The Truth About Actor Martin Kove's Experience With Martial Arts

Actor Martin Kove shares a deep connection with his most famous and enduring onscreen character, John Kreese. As TV Overmind reports, the "Cobra Kai" star has studied various martial arts throughout his life (even outside of his acting career) including Shihan Tak Kobota, Kendo, and Tae Kwon Do. Per the outlet, Kove actually earned a black belt in Okinawa-te, too. In a 2014 interview with Kung Fu Kingdom, the actor detailed, "I'd studied with Shihan Tak Kobota as far back as '82 or '83 when I was making a film 'The Line of Ireland' which was about Brian Buruma, who was King of Ireland. To develop my prowess with an axe, he'd taken me through a lot of Kendo and [Tae Kwon Do]." Kove also pointed to his black belt in Okinawa-te, "which is a different style completely which I used in a movie called 'Steele Justice'."

In later years, Kove trained with Pat Johnson, the stunt coordinator on the original "Karate Kid," who'd studied under legendary action star Chuck Norris. Per TV Overmind, Johnson put Kove through his paces for three-hour stints each day during the intense shoot. It's safe to say that the beloved actor has put in the time to accurately portray a martial arts master both onscreen and off.