The film is based around Daniel, a boy who lives with his single mother and is bullied in school by other children who are members of a local karate club. Daniel befriends a kindly and unassuming Japanese immigrant called Mr. Miyagi, who later reveals himself as a karate expert and agrees to help the troubled youngster. Under Miyagi’s unusual training techniques – which include laborious household chores of waxing, sanding and painting – Daniel learns to defend himself and finally defeats his adversaries in a martial arts contest.

The film reflects the belief that the study of martial arts is as much about training the mind and spirit as the body. The film also demonstrates the impartiality of martial arts – a martial art can be used for either good or evil. As a film, Karate Kid has been credited with popularising and renewing interest in martial arts and led to two sequels – Karate Kid 2 (1986) and Karate Kid 3 (1989).