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The Wisdom of Mr. Miyagi

By: Philip W. Chung, Aug 18, 2008
Tags: Arts & Entertainment |

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AsianWeek The Wisdom of Mr. Miyagi




To assume that true learning only takes place in a classroom is a fallacy. One of my generation’s greatest teachers never stepped in front of a class full of students, but his wisdom cannot be denied. He is Mr. Miyagi, as played by the late Pat Morita in the four Karate Kid films. Take a look at these pearls of wisdom:

“Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later get squish just like grape.”
Life lesson: Never take the middle ground. Unless you’re walking across a bridge over a dangerous ravine with a perilous drop on both sides. Then you’re screwed no matter where you walk.

“Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.”
Life lesson: Since it’s almost impossible to catch a fly with a chopstick, we’re all worthless.

Daniel (Ralph Macchio): “Hey, what kind of belt do you have?”
Miyagi: “Canvas. JC Penney, 3.98; You like?”
Daniel: (laughs) “No, I meant…”
Miyagi: “In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants.”
Life lesson: If JC Penney could travel back in time to the Okinawa of Miyagi’s youth, they could make a tidy profit selling belts to the Okinawans using rope to hold up their pants.

“Wax on… wax off. Wax on… wax off.”
Life lesson: If you have a collection of vintage cars you need to keep looking good, convince some gullible white kid that waxing all of them will improve his martial arts skills.

Daniel (staring at poster of man karate chopping wood stump in half): “You think you could break a log like that?”
Miyagi: “Don’t know. Never been attacked by a tree.”
Life lesson: In case an errant science experiment turns trees into monstrous killing machines in the near future, take the time to practice chopping logs in half with your bare hands.

“Daniel-san, never put passion before principle. Even if win, you lose.”
Life lesson: If you get into a fight with your girlfriend or wife, even if you turn out to be right, you will suffer consequences.
“Lies only become true if person choose to believe.”
Life lesson: If someone accuses you of being a slut, ignore them. Because in the modern internet age, we know that if you just ignore those vicious rumors, they’ll go away on their own and never come back to haunt you.

“OK to lose to opponent. Not OK to lose to fear.”
Life lesson: It’s OK to get your ass kicked, just don’t soil your undies and cry like a scared baby.

“The sun is warm, the grass is green…If today Julie-san get angry, just you repeat those words.”
Life lesson: If things get bad, take a couple of bong hits, and all will be well.

Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank): “I wish I had courage like you.”
Miyagi: “I wish I had chocolate bar with almonds.”
Life lesson: If you do take those bong hits, make sure to have some snacks lying around for when you get the munchies.

“Ambition without knowledge is like a boat on dry land.”
Life lesson: If you’re going to sleep your way to the top, pick the right person (i.e. your married boss whom you can blackmail, not the single, geeky tech guy counting the days until the film version of The Hobbit comes out).

“Never trust spiritual leader who doesn’t dance.”
Life lesson: Don’t vote for John McCain.

Philip W. Chung is a writer and Co-Artistic Director of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble. Lodestone’s production of Suddenly, Last Summer runs until August 24 at GTC Burbank, 1111-B W. Olive Ave, Burbank, CA. For info: www.lodestonetheatre.org or MySpace.com - Suddenly - 20 - Female - BURBANK, California - www.myspace.com/suddenly_lodestone. To RSVP: (323) 993-7245.

try catching a fly with a pair of chops...it's not that hard.

I've done it repeatedly...so has my friend tosh....we must have lookes really strange though....





Life lesson: If things get bad, take a couple of bong hits, and all will be well.

amen

__________________
"They call me deranged. The hope is that they are right! It is of no greater or lesser import for yet another fool to wander this Earth. But if I am right and science is wrong, then may the Lord God have mercy on mankind!"

Victor Schauberger





http://www.wiserearth.org