on who you are. The rules were a little bit vague.

Hayden Schlossberg: I just think it wasn’t completely thoroughly explained in the movies. How I interpret the rules is that kicks to the face are allowed. Punches to the face are not allowed. So that’s why Daniel won. If it was illegal, they wouldn’t have given them the trophy.

Josh Heald: We do acknowledge that some characters view the kick as illegal and other characters view it as perfectly legal. We leave the 1984 rules a little bit vague.

Maybe not illegal but what gets me is why as the fighter up on points would you really approach the guy in the weird fighting position? I mean it is obvious he is going to kick you right plus he is in a position where he can't move? Could you just run the clock down or take him out in a way that avoids the kick?

People tend to latch on to the no head contact thing.

If it were illegal then the seasoned real life martial artist and referee (Pat E johnson) would not have scored it, and Kreese would have contested the point and lodged a complaint.

People often say head contact was not allowed, but it is clearly shown to be allowed. We never see a copy of the rules or hear that head contact is not allowed from any source other than a non karate person....Allie. But throughout the tournament we see punches and kicks to the head being scored.

It wasn't illegal, but Johnny just can't let it go.

No They Had other Head Kicks in the movie

It wasn't illegal. The funny thing is Johnny keeps saying it was illegal in Cobra Kai, but Miquel even scores a point using it in that show too....

The real answer is because the HIMYM writers are NOT martial artists. Nor are the Harold and Kumar guys.

If they were they would know that the rules for point fighting were different in 1984. Controlled contact to the face and head were allowed at most tournaments at the time. Semi-contact was allowed anywhere above the waist except the back of the head. Granted it should also be noted that referee's also take liberties with points.

If you notice in KK3 the rules for the tournament have changed. That film was 1989, but was supposed to be set a year after the first film. So i think they goofed in part 3 and adapted the 1989 rules.

"I will make it legal." - Emperor Palpatine