As a Cobra Kai theory suggests, the Sekai Taikai will bring about some significant changes to the show’s previously established tournament format.
According to a Cobra Kai theory, season 6’s Sekai Taikai Tournament will be unlike any other All Valleys from the previous seasons. Season 5 did not reveal many details surrounding the new tournament’s rules, formats, and divisions. However, it hinted that, unlike the All-Valley, the Sekai Taikai will be an international tournament. This alone opens the floodgates of possibilities in Cobra Kai season 6, establishing that its central tournament will be unlike any other audiences have previously seen.
Cobra Kai season 5 resolved nearly all underlying story arcs by finally ending most character rivalries. It set the stage for John Kreese’s return with his prison escape, but it is hard not to believe that his criminal record will hold him back from influencing the protagonists’ narratives. Owing to this, Cobra Kai will have to use the Sekai Taikai as a narrative device to bring more novelty and unpredictability to season 6. One way it can achieve this is by tweaking several aspects of the tournament.
Why The Sekai Taikai Will Likely Be Different From Past Cobra Kai Tournaments
The original Karate Kid movies did not bring too many changes to the format of the All-Valley tournament, but Cobra Kai has consistently tried to bring something new to the table with each tournament. For instance, the first All Valley featured in Cobra Kai was similar in structure and rules to the ones shown in the Karate Kid movies. It followed a simple tournament-style format where the w inning fighter progressed to the next round while the losing one got eliminated. Apart from that, it did not even have separate divisions for male and female fighters.
As seen in Cobra Kai season 4, the series reformed the rules of the tournament by first introducing different divisions for male and female fighters. Additionally, it also added a skill competition to the mix, which ultimately helped the Cobra Kai dojo win the Grand Champions trophy despite losing the male divisions finals. Given how Cobra Kai has not abstained from taking creative risks and bringing new twists and turns to the All-Valley, its portrayal and treatment of the Sekai Taikai will also likely be significantly different from the previous seasons’ tournaments.
The Sekai Taikai Could Be A 2 Vs. 2 Tournament
Cobra Kai has kept most details surrounding the Sekai Taikai tournament’s rules and format shrouded in mystery. However, based on a few hints provided in Cobra Kai season 5 and the changes introduced in the show’s previous seasons, one can make a few deductions about how the Sekai Taikai will unfold. Since it is an international tournament, it will likely involve fighters from all over the world. Like the All Valley, Sekai Taikai will also be an under-18 tournament. When it comes to the fighting format, the tournament may have 2 vs. 2 bouts instead of the standard 1 vs. 1 fights from the All-Valley.
While the male and female divisions will still be different, Cobra Kai season 6 could feature pairings in each fight, where two members from the Miyagi Do and Eagle Fang dojos will team up to duke it out against an opponent pair. With a 2 vs. 2 format, it would also make sense for the tournament to feature tag team-styled matches since portraying four characters fighting at the same time would be too chaotic. Although tag team fighting is not common practice in real-world combat sports, it is not unheard of, allowing Cobra Kai to stay within the realm of realistic karate in season 6.
What A 2 On 2 Tournament Would Mean For Cobra Kai’s Ending
Given how season 6 has a massive roster of fighters, this format would make sense because it would allow two characters from both the boys and the girls’ division to ultimately win Cobra Kai’s Sekai Taikai. Since Cobra Kai season 5 marked the end of all bad blood between the primary characters, a 2-on-2 tournament could also mean that former enemies like Tory and Sam would fight side-by-side against a common enemy. Miguel and Robby, too, buried their beef in Cobra Kai season 5, making room for them to join forces in the 2 vs. 2 tournament.
The final season could also use this as a narrative device to further develop the brewing friendship between characters like Robby and Miguel. However, this potential format may come with its own set of challenges. For instance, some pairings could be more overpowered if the team-ups are not well-balanced. With Miguel and Robby on the same team, no other Miyagi Do pairing would likely stand a chance at winning the tournament. Hopefully, if Cobra Kai season 6 adopts this format, it will carefully curate its pairings in a way that the fights remain as exciting and competitive as they have always been.
